Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

I will ask officials in my Department to talk to those in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government about that point. There is considerable merit in trying to use the rural transport system to link up to major arteries and other routes, and to the public transport system. It is not possible to put buses on every single route. We will consider the advocated approach in respect of the rural transport projects.

On the Deputy's suggestion on the night service, the night-time rural transport scheme can form part of the review of the service. The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has been operating it on a pilot basis. It will review it at the end of the year and that will certainly be useful.

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