Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

We do, and we need to see a bit of respect from State agencies for the people's elected representatives. This is a point I make frequently. I have made it this week in relation to one State agency. If an elected representative is trying to engage in a project, they are doing so because it matters to the people they are elected to represent. It is very important that mechanisms are put in place in this regard. Unelected officials will often find that if they engage with elected officials, they can actually roll out a project like BusConnects, as the Deputy suggested, in a much smoother fashion. I will raise that broader issue with the Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, who I know would be supportive of that idea of plugging in local representatives at that earlier time. I am pleased to hear the progress Deputy McAuliffe has made with the new timetables and the additional drivers. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy.

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