Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)

I look forward to working with the Deputy in the coming weeks and months on our further plans to create more employment in the airport. As the Deputy knows, it is important that the people in my area and hers have good paying jobs to support their families and quality of life.

There is no padded-out answer here. I am putting things in context because there is a lot happening with BusConnects. Dublin 15 is undoubtedly a major growth area with a lot of new communities. We have seen a lot of development there over the past 15 to 20 years, and that is continuing. In the last Government I and the former Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, were in, we saw further substantial development of really good quality homes in that area that need to be supported by good public transport.

I can only give the Deputy an answer based on the question she put forward and the research I have done. I spoke specifically about the N8 route. Of course it will be based on operational readiness and the recruitment of drivers. We have practically full employment in this country. We want to get this route up and running. I will not make a political point but I have given the Deputy the best timeframe I can, which is that the route will be operational by the end of next year.

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