Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - Bus Services.

Bernard Allen

Question:

220 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the plans, if any, she has to make a special allocation to Bus Éireann's operation in Cork, pro rata to the £20 million given to upgrade public transport in the Dublin area, in view of the crisis in Cork arising from a situation where only six new buses were allocated in 1998 and 1999 to replace six obsolete buses, in contrast to Dublin where 150 additional new buses are being provided for Dublin city in 1999 due to the special allocation. [17342/99]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke):

I understand that Bus Éireann plans to acquire a total of 40 new buses for city and suburban services in 1999. Of these, 16 have already gone into service in Cork this year. I understand that a further four new buses will be allocated to Cork later in the year.

The investment needs review for the greater Cork area, submitted to me in June 1998 by CIÉ, formed the basis for the development of my Department's proposals for significant investment in public transport in the Cork area. These proposals are now being considered in the context of the formulation of the National Development Plan 2000-06. The details of the plan will be finalised by Government in the coming weeks and I expect that it will include a significant provision for the upgrading of public transport in Cork.