It is with interest to hear that the government has decided to lease 45 buses from the UK for a year.

It is very evident that after disposing of Arriva and assuring us that there was a Plan B, there was no such thing.

It has been quite evident over the past months since the contract vehicles took over that many were not up to the required Public Service Vehicle Standard. I have already written listing the defects which apparently fell on deaf ears (until now).

Some of the mini-buses used on a number of routes are driven in an impatient manner with no regard for passengers’ comfort. Many drivers ignore sleeping policemen and potholes. Time schedules are not always adhered to and many elderly passengers have difficulty alighting and opening and closing door.

I also note that once again the government is still paying these contract buses €40,000 per day.

Furthermore, there are still no ticket machines on these buses, and apart from an isolated ticket collector alighting and departing after a stop or two, no fares are taken .