Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

How can this be done? For example, the Nipper service is being withdrawn from different parts of the city. Is the Network Direct project - I have the first three corridors in mind, namely, Dún Laoghaire, Blanchardstown and Lucan - not influenced by the fact that the PSO has been cut back by the Minister so significantly? This is an attempt to dress up the cutback.

The first direct route networks, located in the Finglas area, were proposed by Deloitte. I expressed a concern about the Deloitte report at a meeting of the transport committee, namely, that some commuters would be left with a significant walk to a bus. Instead of being five or seven minutes away, one could be ten or 15 minutes away. Being significantly further away from a route is a serious disimprovement for seniors and parents in Dublin's districts. Is it an attempt, at least in part, to dress up as improvements further significant cutbacks to the PSO imposed by the Minister? Has the Minister made any proposal so that lower income communities, those most dependent on buses, will not have a less valuable service? While a direct route might run through the community, the bulk of the community could have a disimproved service. Is this not a great matter of concern?

See this speech in context