That was VP314 on the 21.00 Dublin - Galway, a Galway bus, i seen it outside Busaras.

Generally speaking drivers are usually required to take whatever bus is allocated to them unless ofcourse there is a problem with the bus or something like that, but i do know lads who won't take old-ish buses on expressway work and in a way they are quite entitled to fight for another bus more suitable for a long distance bus if its available, especially if for example an SP is working a help on the Galway - Cork route only going as far as maybe Ennis or Limerick, and a VP or VG is sent on the Galway - Dublin route, i would think that it would be better for the VP or VG or whatever to do the shorter run to Limerick and the SP on the long-distance service to Dublin, but its usually just a case of whatever is there just accept it. Or even worse if there's an SP on a local run like for example Galway - Cong or Galway - Athenry or something like that and the VP or VG or 01 reg SC or 03 reg VC is sent to Dublin, but i don't think something like that would happen to often, but i know it does sometimes happen on route 51 Galway - Limerick/Cork, even just as a help. Not sure what garage men consider about it but i'm sure they would put a bit of thought into it but i think its more so down to the inspector on duty to make the final decision on what goes where and let him decide if the bus is good enough to do the long distance run. It doesn't really bother me too much what bus is on what route considering everything works in it. Although some drivers won't take an older bus on a long distance expressway run, but if there is another newer bus around at the time it makes no sense to send the older one on the long distance trip, unless ofcourse there may be a slight shortage or something.