Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Bus Éireann is reported to be paying up to €70 million per year to private bus operators due to a shortage of bus capacity; if he intends to provide additional funding to Bus Éireann to allow it to expand bus numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15578/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I have been informed by Bus Éireann that the company paid over €71 million to sub-contractors in 2004. The bulk of this figure was payment to rurally based private operators who were sub-contracted to provide school transport services nationwide to pupils in rural areas and those with special needs. Bus Éireann is responsible for the management and provision of the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department of Education and Science.

In addition, Bus Éireann engages private operators to augment its requirement of vehicles and drivers at peak times. The company states that this manner of operating is the most cost-effective and efficient way of providing Bus Éireann's nationwide integrated network of services.

Since the start of the national development plan Bus Éireann has purchased 391 new buses, 65 of which are additional to the fleet. While no Exchequer funding has been approved for the purchase of buses in 2005, the company propose to purchase a further 65 buses from its own resources this year.