Dublin Bus fare hikes likely

As the price of oil drops yet again, Dublin Bus fears its fuel costs will double to €37 million next year. Oil fell today to $118 a barrel.

Meanwhile, a report has shown that inefficiencies in the banking practices of the HSE have added a further €20m onto its annual costs.

Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey has denied his Department could do with the money. Mr Dempsey was attending the opening of the Park West & Cherry Orchard rail line yesterday, and initially refused to be drawn on the issue.

But reporters put it to him that he had asked Health Minister Mary Harney to ‘slap a few heads together.’

The Minister, posing for good news photographs with the Chairman of Iarnrod Eireann Dr John Lynch, said: ‘I made, and will make, no representations to the Minister for Health. Furthermore, what Dublin Bus gets up to is its own business. If you will excuse me, I am busy looking at the big picture.’

Dublin Bus’ revenue in 2007 was €200.4 million, an increase of 6% from 2006.