Ms Anne Graham:

It is our assumption that it is public transport that is being considered, but it really depends on what the function is and the extent to which it is transferred. I listed the very high-level functions that the NTA delivers in the Dublin region. If it is transport strategy development, that covers not just public transport but all transport, including freight and roads. On a strategic basis, that covers all modes of transport, including roads, that are already included in the greater Dublin area transport strategy.

On the question of whether it would have a negative knock-on effect, again it depends on what functions are transferred in terms of the lists that we discussed around the greater Dublin area and public transport. As I said, I think it depends on the extent to which those functions are transferred. We would need to consider the extent of that, the impact on the NTA in terms of what remains for us to deliver, and whether there are inefficiencies associated with splitting expertise across a number of different bodies rather than basing it in one body, as is currently the case.