Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Surely it is the NTA’s concern. As Ms Graham has stated frequently, if those towns become non-serviced, the NTA is left to respond to gaps. It issues a licence in the first instance but if an operator sees that even though it is not losing money, it could make a higher percentage by cutting out certain towns, we will be left to respond. That is not right. This situation is not the NTA’s fault. As one of my colleagues mentioned, the NTA is operating under the legislation. Maybe that needs to be addressed. The phrase that has been used time and again this morning is “the NTA is responding”, but the NTA should be leading and providing an integrated public transport service outside and inside Dublin.

I seek clarification from the Department of Social Protection. The payment is based on the number of journeys taken as opposed to the number of free travel passes issued.