Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)

There is €25 billion of a State surplus but not enough therapists for special schools in Cork, brown water coming out of the taps in Cork and bus services in a state of real crisis in Cork. We have buses that never arrive, buses that arrive late and buses that are jam-packed and just sail past the queues at the bus stops. This week, Bus Éireann has cut approximately 800 bus runs from five city services. Commuters and drivers are not happy and many of them will give their verdict at the ballot box. Make no mistake; the issue of the buses will be a major issue in Cork at the general election. The Minister for Transport visited Cork yesterday and promised that the cuts would be reversed within 15 weeks or, in other words, after the general election, another post-dated cheque from the Government. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, will not be sticking around for the next Dáil, where he might be held to account for that promise, but I intend to be here to see that promise is kept.

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