Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State's response. I understand the need to carry out further research when the scheme is bedded in. Two or three weeks ago, I raised the need to ensure certainty for the second half of the academic year in 2023. I encourage the Government to make a policy decision on ongoing fare reductions, as long as it is sustainable to do so, as I outlined in my prior remarks on the subject. To pick up on Deputy O'Donnell's point about private operators, there is a fantastic operator in my constituency, alongside our Local Link services and the Swords Express. Private operators are at a significant disadvantage when fares are reduced for public transport providers. Regardless of who owns the service, they are providing a public service. We should offer fare reductions across the board and include those private operators.

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