Mr. Gerard Macken:

In response to Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, just before he came in, I read out my proposal.

I have already met the providers of Rural Link services plus the NTA and they are in favour of doing exactly what the Deputy asked, namely, providing a subsidy for existing drivers to be allocated within these areas in order to provide the service and to drive the extra distances where necessary. At present, there is a rural hackney service that the legislation is framed around. The criteria were far more difficult than deemed necessary. These lads have local knowledge. The test for them is not as extreme as the rest. This service exists but has not worked. What has been proposed is tweaks to this existing service in totally isolated areas where this service could be provided.