To ask the Minister for Regional Development whether he has had any discussions on the designating of the hard shoulder of the M2, from Sandyknowes to Greencastle, as a bus lane with traffic merging at Bellevue Bridge for 100 yards to accommodate the lower part of the bridge structure.

In general, bus lanes are provided to reduce journey times and improve reliability for bus passengers, and to help make public transport an attractive alternative to travel by private car, particularly at peak times.

In 2008, a hard shoulder bus lane was provided on the M2 at Sandyknowes roundabout to allow buses to avoid the peak time congestion, however, since the third lane was provided on the citybound carriageway from Sandyknowes, the congestion has dissipated and buses rarely need to avail of this facility. This being the case, my Department is not proposing to introduce any other bus measures on the stretch of the M2 from Sandyknowes to Greencastle junction.