Mr. Dermot O'Leary:

Deputy Troy referred to the NTA. I work with Ms Anne Graham and her colleagues in the NTA and I have the height of respect for that lady. However, that does not stop me criticising what I sometimes consider to be the NTA's over-reach in terms of its power and authority.

To answer Deputy Troy's question, we were out yesterday talking about BusConnects. Of course, there is much positivity in it. I am not here to talk it down. Hopefully, the opportunity of the meeting with the committee next week will allow us to interrogate some of the details of the BusConnects plan. My colleague has just reminded me that, for example, there are thousands of Down's syndrome commuters in Dublin and they have to be route trained to access buses when they commute to school, college and, in many cases, work. unless we are corrected and hopefully we will be next week, the reduction in services in housing estates will mean the recognisable people in wheelchairs who live on those estates may find they either have to find their own way out onto the main corridors that are being proposed or use a feeder service. Given the way it is presented, it will discommode many people. Interchanging will be a huge factor for people with disabilities, whether they have an intellectual or mobility disability.

Mr. Ciarán Delaney will answer the Deputy's question more directly but I wish to make another point. One of my colleagues in the Public Gallery made a point to me before the meeting about the bus cage. This relates to the Dublin Bus driver in particular but not exclusively. The bus cage is the length of the bus stop, which effectively is longer than the bus, in which the bus has to park. The number of cars and lorries that park in bus cages has gone way beyond what is reasonable and acceptable. If I had my way tomorrow morning, there should be no comeback for people who park in bus cages and penalty points should be applied. That is what I would do in the morning in terms of accessing the bus cage. Mr. Delaney knows what I mean.