Cormo
New Member
Up to one quarter of Dublin bus services are to be franchised out to the private sector from the beginning of 2004, Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan, announced today.
The minister unveiled the plan at a meeting with the Public Transport Partnership Forum, at which he also said that the government has no plans to privatise any part of CIE but is to split the group into three independent commercial State companies.
He also said that the franchising would be expanded every year, but told the forum that the changes would be implemented in such a way as to "protect the security and terms of employment of existing bus workers".
Minister Brennan described his plan as "controlled competition".
The minister also said he was still considering an application from CIE for a fare increase and would respond to the request shortly, having considered it "in the context of a wider public transport reform programme".
The minister unveiled the plan at a meeting with the Public Transport Partnership Forum, at which he also said that the government has no plans to privatise any part of CIE but is to split the group into three independent commercial State companies.
He also said that the franchising would be expanded every year, but told the forum that the changes would be implemented in such a way as to "protect the security and terms of employment of existing bus workers".
Minister Brennan described his plan as "controlled competition".
The minister also said he was still considering an application from CIE for a fare increase and would respond to the request shortly, having considered it "in the context of a wider public transport reform programme".