Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The increases are quite satisfactory. They have gone up over recent years and will continue to do so. They should be focused most where they are most needed. I am conscious that some rural communities feel that they have been neglected or deprived in recent times. My opinion is not that important because that scheme is run by the Department of Social Protection and the NTA has an input as well. Politically, we should be conscious that there is a need for rural areas which feel that they are isolated to be serviced by the buses. It is something that we as politicians should be aware of. There are non-commercial areas and they must be looked after. New services are an obvious focus but this is mostly a matter for the NTA. However, I am conscious that there has been much discontent in rural areas where people were worried - wrongly worried - particularly during the dispute that they might become isolated but the connectivity has been assured in all those cases.