State 'can save €80m' by privatising some bus services

Private bus companies say the Government can save €80m in the public transport budget by putting certain bus services to tender.

The Coach Tourism and Transport Council (CCTC) said that tendering the Public Service Obligation services, which are subsidised, will bring about massive savings for the state.

At the moment only Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann hold PSO bus routes.

The CTTC has published its pre-Budget submission, which shows that independent companies have at least 21% lower costs than Bus Éireann for providing the same service.