Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 427: To ask the Minister for Transport the way in line with national development plan targets he will significantly expand the bus fleet before 2013; the funds he has allocated to achieving this target since 2007; and if he has plans for purchasing new buses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22713/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Transport 21 provides for major investment in bus services in the GDA and throughout the country. A total of €29.3 M in Exchequer grants has been paid to Dublin Bus in 2006 and 2007 for the purchase of 100 additional buses and 100 replacement buses and it has been allocated €15 M towards the cost of a further 100 replacement buses for delivery in 2008 and 2009. Funding of €73 M was approved in 2006 and 2007 for the purchase of 239 new buses by Bus Éireann. The company has taken delivery of 117 of these with the balance to be delivered in the course of this year. The allocation of further funding will be considered in the context of the outcome of the cost and efficiency review of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, which is currently under way.