Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for that update. I welcome the joint working group and the commitment to engagement with regard to the issue of the youth travel card. That needs to happen as quickly as possible. I also draw the Minister of State's attention to this matter. It is important to point out that there needs to be movement regarding the 20% fare reduction on non-PSO routes. Operators have told me they acknowledge the progress on the youth travel card. They need movement with regard to the 20% fare reduction. When they engaged with the Minister in relation to this, he said that not only were there technical issues with the youth travel card but there was no additional funding to move on the 20%. At the same time, however, or very shortly after, there was movement on the student Leap card for 12 to 19-year-olds, which is separate to the youth travel card.

I make the point that it is really important there is consistency across the board. If our objective is to maximise the number of people who will be using public transport in the years ahead, and if we acknowledge that it will be a mixture of PSO, commercial, private bus operators and State operators, then we need to ensure the viability of all the component parts of that. There is a risk in setting a two-tier approach that this will not happen.

In my remaining 20 seconds, I ask the Minister of State to relay those points to the Minister but also those in respect of school bus transport. The Coach Tourism and Transport Council, CTTC, private bus operators said they will not make it to the end of the year. They have not seen a dime in extra money despite the increasing cost of fuel. That needs to be resolved as well.

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