Since September there has been a near collapse of bus services into County Meath, involving dozens and dozens of buses meaning services have been dropping every month, leaving passengers out in all types of weather. Absenteeism levels among drivers in Bus Éireann have reached 14%, which shows a significant level of dysfunction. As a former Minister for Transport, the Taoiseach will know that funding has collapsed in the past ten years. People are emerging from long-term unemployment and have difficulties with mortgages and rents. They have finally got jobs and want to use buses to get to their jobs but those buses are letting them down. These jobs are under threat and other people are looking to get to hospitals for procedures, operations and appointments but are late for them. There is a commitment in the programme for Government regarding public services. Is it not true that this commitment lives in rhetoric alone rather than in the practical experience of commuters?

I understand there have been issues in Bus Éireann in recent times regarding rosters, absenteeism and industrial relations but they are not a matter for me or for this House. I do not have the figures in front of me but there has been a very significant increase in the public service obligation, PSO, levy paid to CIÉ companies in the past three years and there will be a further increase next year.