Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I understand the Deputy's frustration because a large number of people will be inconvenienced by what happens. To some extent, it is a matter of the greater good because of the chronic traffic situation in Dublin and the need to improve public transport and make journeys by public transport faster and more efficient.

I am surprised that the Deputy can mention a case where the NTA has not informed someone because my understanding is that all property owners who could be impacted by the new bus lanes were notified by registered letter by the NTA immediately before the public launch. That letter explains the proposal, the overview map of the road and the potential impact on their property, and it offers one-to-one meetings with the NTA to discuss the specific implications for property owners. If the Deputy has a specific case in mind, he should give it to me and I will be delighted to refer it to the NTA and ask it about it, but I do not think there is any kind of deliberate decision or effort to bypass people in any way. There may have been a problem or misunderstanding or the registered letter may not have been served properly. There is a commitment by the NTA, which I believe is a firm and genuine commitment, to contact anybody affected.

My understanding is that the take-up of the one-to-one meetings is disappointingly low. I think it is about 12%, which is low, but the NTA is open to that. The Deputy must acknowledge that there was a very wide consultation about the BusConnects routes and network last summer. The NTA received 30,000 submissions from the Dublin area, which it is looking at. The Deputy said that the proof of the pudding will be in the eating and I agree with him. The NTA will come back in the next few months with a new plan for a further public consultation and we will see where we go from there and what changes are being made. It is probably unfair and certainly premature to say that the NTA is not serious about public consultation. It is engaging in a series of public consultations and we will see what the results will be.

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