A SPECIAL adviser to Shane Ross contacted the NTA seeking “anything positive” to help with the proposed overhaul of Dublin’s bus network to his constituents, we can reveal.

The senior official at the Transport Department also flagged a street in Minister Ross’s constituency where they felt elderly residents would be negatively affected by the BusConnects route changes.

2 There have been proposed alterations to bus routes

The particular area of concern was highlighted outside of public consultation channels, according to papers released to the Irish Sun through the Freedom of Information Act.

BusConnects, which was launched by the Independent TD back in May 2017, aims to radically transform the bus network in the Dublin region.

However, the proposed alterations to bus routes sparked outrage across the capital — including in the Minister’s Dublin Rathdown constituency.

In a bid to address concerns, Ross, who was being bombarded with hundreds of enquiries, planned to send out letters to every household in the area.

2 Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross Credit: Garrett White - The Sun Dublin

Aisling Dunne, a special adviser at the Department of Transport, contacted NTA management on September 11 this year.

The communication reads: “Is there anything positive that we might be able to say to residents to assure them that the situation will not be as negative as they fear?”

Ms Dunne’s enquiry email also highlighted “one new area of general concern”.

Stonemason’s Way in Ballinteer was referenced by the adviser, who wrote: “The current plans would seem to have a detrimental effect on a largely elderly community.”

This route happened to find itself to the top of the list of complaints that Ross handed over to the NTA last month as part of his public consultation submission.

The Independent Alliance TD submitted a three-page document highlighting a dozen areas of concern he had with the planned overhaul of the bus network.

A spokesperson for Ross said: “The Minister made a submission to the NTA as part of the public consultation, as did many other TDs and public representatives.

“In addition, his staff sought information on route changes from the NTA, as his office was understandably receiving hundreds of enquiries.”

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The Transport Minister came under fire last month when he tried to distance himself from the BusConnects project, telling a constituency meeting he had nothing to do with the plan.

Under the BusConnects proposals, the level of bus service will increase by 27 per cent — with a new route numbering system being put in place.

Eleven new orbital routes will operate every 15 minutes or less in the north, south and west of the network area.