Labour Party TD for Dublin North Mr Sean Ryan has claimed that 35 new buses have not been put into use because of a dispute between Dublin Bus and the Department of Public Enterprise.
According to Mr Ryan, the buses, costing over £200,000 each, were part of a consignment of 56 buses bought this year under the National Development Plan under which 775 new buses will be purchased by 2006.
Of the 56 buses, which cost the taxpayer £11.5 million, Mr Ryan said 35 have yet to be put on the road although there are sufficient drivers to operate them.
Mr Ryan said: "It has been suggested to me that this is because of a dispute between Dublin Bus and the Department of Public Enterprise.
"While I acknowledge that some improvements have been made in the bus service in Dublin, it is inexplicable and unacceptable that at a time of such need [for public transport], such a number of new buses be lying idle and unused".
There was no one available for comment in the Department of Public Enterprise or Dublin Bus.
However, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Enterprise has denied that there is a dispute between Dublin Bus and the Department.
"There are 32 buses that were purchased this year that have yet to be put on the road," the spokesperson said.
"However, there is nothing unusual about this; there is a considerable amout of testing to be done on buses before they can be allowed on to the roads and thye buses in question are undergoing that testing at the momemt.
"We expect the buses to be fully functional within the next two weeks."