I want to raise the issue of the extension of the youth travel card to commercial operators. Students and young adults who use private bus operators are at a severe disadvantage to those who are able to avail of the 20% discount on public transport and the 50% discount on the youth travel card. This is very significant for the thousands of young people who rely on private operators every day. Clarity will allow people to make decisions based on fair prices about future commuting plans in this cost of living crisis. Introducing one discount for public and not private operators is not open competition. I understand the National Transport Authority has established a joint working group with commercial bus operators and the Department of Transport to consider options and develop a plan to implement a youth adult card for commercial bus operators. It is vital that the Government provides clarity on this issue as soon as possible by confirming an introduction date for the discount on private transport.

Absolutely. There is no intention of discriminating between commercial bus operators and public bus operators on either the 20% or the 50% discount that we have introduced. There were real technical difficulties on the 20% cut in particular, given we do not regulate fares and we do not monitor cash or other systems. On the youth travel card and the 50% reduction, because of that working group we are on the path to apply it across all bus operators, including commercial operators. While I do not have a specific timeline, we are looking to deliver it as soon as possible. It is absolutely right that it should go to all bus operators.