This article is from page 16 of the 2009-09-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
MORE than three hundred people took part in a street protest in En- nis in opposition to a proposal by An Bord Snip Nua to end the Rural Transport Programme.
Members and supporters of Clare Accessible Transport (CAT), who were participating in a nation-wide day of action against the proposal, claim that any funding cuts would have a detrimental impact on rural communities throughout Clare.
Addressing a crowd in Ennis town centre on Friday, Mayor of Clare, Councillor Tony Mulcahy under- lined the valuable contribution made by CAT to communities across the County.
He said: “The McCarthy report advocates the total abolition of the rural transport programme. This rec- ommendation has been made with- out due consideration being given to the considerable effect that such a cut would have on the lives of many thousands of people. CAT has a net- work of routes that facilitate people in remote areas who wish to avail of local services.
These communities will be denied access to such vital services if CAT is denied funding.”
Mayor Mulcahy noted that helping disabled persons and the elderly re- tain their independence was only one aspect of rural transport.
“It is very much a part of the fab- ric of the community, enabling com- munity groups, after school projects,
family resource centres, and the Health Service Executive to provide access to their programmes. I would appeal to Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Eamon O Cuiv to carefully consider this fact before making any decision regard- ing the Rural Transport Programme,’ he concluded.
The Feakle-based CAT service makes 3,000 passenger trips a month all across Clare, employs 21 people and now caters for a broader range of
people than ever.
30 per cent of our passengers are under 25 years of age and we cater for tourists as well,’ a spokeswoman for the service said.
“We get emails from Japan and Italy, lots of places, booking trips. We want to support tourism through sustainable transport.”
On the road for seven years, CAT provides flexible transport for any- one who wishes to join. The service is free to travel pass holders and is
reduced for under 16s.
For many living in isolated parts of the county with no car, the service is their only way of getting to and from doctors appointments, doing their shopping, attending to business and having some social contact in their day.