Mr. Gerry Murphy:

The concept is that if subsidies are available for public transport they can go to whomever one has a contract with so they could go to other companies. The reality, however, is that the money is needed for the services the CIE companies currently provide. Last year we tendered the Durrow service which the Deputy mentioned, on the basis that the operator would contract with us on the basis of the fares revenue. The operator advises us now that he cannot survive on that basis and that he will pull out in February. We will advertise that contract again and there will be a subsidy included in that tender competition.