Mr. Ray Hernan:

I fully agree. Local knowledge is critical for us not only in providing the most appropriate service but also in allowing us to compete effectively against local operators in areas where there is competition. We would like to have a national policy, but it must be localised for the various services provided. We are carrying out reviews of our overall structures. My objective is to review all structures, including regional structures, to establish whether we can operate services better for the customer. The view is that the service must improve and that we can provide it more effectively from a cost perspective also.

We are examining that matter in considerable detail, but I do not foresee any situation under a new structure in which there would not be involvement at local level. It may be different, but it must and will be maintained.

Regarding fares, we provide ground-level feedback for and work closely with the NTA to highlight any nuance that needs to be considered. However, we must implement the fares it lays down on the PSO network. We assess this matter with it continuously in partnership.

On the final point about the possibility of job losses in the Expressway service, I do not want it to lose any job. We may be changing certain routes, but we are trying to minimise the number of changes, while also determining what can be done with staff on those routes that we may leave in terms of redeployment to other services, for example, PSO services. In regional towns and cities our business grew by 9% last year. That marketplace is growing significantly. The NTA provided us with an extra 100 buses last year - we will receive a further 100 this year - as replacements and to allow us to continue to grow. There will be opportunities for existing staff to move across if there is any loss of routes on the Expressway network.