Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful for the presentation. It is heartening to see that the number of passengers has increased by 700,000. Do we have a target for how much we want to increase those numbers? It was stated that there was a loss in 2015 but the numbers are increasing. Where will the 116 new vehicles be concentrated? While they are all wheelchair accessible, how does it leave the fleet in terms of wheelchair accessibility? I am not sure if we are up to 100% and I would like the witnesses to give us an idea of where we are in relation to that very important issue.

The last time the witnesses were in, we talked about routes 5 and 7 and the serious effects on the local communities. There were direct connections through private transport. The witnesses are saying now that the agreement that has been reached there has helped. Can it be explained because I was not following it too well and would just like to get my head around how much of an impact it has had? We had a lot of complaints from people in the communities along the routes.

Tendering for some of the routes was mentioned. I remember that when we argued about this before, the Government was talking about putting 10% out to tender. However 100% of Bus Éireann routes in Waterford was mentioned. If we are going to tender those and will give up 100%, what are we aiming to do in Waterford? I would like to know what we are trying to do. Is it the intention to privatise that whole section or is Bus Éireann going to tender for the service also? I would like that to be explained to me because I find it a bit contradictory.

Have there been huge savings in fuel costs? I would have thought that there would have been massive savings with the way fuel prices have gone which would have helped in terms of targets. The Minister tells us that the PSO is remaining the same. When I was reading some of this earlier, I noted that there were to be changes in the PSO for Kerry and Mayo. Those are planned to be implemented in the near future. How will that impact on those areas? Will the changes affect services and will there be cutbacks in some of the routes? Will the routes be more direct?

Can the witnesses explain how the community has an input in all of this? Do people go out to talk to the community? What way is it done? I know there were meetings on routes 5 and 7. When it is intended to do something new and areas are being considered, is there direct contact with the community?