Scepticism over Ó Cuív plans for bus service

GOVERNMENT plans to extend the local transport network to counteract the demise of the rural pubs have been described as the equivalent of ‘tickets to fantasy land’ by a local councillor working in one of the affected country areas.

Minister for Community, Rural, and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív yesterday said the Government was considering extending the rural transport network in light of complaints from publicans in rural areas that their livelihoods were at risk because of inadequate alternative transport provisions for customers in the wake of the introduction of random breath testing.

However, councillors around the country, including two from the minister’s own party, have said such a system would simply not work.