Rural transport proposals fail to answer some real dilemmas

TO win the looming general election, the Government is prepared to drive people to drink, literally.

Many rural publicans say their businesses are under threat because transport links are inadequate and customers are less likely to drive because of random breath-testing.

Apart from being a blatant electioneering gimmick, the proposal on the rural transport scheme — as announced by Éamon Ó Cuív, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs — is a little bit off the wall because it is ill-thought out on a number of points.