Six days ago, we learned that a consultancy firm had recommended to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport that Bus Éireann's Expressway operations be shut down. We know the report recommends the axing of more than 500 jobs and the closure of ten bus depots. However, there is much that we do not know. For example, we do not know which bus depots Grant Thornton recommends shutting. Does the hit list include Tralee, Wexford, Ennis, Clonmel or Ballina? Does it include Sligo, Cavan, Letterkenny, Athlone or Waterford?

I am challenging the Taoiseach to put this information before the House and to say that he will publish the report. It is no secret that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, thinks himself rather good at his job. I sometimes think Otto the bus driver from "The Simpsons" would have more of a clue. The Minister was very alert to the rights of rural communities when he issued a call to arms to save the Stepaside Garda station. Why does he not show the same concern when rural communities outside of his constituency face abandonment by his Department? The unions have requested a meeting with the Department, the National Transport Authority, NTA, and Bus Éireann to tackle this crisis. Why does the Minister continue to ignore such a reasonable request?

Has the Minister made the Taoiseach aware of the reports from credible sources of a private operator, licensed for significant routes, paying drivers cash in hand, a practice which is against the law of the land? If he has not, why not? Does he even know? Other operators pay the minimum wage, a little above the minimum wage and in all other cases below Bus Éireann trade union rates. There should be a threshold of decency. They should be required to pay the Bus Éireann rates. Why does the Government not enforce minimum standards of this type? Is it the game plan of the Cabinet to leave the highly lucrative intercity routes to be run by private operators while the State operates run-down services on other non-profitable routes?

The Government has bailed out the banks to the tune of scores of billions but it refuses to bail out Bus Éireann to the tune of even a few million. The State invests in health and education but it refuses to invest seriously in public transport. This Government has three options. First, it can shut down Expressway immediately. Second, it can shut down Expressway slowly - death by a thousand cuts - by hammering the services or the workers, or a combination of both. The Government should be aware that it will meet serious resistance should it choose any of these options. The third option, which is the option that would be chosen by a left government, recognising that this is a country consistently ranked among the 20 wealthiest countries in the world and that it deserves a word class public transport service, the Government should invest seriously in public transport. Does the Taoiseach accept that the time has come for Government to choose the third option?

The Minister, Deputy Ross, briefed the Cabinet on this matter this morning. He has not received or had sight of the report and, therefore, he could not have read it. I understand that-----

Every journalist in the Gallery has a copy of the report. What the Taoiseach said is not credible.

The Minister, Deputy Ross, must have made a very revealing presentation.

It was a short Cabinet meeting.

Order, please.

The Minister has not received it. I understand the company has commenced discussions on proposals designed to restore the company to profitability. I hope that the trade unions and management involved can engage in realistic and constructive discussions about the serious challenges Bus Éireann now faces.

I understand the commercial arm of Bus Éireann - Expressway - loses approximately €6 million per annum. These losses threaten the company as a whole. It is important to note that these losses are not as a result of Government funding.

Subvention cuts.

Bus Éireann's PSO network is performing well, financially and operationally. Contrary to Deputy Mick Barry's statement, last year, it received almost €40 million in PSO funding, which is approximately 17% more than it received in 2015 and the PSO services carried almost 32 million people, which is a 5% increase on the previous year. The losses are related to Expressway services which compete with other operators. There has been strong growth in the commercial bus sector, with almost 23 million people using commercial buses in 2015. This passenger growth is not being experienced in Expressway. Contrary to some reports, there has not been a glut of new licences issued in recent years, with only eight licences having been issued since 2011 and 11 applications having been rejected. These changes to the bus market have resulted in the loss of services to some towns and villages. I understand that in recent years some areas have lost commercial services but that these have been replaced with PSO services by the National Transport Authority to ensure continued connectivity. The NTA will continue to use its statutory powers to ensure the continuation of public transport connectivity for local communities across rural Ireland.

The Minister has commented on that in the context of whatever outcome to the discussions between management and unions applies, and a rural transport service will continue to be provided. This is not a problem of policy but it is a commercial problem that requires a commercial response. I urge both sides to engage constructively in the coming weeks on this issue, which is difficult but important for the people of the country given the figures I have mentioned to Deputy Barry already.

I find it quite incredible that The Irish Times could publish the Grant Thornton report on its front page, not one or two days ago but six days ago, and that the Taoiseach's Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has not read a copy of it six days on.

He has not received it.

Has he read a copy of it?

He cannot get his hands on it.

He should use some of his journalist contacts.

He cannot get his hands on it. He has searched high and he has searched low. He has searched the highways and the byways for the Grant Thornton report. The poor old Minister cannot get his hands on a copy of it. Who does the Taoiseach think he is codding?

I thought the Deputy was going to say-----

I note that reports have emerged this morning on an internal Government report of 2014 that recommended a €50 annual charge for the free travel pass. We are told that the report was shelved. I just wonder how it found its way onto the front page of The Irish Times this morning. Unless the Taoiseach wants a repeat of the great medical card revolt of 2008, he would do well to make sure that report stays on the shelf. I suggest that he tell his Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to get his hands on the Grant Thornton report. It is not that difficult. Maybe he could then come into the House and answer some of the questions being put to him.

I did answer the Deputy's question, and I did say the Minister briefed the Cabinet this morning.

On what?

On his dinner last night.

He had not received the report.

Could we have order, please?

He could not have read the report and therefore was not going to go into detail on it. He did point out this is a matter between management and the unions.

Was it on a synopsis of his next book that he briefed us? A bestseller for next Christmas.

I hope they engage in constructive debate on what is a serious issue. Deputy Mick Barry said no money was being provided by the State. Some €40 million of public money was allocated to the PSO last year. The company carried almost 32 million people-----

The Taoiseach said that already.

-----representing a 5% increase on the year before. It is not a case of Government policy; it is a case of the commercial response. This is now a matter between the unions and the management, and I hope they engage on constructive propositions.

I will remind the Minister, Deputy Ross, that if he goes out to wherever Deputy Barry indicated, he might suddenly find the Grant Thornton report coming at him but it is not available to him at the moment. In an indirect way, the Deputy is complimenting The Irish Times on being able to publish it on the front page.