Mr. Ray Hernan:

On LocalLink, I accept that there has to be greater interaction between us, and perhaps greater co-ordination and planning, which will be facilitated through the auspices of the NTA, as it undertakes its review of the route network and the implementation of new services.

Accessibility is something we are all extremely conscious of. In respect of a person's age and when one reaches 18 years of age, it is a question of trying to get a co-ordinated response through bringing the various parties together on this. As the committee will understand, the Department of Education and Skills co-ordinates everybody under 18 years of age, in respect of providing transport services to the school or the location for people with accessibility and mobility issues. This responsibility goes to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport over the age of 18. I am not aware of any direct engagement with either Department on changing those rules. We are just implementing policy as it currently stands but I am happy to bring attention to it and raise it as an issue in any direct engagement we have with both Departments.

On schools, I do not wish to try to pass the buck on this, but I believe the committee would have a good idea of my answer on this. We operate the service on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills, and all policy issue relating to the provision of that service are set by that Department. The rules of eligibility and distance from the school, etc., as well as the family entitlement to go to the same school are ongoing issues for many rural communities. Those are issues that have been raised and about which we have had numerous discussions with the Department of Education and Skills. I understand is considering all of these aspects to try to streamline this and make it easier. Unfortunately, we can only implement the policies that we are given and we do apply them rigidly. If there are any disputes, there is an appeals process to cover that. We try to strictly apply the rules that are provided to us by the Department of Education and Skills.

On the question of fare structures, I might just hand over to my colleague, Mr. O'Mahony, particularly in the context of Goleen and west Cork.