I want to raise the issue of rural transport, in particular the car parking situation at Bagenalstown train station. The train service there is excellent but the car park is consistently full, leaving commuters having to park in the town, clogging up much-needed space for local businesses and shoppers. I also firmly believe that the car parking charges at the train station should be abolished. The Government is doing its best in trying to encourage people to use public transport but these charges are a deterrent as they are an additional cost. Carlow-Kilkenny is now part of the commuter belt. I ask the Taoiseach to discuss the issue with the necessary bodies to make sure funding is make available for additional car parking facilities and to abolish car parking charges for Bagenalstown train station and indeed all rural train stations. We have to be encouraging people to use public transport, incentivising them rather than punishing them and making it unattractive. We have to ensure the public infrastructure is there. People in Carlow-Kilkenny should not be punished with additional costs and lack of facilities just because we live outside the M50.

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