Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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21. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the new Bus Éireann buses, which reportedly cannot navigate some streets of a major Irish town and have led to concerns by staff and trade unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31808/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Bus Éireann is in the process of upgrading its fleet with more modern and higher capacity vehicles, across the route network. Some of the new double deck coaches are slightly longer than older fleet, and provide additional capacity and legroom for passengers, over existing coaches.

These new High Capacity LD 300 Double Deck Coaches coaches are part of an overall €25m investment project, funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA).  To date, 12 of these buses have been purchased for use on services in the East, and were added to the fleet earlier this year.

I am advised by Bus Éireann that the company regularly carries out route risk assessments with new vehicles, to identify any hazards or pinch point locations where new buses will be operating and that these assessments have been carried out on Route 133 Wicklow/Dublin route and Route 109 Dublin – Navan – Kells - Cavan. Further route assessments on the remaining commuter corridors are also taking place.

The company has confirmed to me that contrary to recent media reports, the new high capacity coaches are suitable for operation on these routes.

​Bus Éireann recently commenced driver training with these vehicles, and  the coaches will be introduced on routes across the Greater Dublin Area in the coming weeks.​