Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Essentially, this is just to regularise some anomalies. Every member knows I have made significant and progressive changes to the provision of rural transport.

I want to ensure a greater joining up of transport services across the country in order to deliver better services. I have received a lot of support from all parties and some good suggestions. In order to deliver better services, we need to remove some anomalies, particularly the direct awarding of contracts to some of the operators who currently provide services under the rural transport programme. The provision will regularise the position.