Unions claim Dublin Bus results support stance

Dublin Bus unions have reacted to news the company made a profit last year as support for their opposition to Government plans to open the capital's bus market to competition.

A spokeswoman for the company confirmed today Dublin Bus made a profit of €2.1 million in 2002, compared with a profit of €1.145 million the previous year.

Mr Liam Tobin, National Bus and Railworkers Union (NRBU) chief executive, said the figures reflected the improvements made by the company and were achieved with a lower ratio of staff to buses. The figures for 2002 showed Dublin Bus was capable of meeting the bus service needs of the city, he said.

The Dublin Bus spokeswoman said passenger journeys increased by more than three per cent last year to 150 million. However, the company still requires more than €50 million per annum to survive.

Last year, the company received a State subvention of over €56 million.This was in addition to €28 million in capital funding for the upgrading the Dublin Bus fleet. In 2001, Dublin Bus was given a subvention of €52 million and €22 million in National Development Plan funding for capital investments.

Dublin Bus said discussion between the company and the Department of Transport were ongoing and a document outlining the process of privatising up to 25 per cent of Dublin Bus's routes will be presented to the Cabinet next month.

The NBRU is currently balloting its members on strike action and the result will be known on May 1st. SITPU members in Dublin Bus are to begin balloting on strike action next week.

Mr Tobin said the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, had "scuppered" negotiations between the unions and the department by announcing that privatisation was "definitely" going ahead.

Mr Brennan says liberalisation of the bus market is inevitable, either through his office, the Supreme Court or the EU Commission.