Rural Transport cut is unacceptable - Kelly

Cllr Anthony Kelly has branded the Fine Gael/ Labour government’s planned restructuring of rural transport as just another phrase for cuts to vital services that rural communities cannot do without.  Speaking at yesterdays Bannow Rathangan Show where he met many people who could be adversely affected by these changes to the transport schemes, the Wexford Sinn Féin rep said that the cut would confine many elderly people to their homes and was simply unacceptable.

"Presenting cost saving cuts to community services seems to be a favourite tactic of this administration," Cllr Kelly said.  "When it comes down to it, this has nothing to do with restructuring rural transport and everything to do with shaving away even more state expenditure.  Once again, the government has targeted ordinary communities while the super wealthy are allowed to go seemingly unscathed."

"These transport schemes are essential in rural communities, especially for elderly people who use the service to visit local shops and chemists.  I have spoken to many older people who live alone in isolated rural areas of this county who have told me that this service is the only thing that gets them out of the house and allows them to connect with other people.  It is unacceptable that it can be just switched off by this austerity mad government."

"Sinn Féin believes that the government should be investing in rural communities instead of trying to run them into the ground with their hair-brained cost saving measures.  Instead of picking easy targets like the rural transport scheme, special needs children and the sick and disabled, this government should be introducing a wealth tax and a third band of income tax for those who earn over €100,000 per annum."