Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not believe that the licensing system is flawed. I am of the view that we have a competitive and expanding market as a result of the licensing system. The public has responded to the market because they are quickly flocking to public transport, perhaps not in quite the numbers that we would like. Therefore, we have had to lay on more buses, both private and PSO. I do not think the system is flawed. It is a fairly successful licensing system because we have a thriving and certainly expanding public transport service. The industrial action is a very big problem but I do not think it is due to the licensing system. It is due to a lot of other things that we shall discuss in due course.

The free travel scheme is being negotiated by officials in my Department and the Department of Social Protection. The negotiations are at an advanced stage and have lasted some weeks. The officials are considering giving a fair amount back to the people who operate the free travel system and want to ensure that the scheme is updated. The free travel system was frozen in 2010. I cannot remember the exact figure but I think €23 million has been paid every year for the scheme since 2010. That has been wrong because the tourism market has expanded due to more people travelling and the demographics make a difference. All of this means there is a necessity for an adjustment from which all of the transport companies would benefit. I hope to soon report that talks have been concluded with the Department of Social Protection.