Donegal Deputy Charlie McConalogue has voiced his strong opposition to the Government’s plans to axe the Rural Transport Network, describing the move as ‘another attack on rural Ireland’.
The Fianna Fáil TD was reacting to reports that the Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar plans to scrap the Rural Transport Network, replacing it with a new system that doesn’t involve the input of community groups.
According to Deputy McConalogue, “This has been an extremely successful and cost-effective scheme since its inception in 2002. Why would the Government seek to change something that has been working so well for more than a decade?
“This scheme is evidence of the real benefits of involving the community in local services. It has exceeded expectations in tackling rural isolation and providing valuable transport links to those who would otherwise have been isolated in their homes. It is the community element of this scheme that makes it so successful and in my view the removal of community input will only undermine the service.
“This is yet another example of the Government’s complete insensitivity to the effect that their policy agenda is having on communities. So many towns and villages across Donegal and the North West region have lost their garda stations, post offices and local bank branches over the past year, while the threat remains over the future of many small rural schools. People in rural areas in particular are despairing about the future of their communities. This latest news about the Rural Transport Network will add to those concerns.
“The Minister needs to get out Dublin to understand the impact of this particular policy decision. I want the Minister to immediately clarify his plans in light of these latest reports,” Deputy McConalogue said.
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