Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

Capacity has increased by 30% while passenger numbers are falling.

The simple question that must be asked is whether the buses available are being deployed to the best effect. The answer is "No" and this must be addressed to increase the numbers. Deputy O'Dowd's earlier point on congestion certainly is one of the causes of the problem of the service's unreliability. I refer to the scenario in which no buses come for a long time and then two or three come at once. Congestion is a factor that is outside the control of CIE, Bus Éireann or Bus Átha Cliath.

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