The programme for Government contains a commitment to recognise the value and benefit of rural transport to many communities, in particular older people vulnerable to social isolation. It goes on to say that the Government will examine how best to improve integration of services in the rural bus network within regions, including public buses, school transport and the Health Service Executive, HSE, transport networks. However, what is happening within Bus Éireann flies in the face of that commitment. Last week, the Taoiseach gave an assurance to Deputy Troy that there would be no reductions or cuts in services or routes across the regions of rural Ireland. We have now moved on from a concern about Expressway services to one where the acting chief executive is saying that Bus Éireann services in their entirety are in jeopardy, with 2,600 jobs at risk. There cannot be a rural transport system if that comes to fruition.

In many ways, there has been policy by stealth under way with regard to public transport. Essentially, that is what is behind the moves in respect of Bus Éireann. It is not just a narrow management-union issue. Who is in charge of the implementation of the rural transport network aspect of the programme for Government? Can the Taoiseach indicate what steps will be taken to realise the laudable objectives in the programme for Government pertaining to such transport?

Deputy Martin is well aware of the industrial relations mechanism that now kicks in regarding the dispute between the management and unions at Bus Éireann. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has commented that in the event of changes introduced by Bus Éireann in rural transport, the gap will be filled by the National Transport Authority. The latter is referred to in the programme for realising our rural potential that we launched yesterday. The programme contains a section dealing with both the requirements involved and the necessity to have rural transport provided for people throughout the country. That will fall under the monitoring of the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, so there are two separate issues. Clearly, the assessment of the quality and value of rural transport is one. The outcome of the discussions and negotiations between management and unions in Bus Éireann might well have an impact on that element of rural transport having to be provided in a different way in the future.