Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Imelda Munster asked about value for money. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has commissioned a review which will probably be published at the end of the year. In referring to outside the public transport network I take it the Deputy is again talking about privatisation. We have made clear what we have done in putting routes out to tender and have the results. As far as I know, there is a 10% ceiling. I have no intention of going any further, nor have I received representations to do so. No one in government has ever mentioned it to me as a proposition that we should adopt a policy of outsourcing and that is not the plan. The plan is to limit it but to have competition in the market. A figure of no more than 10% is intended.

I have a note on rural transport. In the context of the drink driving Bill I asked the NTA to carry out a review and it is to introduce some pilot schemes to test matters. It has put a budget to one side to implement it. We intend to address the question of isolation by seeing whether these pilot schemes work, are used and make an impact on what is a serious problem. I do not accept that it is related to the drink driving Bill, but we are going to do it because we accept that it is a problem to the remedying of which the NTA and the Department may be able to make a contribution.