Harney’s ideological block on new buses

I AM appalled that a proposal by Transport Minister Martin Cullen to fund 100 new vehicles for Dublin Bus, at a cost of €300 million to the State, is being blocked by Tánaiste Mary Harney who is insisting that the bus market be reformed before any more public money is invested in the company.

Because of the stand-off, there is growing concern that new bus lanes on busy routes — one in Ms Harney’s own constituency of Dublin Mid West — have no vehicles to serve the travelling public.

And all of this because of her ideological demand that 25% of Dublin’s bus routes be opened to private operators.