Mr. J.J. Kavanagh:

Up to now, contracts with Bus Éireann were standard contracts. Back in the day, there was an annual review, which went out when five-year contracts came in, about ten years ago. Nobody could see the price hikes coming to the extent that they have done and, therefore, there was no necessity for a fuel price variation clause. The Coach Tourism and Transport Council of Ireland holds quarterly meetings with the Department of Education. This matter has been raised at recent meetings and the Department is considering it. The precedent is there. The National Transport Authority has variation clauses in some its contracts. They were not in some of the rural link contracts but the NTA has accepted there is a necessity for them. If we cannot make money at what we are doing and if it is not commercially viable, we will not have resources to reinvest in new, more modern vehicles, low floor wheelchair-accessible vehicles and Euro 6-compliant vehicles. Euro 6 vehicles currently are the only type of vehicle that makes sense for rural Ireland.