Criticism of plans to bring in a night-link bus service in country areas was dismissed by rural leaders yesterday.
The National Rural Development Forum, meeting in Athenry, Co Galway, was told that such a service was crucial to the quality of life in rural areas.
Those opposed to the scheme have labelled it a "booze bus" and said the money could be spent on better things.
The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Eamon Ó Cuív, said it was essential for community life in rural Ireland and he rejected the way it had been portrayed in the Dublin-based media.
"Article after article from the Dublin-based press derided the idea that people in rural areas might have a night-time transport system to ferry them to and from the pub. Regional newspapers, and indeed the regional correspondents of national newspapers, reported accurately what I actually said, which was that I was proposing a night-time rural transport system, to tackle rural social isolation, which would be community-led and provide transport to social gatherings, bingo, Mass, youth clubs etc and amongst those would be transport to the pub," he said.
Mr Ó Cuív said what was planned was four or five pilot schemes in selected rural areas, which would run for 12 months. The cost would be in the region of €500,000.
He said there would be no displacement of existing commercially-viable services and that a significant number of community groups operating daytime rural transport schemes had already expressed an interest in being part of the pilot scheme.
Mr Ó Cuív said it was hoped to have the pilot projects up and running by early summer. Some community leaders said the negative image created so far had done little to enhance the scheme.