12th July 2001

PRESS RELEASE

GREEN PARTY CALLS FOR RETURN OF EIGHT BUS

The Green Party has heavily criticized Dublin Bus for discontinuing the number eight bus service.  Until a week ago the service served Dalkey, Dun Laoghaire and the City Centre via the Merrion Road.  Now bus users are forced to change buses in Dun Laoghaire if they wish to travel by bus from Dalkey to destinations beyond Dun Laoghaire.

"Many elderly bus users are still waiting for a route that has been removed," stated the Green Party's Ciarán Cuffe today. "Dublin Bus failed to consult its customers prior to removing the service."

"We are worried that the success of the Stillorgan Quality Bus Corridor is leading to cutbacks and closures on other routes. Even the number eighty-six is now down to just one bus serving the route. I accept that there are traffic problems on the Merrion Road, but the introduction of a Quality Bus Corridor on the road would decrease journey times and attract more bus users.  With DART carriages full to capacity, and services reduced since the fire earlier this month in a DART Depot in Fairview it seems crazy to remove this bus route.

"The Dublin Transportation Office has stated that bus services shall be improved throughout the Dublin area. It seems ludicrous to be cutting back on services at this time."

Mr. Cuffe has called for Dublin Bus to restore the service pending a full round of consultations with the communities served by the route.

ENDS

For further information contact:

Ciarán Cuffe  6183082 or  087 265 2075