Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Transport the way he will ensure that there is an adequate number of buses in the greater Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6806/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Transport 21 provides for a programme of investment to fund increased radial and orbital bus services in the Dublin area. The target is to achieve in the period up to 2015 a 60% increase in passenger carrying capacity through new and replacement bus acquisition. Dublin Bus is bringing into service the 100 additional buses for which Exchequer funding of €30 million was approved in September last. This will bring the total Dublin Bus fleet to 1,182 buses, up from approximately 900 in 1997.

The capacity of the Dublin Bus fleet, taking into account the 100 additional buses recently purchased, is now more than 106,000 passengers. This is an increase of more than 45% on the 2000 capacity. This increase reflects the fact that many of the replacement buses purchased over this period were of higher capacity than the smaller, single decker buses being replaced. Over the same period Dublin Bus passenger numbers grew from 137 million to 146 million per annum, an increase of 7%.

The need for additional buses over and above the 100 being brought into service will be considered in the legislation being prepared to replace the Road Transport Act 1932. The proposed legislation will, inter alia, address the precise arrangements for the award of franchises to private operators in the Dublin market in line with my announcement of September last.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I realise this was not an original question. However, I hoped for an original answer. The Minister knows as well as I that traffic conditions in Dublin deteriorate daily and will continue to do so in the short to medium term with the building of various transport projects such as metro and Luas, the intensification of work on the M50 and growth in the economy and population. The general growth in and desire for mobility means transport conditions can only deteriorate.

The truth of the matter is that we have had 100 extra buses in the past few months, not all of which are in operation. This means that in the past five years we had an average of 20 extra buses per year. This does not begin to deal with existing demand, never mind the growth we saw in the past ten years. The Minister referred to radial routes. Bus lanes are underutilised by buses. The Minister suggests that because we have 100 more buses, the service will somehow improve. It disimproves daily and the evidence is before our eyes.

The Minister promised the DTA would be established, liberalisation of the bus market and that the private sector would be invited to provide additional buses. We were promised this before this term started. We are now promised it will happen before the end of the Dáil term. Will it happen? Is it true the Taoiseach is firmly set against it and has decided it will not happen because it would step on too many toes? If it is to happen, will the Minister tell us when, even in an interim form? I understand the Taoiseach thinks it is in operation. Will the Minister clarify when it will come into operation, when the legislation will be published and passed and when buses will begin to be put on the streets of Dublin? It is the only real measure that can be taken in the short term.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I do not agree that traffic conditions are worsening on a daily basis. As Deputy Mitchell knows, since the port tunnel opened, traffic in and around the centre of Dublin and on the north side of the city has improved. I was pleased to hear from Dublin Bus that the speed ratio on its routes from the north side to the centre of the city had increased.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Not in the suburbs.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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It is providing a much better service for the public.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Not in Dublin Port where the throughput is down by 20% since Monday.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The naysayers and doomsayers stated the M50 would close down when the port tunnel opened. Equally, this has proven not to be the case. I accept there are transport issues which must be dealt with and I am happy to state we are dealing with them. I saw the Dublin Bus plans for the new buses to be provided which are being maximised on green routes from suburbs to the centre of Dublin. The QBCs will carry many more buses. As the Deputy knows, we want to expand the number of QBCs.

Another 160 buses were provided for Bus Éireann, many of which will operate in the greater Dublin area outside the Dublin suburbs and bring many more passengers from towns to the centre of Dublin. The capacity of the bus fleet in Dublin has increased by 45%. I am glad Dublin Bus maximised its use and is now busily putting in place the route selection process for the new and additional buses.

I agree with the Deputy. I am anxious to have more buses in the Dublin bus market. As the Deputy knows, I have substantial resources available under Transport 21. We intend to increase bus capacity by more than 60%. The bus will remain the workhorse in the public transport system, as it is in almost every other country. This measure will be joined by seven Luas projects, metro north, metro west and the interconnector for all DART services. In the past year all DART services were expanded to eight-car services, which has meant a dramatic improvement in capacity on DART services.

It is my intention to roll out more buses with both the public and private sectors and continue to grow the bus market in the Dublin area. We began that process with 100 buses and 160 have gone to Bus Éireann, many of which will be used in the surrounding towns which now form part of the greater Dublin area on commuter runs to the city centre.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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It is fantasy to think Dublin Bus is busy allocating the 20 buses a year it received. It would not take long.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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Does the Deputy have a question for the Minister?

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Minister failed completely to answer my question on the Dublin transport authority.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I apologise.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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When will it be established to liberalise the bus market? Is it true the Taoiseach is dead set against it? Who will win in this case? Will the authority be established? Will we have a liberalised bus market?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am happy to answer the question. I apologise; I should have answered it. The legislation is ready and I intend to publish it within the coming weeks. The new chairman designate has been appointed. He was also made chairman of the RPA which is part of the transition process in establishing the Dublin transportation authority.

I do not know where the Deputy Mitchell gets the idea that the Taoiseach is against it. He has been very supportive of the need for the authority, as has the Government. It will be an essential element as we move towards the medium to longer term development of all infrastructure and its management in Dublin in the years and decades ahead. It will be delivered——

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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When will it start providing franchises for private sector bus services?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I will deal with this matter later when I reply to another parliamentary question dealing with the Road Transport Act which is being reformed. The Dublin transport authority will also have overall responsibility for traffic management in Dublin.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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When will we have a liberalised bus market? It will not happen.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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That is not true and the Deputy knows it.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Minister is at it eight years.