The 20% reduction in public transport fares is a great initiative. However, there are unintended consequences in terms of private operators' routes. Route 307 goes to the University of Limerick and covers Castletroy College, while route 308 covers Groody Road and Ballysimon. Dublin Coach has announced that it is pulling that service effective from close of business on Friday. I very much welcome the 50% reduction that has been given across all operators. Has the Government considered the 20% reduction to all operators? The National Transport Authority made a pre-budget submission to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform looking for €2 million to €3 million to deal with situations where routes are being discontinued by private operators because they are not public service obligation, PSO, routes.

This is an extremely important issue for Limerick and Castletroy.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and for welcoming the reduction in public transport fares. The purpose of that initiative is to support PSO public transport every day throughout the country. That is the way in which it is being applied. We have, over the course of Covid, provided additional support to the private transport sector. I will ask the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to respond directly to the Deputy on this specific example he has raised in respect of the private sector.