Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on whether commitments to make a 20% cut in greenhouse gases by 2020 will be hindered by the recent cuts in Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus. [5839/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector requires an integrated approach across all areas of transport supply and demand. The Smarter Travel policy sets out such an approach, and will ensure that the transport sector, including bus services, makes a meaningful contribution to Ireland's commitments on greenhouse gas emissions.

I do not see the present financial difficulties of Dublin Bus or Bus Éireann as impacting negatively on the long-term goals of the Smarter Travel policy. As the Deloitte report on a cost and efficiency review of the two companies makes clear, there is now an opportunity, in the case of Dublin Bus, to create a simplified network offering improved services with improved cost efficiency. Such an approach, complemented by other measures to improve the efficiency of bus services such as more bus priorities and integrated ticketing will affect any potential adverse impact of service changes on emissions.