Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I again recognise there are many services and Local Link operated many of them prior to 2018. At the request of the Minister and his junior Minister, who were under pressure, as well as Deputy Heydon and others, there was a big story that a pilot scheme would be provided. The truth will always come out about what we got in Kerry. We got eight extra services, and one of them is once per month. Nobody can deny that here, there or anywhere.

It is hard to follow everything but it has been mentioned that insurance will be subsidised for some of those who will provide a service. There will be uproar among the hackneys and taxis already paying massive insurance. If we are to be realistic, we must talk to those people and subsidise those who are already trying to provide a service. The witnesses argue this is for an area with no service but there is a hackney service in towns and parishes all over Ireland. Somebody or perhaps many people would have a hackney service. It would not be financially viable to operate during the week and at the weekend they might go to a busy town to get a bit of work. Rural Ireland would still be left behind.