Mr. Hugh Creegan:

I agree with all that the Deputy had to say in regard to BusConnects. Principles such as short waiting times, good facilities in regard to interchange, bus shelters and so on are at the heart of what we are trying to do in redesigning the network of services. It is important to point out that the redesigned network plan, which will be published at the beginning of July, provides for more bus services across the regions. This is not about a reduction in bus services. It is about additional bus services and a more efficient system. Most people will gain but there will be people who will be upset because the routes will not be as they were previously. Nevertheless, the design of the system is such that there will be a lot more orbital services. Currently, a lot of people have to come into the city centre to transfer to a radial route. If the new design is implemented, people will have greater options to travel orbitally around the centre of the city. They will no longer have to come into the centre of the city to transfer to services to outer suburbs.