Ms Anne Graham:

I am satisfied both companies are doing everything in their power to recruit as many drivers as they can. There are circumstances outside their control in terms of the wider economy. They are doing everything they can. Anything they have brought to our attention in terms of the process, such as with the Road Safety Authority, we have brought it to the attention of the Road Safety Authority in this instance. We are trying to squeeze weeks to try to reduce the amount of time it takes to get drivers onto the road. I am satisfied but I know there are challenges ahead, because if we want to deliver BusConnects to the extent we do, we expect the driver recruitment issue will still be a challenge for that level of expansion.