The State's total subvention to Dublin Bus is close to €100 million, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has said.
Trade unions have contended that the exchequer subvention to the State-owned transport company has been reduced over recent years by 24 per cent – from over €85 million to about €57 million last year.
However, this relates only to the State’s subsidy for current operations by Dublin Bus.
In essence, this money represents payment to the company – technically known as public service obligations – for running socially necessary but commercially unviable bus services.
Capital funding
However, in addition, the NTA said the company received a separate State subvention for capital purposes.
In 2015, the capital subvention provided by the NTA was just under €39 million.
In 2014, capital funding of over €61.4 million was allocated to Dublin Bus by the NTA.
The vast bulk of this money – more than €37 million – went towards the bus fleet operated by Dublin Bus.
Effectively, buses operated by Dublin Bus have, in recent years, been bought by the NTA.
In a statement, the NTA said that, in 2013, it had provided €31.1 million to buy buses for the use by the company.
In 2014, this figure increased to €55.6 million while, last year, it spent €37.4 million on vehicles for the Dublin Bus fleet.
The balance of the capital funding provided by the NTA went on other capital projects such as bus shelters at stops .
Purchase of buses
“In 2013, the authority funded the purchase of 80 double-deck buses to be delivered in 2013,” the NTA said.
“In 2014, the authority funded the purchase of 67 double-deck buses for delivery in 2014. Also in 2014, the authority funded 90 double-deck buses for delivery throughout 2015.”
“In 2015, the authority funded the purchase of 110 buses for delivery throughout 2016,” the NTA said.
