Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Nov 2003

Vol. 575 No. 1

Written Answers. - National Development Plan.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

73 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport the progress made to date with regard to commitments under the national development plan to increase the Dublin Bus fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27826/03]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

181 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which the bus fleet in Bus Átha Cliath and Bus Éireann have been modernised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28025/03]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 181 together.

Under the national development plan, Dublin Bus has purchased 424 new buses of which 125 are additional buses and 299 are replacement buses. As a result Dublin Bus currently has a fleet of 1,083 buses. These modern accessible buses have improved the quality and reliability of the fleet as well as providing for increased services. Overall, the peak hour capacity of Dublin Bus has increased by over 25% since 1999. All new buses purchased are low-floor and wheelchair-accessible in line with transport policy of making public transport accessible for all users.
Bus Éireann currently has a fleet of 683 buses on all services, excluding school services. Under the national development plan, 402 buses will have been purchased by end of 2003 for all services. The size of the fleet has been expanded by 76 buses over that period, which have been primarily allocated to Dublin commuter services and provincial cities. In addition the company has leased in approximately 50 new buses on a three to five year basis. These figures exclude buses contracted in by the company from private operators.
The entire regular urban bus fleet in Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford is now low-floor and fully wheelchair accessible.
Top
Share