Ahern signals regulatory system for bus network

PUBLIC bus transport needs “a modern regulatory system” Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said yesterday.

He was responding to questions about the row between Fianna Fáil and the PDs over bus routes.

A strike by the National Bus and Rail Union was averted this week only after Transport Minister Martin Cullen promised that he would provide funds for 100 new buses for Dublin Bus and 160 for Bus Éireann.

But the PDs are insisting that the investment must be linked to reform of the system, which would involve privatisation of routes.

The junior coalition partner wants a quarter of routes in the capital opened up to competition before agreeing to the new buses.

“If the minister gives the buses without reform, then there will be no reform,” PD transport spokesman Senator Tom Morrissey said on Thursday.

Fianna Fáil, however, is opposed to privatising routes.

Speaking in Dublin yesterday, Mr Ahern attempted to play down the row between the two parties.

“There are no difficulties in this. The only thing is, we all want to see the best for the public, and we want to see that there is reform, and that there is a modern regulatory system,” he said.

The Transport Minister’s proposals would embrace all those objectives, the Taoiseach added.

They would also provide for the establishment of the Dublin Transportation Authority, the body which will be responsible for coordinating the delivery of all public transport services in Dublin.

“Dublin Bus require 100, Bus Éireann require 160, the minister has provided the resources for that on top of what he has already done,” said Mr Ahern.

“There’s the issue of the Dublin Transportation Authority and there’s the issue about a modern regulatory system, including licences and procedures and enforcement in the Dublin bus market.

“(Mr Cullen) has been engaged in discussions with the trade unions for a long period on that, and he has, to the best of my knowledge, completed just before the holiday break his proposals.

“It’s an issue of the travelling public being provided with the best services, both from Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann and the private bus market.”