Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the delegates from the NTA. They should not take my comments personally. I am very disappointed over comments I have heard here today on giving out licences and allowing operators to decide themselves what runs to do. As elected members, our primary reason for being here today is to ensure rural people have a transport service, including a bus service. They are entitled to a public transport service, a social service, be they from Caherciveen or Dingle. The delegates said a private operator is not compelled to offer free travel to those with a free travel pass, including the disabled and elderly, and that private operators can take on whatever run they like.

I was disappointed to hear Deputy O'Keeffe talking only about Cork and the region to the east or north and not mentioning Kerry. I know he goes to Kerry every second year to Fitzgerald Stadium. We are affected in Kerry also.