Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 July 2004
83 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Transport if he has received a consultant‘s report suggesting that plans to franchise out part of the Dublin Bus network will cost approximately €27 million annually to implement but will at best save only €2 million per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20422/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe report referred to by the Deputy is an internal company report prepared, I understand, for the board of the Dublin Bus. The CIE bus companies are quite naturally undertaking work to respond to my reform proposals and I would expect them to present the case which they see as representing their best interests. I welcome their constructive input to this dialogue, but that does not necessarily mean that I agree with their conclusions.
As I have not seen the Dublin Bus report and as the full details of the arrangements for the introduction of franchising in Dublin have not yet been published, I do not know the basis for the figures quoted by the Deputy but I believe that they are greatly inflated. It remains my intention to proceed with legislation on public transport reform in 2004.
