Varadkar under fire over rural transport

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has been told to “get out of Dublin” and meet rural communities to see the importance of the Rural Transport Network which he plans to abolish.

Fianna Fáil’s transport spokesperson, Timmy Dooley, called on the minister to clarify plans to scrap the scheme which were revealed in yesterday’s Irish Examiner, saying it displayed the “insensitivity” of the Coalition’s policy towards rural dwellers.

The scheme organises and delivers transport to the most isolated areas, usually serving elderly people. Under plans being drawn up, the 35 community-based companies that run it will be abolished and replaced by a new regime run by eight regional authorities.