Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy should join Members on this side of the House as he is aware of my views on these issues. I have replied many times to criticism of providing rural services to the effect that attempts to provide services in rural Ireland always appear to be dear, while the cost of equivalent services provided in more urbanised locations never seems to be an issue. However, the seven pilots are in operation and an evaluation will be conducted. In this regard, one should try to ascertain how such projects can be as economically self-sustaining as possible.

Some interesting statistics have emerged thus far. From May 2007 to December 2007, 1,475 services carried a total of 13,000 passengers, of whom 64% were holders of free travel passes. This year, up to May 2008, 812 services have carried 6,072 passengers, of whom 66% held free travel passes. I had hoped that many people who did not hold free travel passes but who wanted to go out at night would avail of the services. Perhaps such people sought the freedom to have a drink or two or whatever or in other words, to do what people do in cities. The higher the ratio of paying to non-paying customers, the more sustainable are the services. In the review, I have asked that possibilities to increase income should be considered to facilitate spreading the service wider without a great increase in cost.

There is no point in me standing up in the House today and pretending I have a huge pot of gold as I do not. I know the contents of my Estimate and no doubt the Deputy has also studied it. However, this is a good service and it is worth reviewing it. The review will be rapid and I seek practical answers to ascertain how the money can be stretched further, if not nationally. Are there ways in which to increase the schemes' income in order that they are more self-financing and the service may be stretched further than at present? Obviously my response is only qualitative as the really accurate response will emerge from the review. However, the feedback I hear on the ground appears to be favourable. I do not know whether the Deputy has heard otherwise.

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