Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Hernan. Can Mr. Hernan explain why, on the main subvented radial or basic commuter routes - except on Expressway - out of the third-level towns, for example, ones with major hospitals, third-level colleges, developed Government Departments, etc., the last bus departs at 6 p.m.? Why are the buses, as one would get, for example, around the city here, not running up to 11 p.m. and midnight? Maybe Mr. Hernan could explain that to us, particularly taking into account that under the Department of Education and Skills guidelines for the adjacent grant for a third level student, that is, one who is meant to go home every evening, the distance criterion is 45 km?

Can Mr. Hernan explain why on all those routes where students are meant to travel home every evening the last bus out of town is 6 p.m. and why do the services not run up to 11 p.m. as in the case of the town services?