If we put in investment aligned with the interest, people will travel. As the Deputy said, it is about tourism and economic opportunity but also about getting people from A to B. It goes back to the discussion that I had with Deputy Gould this morning about getting people out of their cars and onto buses. I will work with Deputy McGreehan on that.

Hear, hear.

I thank the Senator for her ongoing advocacy on behalf of the people of Newbridge. She makes a very strong case for the town bus and is 100% correct on reducing car dependency. Like her, I am very passionate about accessibility of services and enhanced connectivity, in this case for people of Newbridge to the town. She makes a very good case in respect of the hinterland, which must also be listened to as part of this debate. The Minister for Transport has overall responsibility for the policy piece, but funding and…

I reassure the Senator and the House that I am fully committed to delivering a more sustainable, inclusive and accessible transport system for current and future generations. The Senator is right that it is about getting away from the car and enhanced connectivity. The NTA is planning for further phases of the town bus programme, which include Newbridge and Naas, with public consultation taking place in October. I am committed to the expansion of the public transport network and to increasing the service throughout…

The Senator mentioned Kildare town as well. The funding for the new and enhanced services in 2027 will be considered as part of the annual Estimates process. My good friends, Deputy Michael Murphy in the Public Gallery and Senator Maria Byrne, are here. I would not wish the Deputy to be in the Seanad, even though it is a great place to be. It is important that we get rural transport and connectivity right in the budget. The Senator has been a strong champion of County Kildare. I have an affinity having spent five y…

Excuse me. I did take advantage of the clock.

I was beating the offside trap.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as an ábhar tábhachtach seo a thógáil. We might be a bit like Joe Canning and Dónal Og Cusack now talking about trains and buses but the Senator is right; it is an important topic. The travelling public and the supporters of Kerry and Mayo deserve certainty and require modes of transport other than cars to go to Croke Park on Sunday week. The Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and funding but his remit does not cover scheduling or the monitoring of routes. Those …

You cannot beat the Cork supporters.

Without Cork, the GAA would be a poorer place.

The Senator mentioned Sneem and Ventry. He and I will remember our great friends, the late, great John Egan and Paudie O'Shea, as well as the Senator's brother Tim. I get emotional because they were great GAA people. Cork and Kerry have the best supporters of the GAA. The Senator is right that it is important we provide additional transport. I will temper expectations, however, by making the point that there is only so much Irish Rail and Bus Éireann can do, as the Senator will know. We do not have routes that woul…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht na ceiste. Is cúis mhór bhróid dom an cheist seo a fhreagairt ar son mo chomhghleacaithe, an tAire, an Teachta Calleary, agus go mórmhór an tAire Iompair, an Teachta O'Brien. I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter and for his interest in rural transport. He will have a group from west Waterford here tomorrow. I hope we will get together. The Government is of the view that rural transport plays a pivotal and important role in supporting rural communities and ens…

As the Deputy is aware, I have been in west Waterford and I hope we will find a solution to that impasse. Having visited the site and spoken to locals, what is happening there does not make sense to me. I have asked that it be looked at. I will make the point in the round that the Minister, Deputy Calleary, has been proactive, as have I, in being an advocate for rural Ireland and rural communities. That voice is heard by the Minister and me and across the Government. We are close to the development of the next five…

-----we will continue to drive stakeholder engagement.

The Government and the Department of Transport have been proactive in their support of rural transport. I do not think the Deputy would dismiss the fact that this year €718 million has been allocated to investment in the regional and local road network. I do not think the Deputy will oppose that and Waterford, through its county council, has received significant funding. The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and the Department of Transport are committed to continued investment in our r…

I do not think it is as simple as the Deputy thinks but I thank her for the question. It is an important question. The provision of community childcare is very important. The Deputy and I probably share a view on the issue. As she will know, this does not necessarily fall under the remit of the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP. I will come back to her again. I hope we will find common ground as we move forward. Social enterprises have a substantive role to play in furthering the objective …

I understand where the Deputy is coming from. I genuinely do. Empower is the community childcare provider in her area. It does phenomenal work. As the Deputy knows, SICAP does not directly provide that community childcare place. I am meeting John Logue and Richard Bruton from Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland, SERI, next week to have a conversation with them in terms of this piece. I will pose the question in a rhetorical and adversarial way right now. What is the community childcare committee doing in the case…

Okay. I will come back again.

The important point is that there is a commitment by the Government. I share the Deputy's confidence in terms of the capacity of social enterprises to deliver. I will have that conversation next week, but it would be fair to say that we are seeing a co-ordinated response from the Government. We are tackling the key issues. There is a deficit in some places around the provision of community childcare places. In saying that, I do not agree with the Deputy in every respect. I do not share her view on the for-profit is…

I will come back in again if I can.