Ms Anne Graham:

In regard to direct award services, which we have with Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, we are required to ensure that they are provided in the most efficient way. We also consider whether competition is required to be brought into those markets. We made a decision a number of years ago to introduce a limited amount of competition into the PSO market in order to check competitive tension. The cost associated with the direct award is whether the State is getting the best value for money. They are the only decisions that have been made in regard to the level of provision by private operators and the level of provision by the State operators.