Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister said in his statement that the PSO funding is at a steady state. Does he not agree that Bus Éireann is in need of an enormous increase in funding given the state of rural transport? He cannot be happy with the service level. Some places do not have a single bus while others might have one per week. Figures I obtained on the NTA show it has cut funding to Bus Éireann by approximately €6.4 million by comparison with last year's figure. I refer to capital and current expenditure. Given the crisis in rural transport, could the Minister explain the thinking behind that? Although extra money is given under the rural transport programme, is it a case of funding that programme and taking funding from Bus Éireann? Bus Éireann is the main provider of public rural transport.