Kelly: Getting rid of some public transport services 'illogical'

The Junior Transport Minister Alan Kelly has described suggestions that CIE should be allowed to go under as "illogical".

Yesterday, the Government announced that a further €36m will be pumped into CIE to protect public transport services.

Private transport operators have said CIE has been given enough money, but Minister Alan Kelly has said certain loss-making public transport services have to be protected by the State.

Mr Kelly said: "There are services right across the country that do not make a profit, but contribute hugely to the economy of the area.

"It is simply not easy to get rid of publicly funded transport services. That would be illogical as far as I am concerned."