Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the delegation. My questions are along similar themes. I acknowledge the right of the delegations to make as strong a case as possible for their services. I come from County Leitrim. Deputy O'Mahony referred to Carracastle. Bus Éireann has decided that its Expressway service from Sligo to Dublin will no longer pick up passengers in a number of villages in County Leitrim. Its stated reason for this is that it does not have a public service subsidy and competition with private operators. The private operators are operating a service from Sligo to Dublin and could not care less about Dromod, Roosky or anywhere else. What confidence is there that, given what is being sought here, private operators will satisfy and address the needs of rural Ireland? I refer Mr. Mullins to the map provided.

There is a swathe of the country, including the midlands and the north west, where there does not appear to be anything at all. Nevertheless, there are private services between Galway and Dublin and Sligo and Dublin. These are competing unfairly. Does the delegation not see it as unfair that there is criticism of Bus Éireann, which is doing its best even without a public service subsidy to maintain services and whose representatives are willing to meet with local communities to address the issues as best they can? It seems like Bus Éireann has its left hand tied behind its back because it must also deal with competitors which could not care less about small villages and towns along the way. It seems like these businesses seek to cherry-pick profitable routes between large centres.

How will the witnesses address the issue of rural services and provide a comprehensive service to isolated rural people - such as those under the rural transport programme - without subsidies? That is the theme of my question.