Host towns along the western and southern seaboards should not have to pay the internal transport costs of Special Olympic delegations. Transport should be provided free of charge by Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, relieving host committees of the burden of finding thousands of euro, a councillor in Kerry has suggested.
Cllr Michael Gleeson, of the South Kerry Independent Alliance, who is both a town and county councillor, estimates the cost for the 94-strong Italian delegation to Killarney at around €4,000.
This is made up mainly of buses and trains from Dublin Airport to Kerry and back. Other host towns, such as Tralee, Waterville, Kenmare and Caherciveen are facing large transport costs as are most towns in the west and south, because of their distance from Dublin, he said.
He has now written to Mr Brennan, the Minister for Transport, urging him to request Íarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann to provide the transport free. "The Special Olympics is a wonderful occasion for Ireland and it affords the country a unique opportunity to show the world that we are truly Ireland of the Welcomes," Cllr Gleeson said.
A Government decision that would alleviate transport costs, would greatly ease the financial burden on the voluntary committees, he said.
The financial costs on towns and villages in the west was greater than those on the east coast, because of transport costs and a ministerial decision would "equalize" matters with the east coast, he said.
A spokesman for the minister said any representations would be passed onto the relevant bodies.
An Íarnrod Éireann spokesman said the company was giving discounts for groups but would not be giving free travel.