Mr. Ray Hernan:

The Deputy raised a number of points about Bus Éireann. Key funding relates to fleet replacement. Since 2015, all of our buses have audio systems, the most recent visual technology and access via low flooring. The issues that we face this year do not concern funding as much as they do the logistics and practicalities of trying to set up audio and visual responses for 6,000 bus stops. Approximately 550 of the main stops have been recorded so far. A degree of co-ordination is required between us and, for example, the NTA in order to ensure consistency in the naming of bus stops. We may not be the only people stopping at a certain bus stop, particularly on intercity routes, so we need to ensure that whatever name we are using is also being used by other parties. We were sidetracked from our commitment to certain aspects last year, given the other issues that we were dealing with, but they are back on the agenda this year in terms of dealing with the audio and visual aspects to which I referred.

The Deputy also mentioned the issue of notice. I would be hesitant to commit to less than 24 hours notice, given the practicalities of having to take seats off a bus. A bus must be brought to a garage so that they can be removed, as seats are not taken off just in advance of a journey. It takes time. We also need to ensure that the lift is working. I would prefer to be 100% sure that, when we commit to something, we can deliver on it. Unfortunately, that has not occurred in some instances for various reasons, including a breakdown in the chain of responsibility. We need to get that right before we can reduce the timelines.