Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Transport the projected demand for bus services in each of the remaining years of Transport 21 with a breakdown for each of main cities, interurban services and other services; the basis upon which these forecasts were arrived at; and his policy in meeting this demand. [6550/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Both Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann have projected future demand for bus services as a basis for their development plans. The Dublin Bus Network review identified a requirement for an additional 325 buses in the period to 2011 to meet projected demand of over 180 million passengers per annum in the Dublin area. Bus Éireann's regional development plans project a requirement for over 360 new buses, including 200 additional buses to meet anticipated increased demand in provincial city and commuter services. Interurban Expressway commercial services are funded from within the companies own resources.

In recognition of the critical role of bus services in meeting these transport needs, Transport 21 provides for substantial ongoing investment in bus services in Dublin and throughout the country. In this context, I approved funding of €80 million in September last for the purchase of 100 additional buses and 160 new buses by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann respectively. I have also allocated a further €15 million to Dublin Bus towards the cost of purchasing 100 replacement buses in 2007. The 100 additional buses in the Dublin area are now entering service and Bus Éireann are in the process of procuring the 160 new buses. Separately the companies and private operators are funding commercial services from their own resources.

The need for additional buses, over and above those referred to above, will be dealt with in the context of the proposals for legislation, which are currently being prepared, for the replacement of the Road Transport Act, 1932.