Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

From time to time some operators pull out of the scheme while other operators join it. I am aware there are cost issues for some of the operators. We are anxious to maintain those routes. As the Deputy will be aware, a number of rural transport initiatives are supported not just by my Department, but particularly by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. They can make a very specific provision of small-scale local carriage and bus services, for example, from a small village to a larger town, which are particularly popular with people such as retired people, who may be anxious to go into the next big town in order to do business or attend social events or other public events.

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