Kieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will be very quick. Does the Minister accept that the PSO model that is in place is broken and outdated and that on the Expressway routes, the losses to Bus Éireann, ironically, are artificially inflated. Take the Limerick to Dublin route, which I know. On that route there are private operators and there is Bus Éireann. Private operators do not take people with travel passes; Bus Éireann is required to take them yet on that route, no PSO subsidy is provided. On a fairness basis, are we seeing a situation where the losses are artificially inflated because no PSO subsidy is given but Bus Éireann has to take people who have a free travel pass? Would the Minister accept that the PSO model in place is outdated, needs to be looked at again and needs to provide for a modern Ireland?