Mr. Feargal Barton:

I will take the question on marketing. We worked closely with Fáilte Ireland during this pandemic. We had meetings every two weeks and then every month. We worked closely with Fáilte Ireland as it put its guidelines back in place. We also discussed, as we come through this pandemic and move into the next phase of recovery for 2022 and 2023, training and the investment needed for the training of new entrants in the market, such as new drivers and staff. We have lost a number of drivers who have retired or left the industry for other industries. We have a good working relationship with Fáilte Ireland. During this period of time, Fáilte Ireland and many others involved in tourism will have understood the positive contribution coach tour operators make to regional economies. The sector is responsible for the transportation of visitors to retail and hospitality outlets and visitor attractions, the length and breadth of the country. They include restaurants, evening function venues, visitor locations, such as Trinity College Dublin and St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, and various different places similar to that. They now know the importance of coach tourism. This has been a collaborative process over the last 12 months or so, whereby we have tried to get our message across about how important this industry is, with it being responsible for 2 million visitors.

On the other elements of private transport, every aspect of private coach operation has been affected by the shutdown. Operators who had previously operated school transport contracts have had the opportunity to retender for those. Some of them operated extra 50% capacity vehicles. In general, school transport not only encompasses going in and out of the school, it also encompasses travel to matches, swimming events and day trips to various locations. In addition, school tours in 2020 and 2021, for which thousands of coaches had previously travelled the length and breadth of Ireland for, were cancelled. It has been a massive blow to every aspect of the industry, especially to tourism.