Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is referring to commercial bus routes. He will understand that I cannot force any commercial route to do anything in this situation. It is a commercial decision for them to decide as it is for Expressway to decide if it is a promotion that is worthwhile. Bus Éireann and the others have decided it is worth promoting. They are PSO routes. The NTA has decided it is worth promoting and there is great merit in ensuring these children get used to the Leap cards and the bus services, and it may pay them in the long run. If it is a commercial decision, I cannot intervene and I cannot make suggestions to it. If it is something into which the NTA has an input, we can certainly talk to it and ask it if it believes it is worth subsidising further.

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