Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

It is Government policy to liberalise the market. After the 100 buses join the fleet it is committed to opening 15% of the overall market to the private sector. The Dublin transport authority should look at new routes rather than overlapping with those on existing routes. The Dublin transport authority may feel it is necessary to restructure routes but many parts of Dublin do not have sufficient services and must be catered for. There will be a great demand from the private sector to be part of this new structure.

The Government has decided to invest up to €50 million in Bus Éireann for the delivery of up to 160 buses between now and 2008——

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