Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

Consultation has to be meaningful but it can only be meaningful to a certain point. This is an efficiency operation as much as anything and no matter what happens, savings have to be made and savings are best made now by straightening out bus routes and having fewer and more frequent bus services rather than having less frequency on existing bus routes. My experience in Dublin 15, where we also have network direct, is that there have been complaints from people who have been discommoded and who are suffering with a worse bus service. Most people have a better bus service, but they do not complain nor tell us they think the bus service is better. It is interesting to note that despite the economy being flat, the numbers using Dublin Bus this year have stabilised and have even increased slightly. This is a good sign that more people are using the bus this year than last year.

On the National Transport Authority, it is conducting a network review of the Lucan area and is doing a look-back exercise to assess the impact the changes have had in the area. I support that. I do not want to get involved in a meeting about individual bus routes; it is just not possible for me to micro-manage at that level. If the Deputy would find it useful, I could arrange for him to meet with the NTA on the issue or to meet directly with senior management of Dublin Bus.

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