James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress Dublin Bus has made in implementing the recommendations of the Deloitte report on Dublin Bus efficiency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21228/09]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will report on his recent meeting with Dublin Bus management on the recent axing of 120 buses from the Dublin Bus fleet and its impact on commuters in the Greater Dublin Area; when the long promised range of technical bus improvements including integrated ticketing, real time information and an AVT system will be introduced which were also recommended in the recent Deloitte Report on the bus sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21259/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 90 together.

My most recent meeting with Dublin Bus was on 9 March when I was briefed on the financial position of the company and the arrangements in place for the implementation of the recommendations of the Deloitte report. Operational matters including service rationalisations are a matter for the company.

I understand from Dublin Bus that it has commenced implementation of the recommendations of the Deloitte report including the application of the principles identified in the report such as the amalgamation of route legs and the use of even headways between buses as part of its cost recovery plan and the commencement of work on redesign of the network.

I am informed that the position in relation to Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) and real time passenger information is that Dublin Bus is rolling out AVL on a depot-by-depot basis with the first depot to be completed by the end of this year. Once AVL has been introduced this will enable Dublin Bus to provide Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) by way of internet or mobile phone access. Funding has also been set aside for Dublin City Council to enable the installation of RTPI display signs at bus stops in a similar fashion to those at Luas and DART stops.

Integrated ticketing in the Greater Dublin Area is being introduced on a phased basis, based on smart card technology. A progressive approach is being adopted to allow customers to familiarise themselves with using the new system and to permit transport operators to undertake the necessary testing associated with the integration of the technologies involved. Smart cards are now in use on Dublin Bus services in respect of a number of integrated ticket products such as annual and monthly integrated bus and rail and bus and Luas tickets. During 2010 smartcards with an electronic purse will be available to almost all public transport users in the Greater Dublin Area.