Vol. 518 No. 3
99 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will give assurances that none of the bus fleet, paid for by the State, will be given to competitors in the event of routes being open to competitive tendering. [11368/00]
The Government has yet to decide on an appropriate regulatory model for the bus market in the greater Dublin area, having considered the review prepared by my Department. It would, therefore, be inappropriate and premature for me to respond to a speculative question which presumes acceptance of a particular regulatory model. However, I can say that none of the submissions made in response to the review contained any suggestion that buses already acquired by Bus Átha Cliath with State financial support should be given to competitors in the event of routes being opened to competitive tendering. However, some did suggest that both pub lic and private operators should have access to public capital funding for buses on an equal basis.
