The programme for Government commits to 10% of all bus routes essentially being privatised and put out to tender. The Minister will know that in Waterford city, 100% or all five of the bus routes have been put out to tender and we will know the outcome of that today.

That is not a question on promised legislation.

It is a commitment in the programme for Government. The question I am putting to the Minister is why 100% of the bus routes in Waterford city are being privatised. Is Waterford being used as a guinea pig in the Minister's privatisation experiment? Will he agree that if the Government privatises and outsources the profitable routes - these are five profitable routes - that will have an impact on the viability of the company which, in turn, will have an impact on the ability of the company to provide services in rural areas? We know that the Expressway services in many areas are under threat. The Minister might respond to those questions.

The decision on which routes ought to be selected for tendering is made independently and not by Government. However, clearly, there is a commitment that we would open up the opportunity for competitive tendering for some elements of our public transport services. That allows other providers to offer alternatives. It is good for the consumer and user to see alternative offerings. There is no guarantee as to who will win in that tender. The best tender offering the best service at the most competitive rates will win and that will be of benefit to consumers who seek to have improvement. We have seen that where there is open competition on the intercity routes - there is a wide variety of services offering - that they meet additional consumer needs. We must recognise that a monopoly delivery is not the sole way to go but, as the Deputy rightly said, certain public services will always have to be supported. The Government has made substantial money available to the public transport companies to ensure that we provide social routes as well as economic ones.