Ms Anne Graham:

In terms of the city centre and the business community, we have not felt any resistance from city centre commercial businesses to our plans relating to BusConnects, either the network or the bus corridors. Naturally, we must ensure there is space in the city centre for the bus movements. What has been provided, particularly on the north quays, has certainly improved the movement of buses through the city centre. The network is designed on the basis that College Green would still retain east-west movements through the city centre, although they are reduced from the current level. If Dublin City Council proceeds with its plans for College Green, we will be able to reorganise those services.

Regarding the small population on the city fringes and isolated communities, we assure those communities that we will not be reducing the frequency of the direct services. In fact, we want to improve the frequency of the direct services at peak times into the city centre. We want to ensure that service is improved for all those communities.

As regards demand on the orbital services, we have done a great deal of work on ensuring that the frequency that is proposed will meet the demand. However, as we implement those services if we find that the demand has increased from what we had designed for, it is very easy to put in additional services and frequency, subject to funding. Given the success of the 175, we can see those services being very popular and we expect them to be well used.

Hugh Creegan will comment on the local issues.