Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Three routes are threatened with withdrawal, and there is a possible insolvency issue if the board of Bus Éireann cannot sign off on the company's accounts. If there is to be a loss of service, we are into insolvency territory and the State will have to intervene because people cannot be left without services. Has there been any quantification of the costs in this regard? Is it down to contractors' pitches or does the NTA design the contract, tell the contractor what the PSO service is and then invite the contractor to tender for the service? If the latter, the contractor tenders for a service that is not commercial. Does Ms Graham know the costs of those services at this stage? Have they been quantified?