Private firms to get bus route licences

The process of awarding licences to private bus operators for public transport routes is to continue next month, the Minister for Public Enterprise said yesterday. Addressing the Chamber of Commerce seminar on public transport in Dublin, Ms O'Rourke outlined a package of measures designed to improve public transport in Dublin. In an effort to introduce competition in the Dublin bus market, the Minister said her Department had allocated 11 licences to private bus owners in June of this year. She said the process would continue with a similar round of allocations next month. The Minister also announced Dublin Bus was to receive 10 new buses every week between now and the end of the year, bringing the number of new buses delivered to the company this year to 225. The buses were part of the upgrading of the fleet announced in the National Development Plan. They are all low-floor buses suitable for wheelchairs.

The buses would augment the existing fleet, particularly on the quality bus corridors (QBCs) of which another three are to be introduced. They will run between the city centre and Rathfarnham, Terenure and north Clondalkin. The Rathfarnham QBC will be operational by November; the others will come on stream in December.

Legislation will be introduced to cover safety regulations, provision for public-private partnerships and the setting up of a "shadow" transport regulatory body.

The Minister also said she had received two tenders for the construction of the Luas routes B and C, from Sandyford to the city and from Abbey Street to Connolly Station respectively. The Minister also clarified the public-private partnership element of the Luas plan. Lines A - from Tallaght to Abbey Street - B and C are to be built by CIE, which will seek contractors to undertake the work, and operated by a company, which may be CIE, but which is to be selected by public competition. The northside route will be built and operated by a company selected by public competition.

A decision on the awarding of a contract for the construction of routes B and C would be made later this month.