Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I will first answer about Expressway. As the Deputy is aware Expressway covers interurban services. It is already deregulated and is fully competitive. Bus Éireann has made profits out of its Expressway services in the past. While Expressway is not currently profitable, it could become profitable again. The NTA adjudicates on whether licences are given on those routes. Bus Éireann has expressed concern to me and to the Minister of State regarding the number of licences granted on some of those routes. At the same time the NTA is the regulator making that decision on Expressway and decides the number of routes that are viable. There are differing views among Bus Éireann, the private operators and consumers as to what the appropriate number of services should be.

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