Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am very much aware of the experience with transport in the London area and the role of Transport for London in that regard. I am very committed to the continued development of a high-quality bus service for the city of Dublin and well beyond that through Bus Éireann and through the role of private bus operators. That is why, in the Dublin area at the moment, Dublin Bus is undertaking a number of pieces of work in conjunction with the city council to improve the availability and quality of the bus service. I point to two pieces of work in particular: the work taking place in the Thomas Street and James's Street area, and the works under way in Drumcondra to put in place improved bus access down Drumcondra road and into the city centre.

On the future of the bus market in Ireland, I emphasise that what we propose is the tendering out for competitive contract of 10% of bus routes at the moment. I am committed to the role of a public bus service in the future. We are looking at 10% of those services. As those contracts are awarded, it will result in certainty over a five-year period for those routes and others. The sole reason this is being done is to ensure we have better availability, quality and diversity of services at the same or reduced cost to the taxpayer.

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