Cullen meets drivers' unions in effort to avert bus strike

Minister for Transport Martin Cullen is due to meet officials from SIPTU and the NBRU today in an effort to avert a national bus strike planned for tomorrow evening.

Drivers at Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann are planning to stop work at 7pm tomorrow in protest at what they say is the Government's failure to invest in new buses.

The stoppage has been arranged unofficially by members of the NBRU amid rumours that Mr Cullen is holding back on his promise to fund new vehicles under pressure from the Progressive Democrats.

Last year, the minister agreed to provide €30m to Dublin Bus to allow it to buy 100 new buses this year.

He also asked Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann to tell him how many more vehicles they need, but their responses have been on his desk since January without any funding being provided.