Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I have been advised by Dublin Bus that the total number of buses in its fleet for each year since 2001 is 1,062 buses. In this period, the company has replaced mini and single deck buses with higher capacity double deck buses, thus increasing the passenger carrying capacity of its fleet by nearly 25%.

I understand the company intends to purchase 70 new replacement buses in 2005. These new buses include 20 new high capacity triaxle buses which provide 20% more passenger carrying capacity than double deck buses. Exchequer funding of €1.2 million is being provided towards the cost of these buses.

Dublin Bus is currently examining ways of maximising the utilisation of the bus fleet, in light of the significant investment made to date under the national development plan in other modes such as Luas, suburban rail and the DART upgrade, and I am awaiting the outcome of this review.

I foresee an expansion in the bus market in the greater Dublin area in the coming years, involving participation by Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus and private operators. In this regard, my Department is currently in discussions with the parties concerned on the appropriate framework to give effect to such expansion.