Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister will also be aware that in some places where public bus services are not available people have access to privately operated services. Approximately 90 private operators operate the free travel scheme. Some of those are threatening to withdraw from the scheme. Can the Minister give us an assurance that she will be able to retain those 90 operators within the scheme? Does the Government have any proposals to increase the number of private operators? I believe it is the Government's intention for more routes to be privatised or at least that more routes will be given to private operators on some routes currently available only to Bus Éireann.

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