Vital bus routes and public transport services should not only run if a private company can make a profit out of them. A private company, Aircoach, has just announced that it is going to cut several routes, including one that goes through my area. The cut means there will no longer be a route going from Shankill, Ballybrack and Loughlinstown to Dublin Airport. Bus drivers in my area are telling me that the No. 7 route is possibly to be handed over to Go-Ahead Ireland. That is a company that made losses last year and is failing to fulfil its contract to provide routes all over the place. Incredibly, it will be rewarded with one of the best routes that Dublin Bus has. This stuff has to stop. Privatisation of public transport is a failure. We need to put in place a service to the airport because it is a necessary public good. Similarly, we should not be privatising more Dublin Bus routes.

We continue to invest in public service transport, and will continue to do so. In respect of the specific issue, approximately €660 million has been assigned for the public service obligation, PSO, and Transport for Ireland Local Link services. That is a significant increase on previous budgets. It also covers various fare initiatives, such as the young adult card and the 90-minute fare, until the end of 2025.

The Airport Hopper bus services that the Deputy has identified-----

It is an Aircoach route.

-----between Maynooth and Tallaght and Dublin Airport were withdrawn by the operator. If there is a withdrawal, it is a matter for the Minister, and the NTA in the first instance. Decisions will be made as to whether we can resume with the help of the PSO and whatever else, but an evaluation has to take place first.