Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 309: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine if he will permit and fund the purchase of additional buses by Dublin Bus in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23952/07]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine the number of new additional buses, not replacement buses, given to Dublin Bus in 2007 and for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23953/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 309 and 310 together.

Dublin Bus is bringing into service the balance of 100 additional buses for which Exchequer funding of €30 million was approved in September of last year. Some 50 of the buses are in service and the remainder will be in service in the coming months. A further €15.04 million has been approved towards the cost of 100 replacement buses for the Dublin Bus fleet in 2007. Some 50 of the replacement buses will be tri-axle buses which offer greater passenger carrying capacity. Some 23 additional buses were added to the Dublin Bus fleet in 2001, 20 additional buses were added to the Dublin Bus fleet in 2005 and 100 additional buses were added to the Dublin Bus fleet in 2006. This brings the Dublin Bus fleet to 1,182, up from just over 900 in 1997. The capacity of the Dublin Bus fleet, taking into account the 100 additional buses is now over 106,000 — an increase of more than 34% on the 2000 capacity. Many of the new buses purchased have a higher capacity than the smaller, single decker buses being replaced.