Mr. Seamus McCarthy:

A line item in the Vote for the Department provides for the payments to Bus Éireann. Under an agreement between the Department and Bus Éireann, a methodology is used to calculate the amount due. This system has been in place since the 1970s. I am not aware that it has been updated since. I was planning to look at the methodology for it. As I understand it, the calculations are audited. The payments are based on a report prepared by independent auditors and submitted to the Department. I am not aware of the details of the recent payment. I do not know whether it was a stage payment in amounts provided for, or whether it was an additional payment.