The issue of saving money, and therefore jobs, has again been discussed at a high-level meeting between officials from the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure and union representatives.

Minister David Cretney chaired the second such gathering, and cutting almost ?900,000 from the budget was the main item on the agenda.

It's been agreed senior management and staff from the department will get together early next week, in the first of a series of discussions on ways to achieve the savings required.

Mr Cretney believes overtime and other working practices in his department are 'outdated' and need to be overhauled.

He says poor management, going back to before Ian Longworth's appointment as director of public transport, has certainly contributed to the difficult situation currently being faced.