Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

Dublin Bus passenger numbers have increased from 134.2 million in 2000 to 147 million in 2007. This increase was achieved despite the introduction of the Luas and improved suburban rail services in the greater Dublin area. Dublin Bus is the largest operator of bus services in that area. In the course of the past year, passenger numbers on its services have declined by approximately 4%. Passenger numbers on suburban rail and the Luas are also experiencing a drop in demand. Various reasons are suggested to explain this situation. These include the general economic downturn, reduced shopping in the city centre area and fewer migrant workers living in the city centre area. This drop in demand is despite the marketing efforts of the company, which has implemented a campaign through the media and directly to households advocating the benefits of travelling by bus and the value for money which is available.

The cost and efficiency review of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, carried out by Deloitte, is expected shortly and I understand that it will advise that, while many aspects of the operations of Dublin Bus are efficient, there is further potential for efficiency gain to attract more people on to the bus. On the basis of the ultimate findings and recommendations of the review, Dublin Bus will be mandated to target overall operational efficiencies including changes to its network to simplify routes and eliminate duplication, to improve timetables and to improve co-ordination of services on common route corridors and to introduce other customer orientated initiatives.

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