Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

One cannot carry more people on fewer buses. There are 210 fewer buses owned by Dublin Bus on the streets of Dublin today and the subsidy has increased by almost 400% in ten years. Is it not a fact that there is a sweetheart deal between the National Transport Authority and Dublin Bus? The authority was established last December and has agreed to allow Dublin Bus to close off the market to competition. Private enterprise cannot compete with Dublin Bus on any new routes that have been opened up or are about to be opened up. This is a shame and it is a mockery of democracy and of the right of people who own private transport to compete with Dublin Bus to service these routes. It is an absolute disgrace.

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