Sir, – John FitzGerald ("Regulating private and public monopolies", Business Opinion, October 6th) argues that "competition, alongside efficient regulation" can improve bus services in Dublin.
Certainly, competitive tendering for routes as in London or Copenhagen does allow an efficient bus service. Conversely, competition between companies on the same urban routes – as in Britain outside of London – is now recognised to be a disaster.
However, the really decisive factor is a strong and well-funded local government able to plan and develop an integrated transport system. That is what London has, and that is what Dublin does not have.
Dublin Bus is actually already quite an efficient company. If the Government actually wanted a public transport system that functions as a system, it would stop obsessing about how to privatise bits of Dublin Bus.
Instead it would create a proper government for Dublin – starting perhaps with an elected mayor responsible for public transport. – Yours, etc,
Prof JAMES WICKHAM,
Tasc – Think-tank
for Action on Social Change,
Dublin 2.