Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This topical issue was originally to have been taken last Thursday. Will the Minister of State confirm that he understands the free travel facility has been restored as of yesterday? If that is the case, and it is available again, then that is very welcome. I will be examining this matter in the constituency, but I ask the Minister of State to consider the European Commission's ruling and its implications for services across the State. There might be a lesson in that for the Government.

What level of co-operation exists between the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport concerning transport routes in County Donegal that were operating in recent years but are no longer in operation? What assistance can the Minister of State provide to reinstate such services, particularly for elderly people in rural areas? I raised this topical issue because it concerns an existing service which is economically viable for the operator. Other routes in more rural areas of County Donegal, however, have been lost. What can be done about them?

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