Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I, Deputy Shortall and a number of Social Democrat councillors met the NTA last week to exchange views. When I asked the representatives of the NTA where they got the information to inform the decision, they told me it was the census. I appreciate that the census is very general and there is a large volume of information. However, look at the questions on the census. They are not very granular. One question asks how the respondent usually travels to work, school or college. It gives the options of on foot, bicycle, train, motor car and so forth. It then goes on to ask the person what time he or she usually leaves. One can see how that would determine the peak times. It also asks how long the journey to work, school or college usually takes. That is the extent of the information sought in the census. I cannot see how that would be sufficient information. I presume the NTA has other information as well, including from the existing services. However, I cannot see how that would give the NTA the type of information that would make it absolutely certain about some of the big alterations and changes.

In the first instance, am I right about the additional information on current usage and the like? What surveying was carried out aside from that? I am aware that people were asked, in a general way before this was presented, if they would be willing to connect as opposed to using direct routes. It was only when it went on public display that people realised what that meant. Can the witnesses give us an overview on that aspect?