Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In fact, the Government is expanding the public bus service in rural Ireland through increasing the amount of PSO funding to Bus Éireann and increasing the funding through the rural transport programme. The Deputy is well aware of that. Taken together, funding for both programmes has increased by €28 million in 2017 compared to last year. Total funding for both PSO and rural transport will amount to approximately €277 million this year.

In respect of the free travel scheme, the Minister, Deputy Ross, and the Minister for Social Protection have instructed their officials to report back to them very shortly on this matter. The Minister, Deputy Ross, has publicly stated that he expects ministerial level discussions will resolve that particular issue very satisfactorily. Policy, the PSO, rural transport and the free travel scheme are matters the Minister has been very active on-----

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