Mr. Aidan Murphy:

Among the driver cohort, the figure will be 120.

The Deputy also raised free travel. While the budget has been agreed between the Departments of Finance and Transport, Tourism and Sport, the details are being worked out. The important point for Bus Éireann is that the mechanism for handling this must be dealt with correctly. While the amount of money is important, the issue for us is the mechanism. The Deputy is correct that 43% of those who are entitled to free travel are availing of the facility and that is the level for which we are being compensated but we were carrying up to 70%.

As the numbers vary, we need to get fixed not on an amount but on a percentage that makes sense. Therefore, as the number of passengers increases, the figure automatically adjusts. This is the discussion taking place with the Department at present that is being finalised. There is no doubt but that there is a substantial improvement on the current situation.