Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Transport the way in which he proposes to increase bus capacity in the greater Dublin area by 80,000 places. [35894/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Transport 21 provides for significant investment in increased bus capacity in the greater Dublin area.

Substantial demographic changes have taken place in Dublin in recent years, and there has also been a significant increase in rail capacity, Luas, commuter rail services and the DART upgrade. For these reasons, it is necessary to identify what should be the response of bus to these and future changes. Therefore, I asked Bus Átha Cliath earlier this year to review the bus network, with a view to deciding on future fleet requirements and how services can best be configured to meet the changing needs of the market. I expect the review to be completed early in 2006.

Pending completion of this review, I have already approved funding for an initial tranche of 20 additional buses which will go into service before the end of the year. My Department has had preliminary discussions with Dublin Bus regarding future network and service developments. The company is expected to submit a business case for additional fleet requirements shortly which will need to have regard to the emerging findings of the network review.