Ms Margaret Malone:

In relation to Deputy Collins's questions on the additional call for the evening services to the LocalLink groups, this was a restricted call to the five groups that did not submit initially. We subsequently received applications from all five and there is a total of 12 proposals or services being considered at the moment. We would hope to have a decision on that probably by the end of the month at this stage.

As to the management structure and the structure of the LocalLink groups operating to voluntary boards nationally, we are very happy with the arrangement that is currently in place and we work very closely with the LocalLink groups.

There is a national procurement process due to start shortly. The rural transport programme will be up for re-tendering and the committee may be aware that we are having a meeting with the managers and chairs of the boards of the LocalLink groups tomorrow in Portlaoise. Several members of the authority will discuss what that procurement programme might look like. It has not been finalised but we will be giving a high-level view of what the procurement programme will be like. The request for tenders will probably commence by the end of this summer.

The interaction of LocalLink services with Bus Éireann's services is a key consideration in relation to any proposal that comes in from a LocalLink group. We have a transport planning team which will closely assess that. We would also be very aware that a lot of the LocalLink team managers and support team have built up good relationships with their equivalents in Bus Éireann around the country. We rely on those working relationships to inform the development of a route, before it comes in to us as a proposal. We look at it in terms of how it scores from an integration point of view when it does come in to us.