Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá cúpla cheist agam. I still think costas riaradh na céibhe is very high. I would appreciate it if a detailed breakdown could be forwarded to the committee so we can see those details. We are going to be meeting officials from the Department to discuss this issue.

Mr. Murray referred to the reconvening of the islands committee, which is a very good idea. Are the representatives of Galway County Council in favour of that? Perhaps the remit of a reconstituted committee could include transport issues involving the Department and other stakeholders. This would enable it to act as the coiste iompair I discussed previously. Would the council be in favour of that?

According to the figures we have heard, there was a willingness to accept a figure of 80 cent in respect of 200,000 passengers each year. That would equate to €160,000 per annum. It is obvious that there is some horsetrading going on with the Department. According to the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, the Department was willing to put €40,000 or €50,000 on the table last year to try to resolve this issue. Surely there can be a meeting of budgets or funding to try to sort this issue out for once and for all. Galway County Council is looking for a certain amount of money to cover its costs. The Department and the operator are willing to come some of the way. Is that the approach we should be taking to try to put the by-laws to bed for once and for all?