Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have to go but I only have a brief question on rural transport in the context of the presentation in which reference was made to the new tendering process. Is was stated that all rural transport services are being retendered and that there are 290 contracts in place. In light of some of the comments made by Deputy O'Donovan and the fact the Chairman and others, including myself, have raised in the past the bypassing of certain towns and villages by the national bus company, can the NTA include a criteria, which I do not think it does now, under the new tendering process to provide for co-ordination of timetabling in rural areas? That would allow people who want to access the national bus service, which they cannot do in their local villages, to do so in the larger towns. In my part of the country, that would be Longford. Timetables should be co-ordinated to ensure that those people, many of whom are elderly, could access the national bus routes.

My last point is a comment and it is not being smart. I am a great supporter of plain English. What does "novate" mean? I would be a grateful for a written reply on my specific questions.