Minister for Transport Martin Cullen is to meet with representatives of Siptu and the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) today in an attempt to avert a national bus stoppage tomorrow evening.
Drivers at Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann plan to withdraw from work from 7pm tomorrow in protest at the Government's failure to honour commitments to invest in new buses.
More than 60,000 passengers across the State will face disruption during the unofficial strike called by NBRU workers.
The protest will primarily hit late-night shoppers, shift workers and those relying on late-night city and regional buses.
Workers have called the stoppage amid rumours that Mr Cullen is holding back on his promise to fund the bus service under pressure from the Progressive Democrats, who want greater privatisation of the bus market.
Mr Cullen last year agreed to provide €30 million to Dublin Bus to buy 100 new buses this year. He also asked both companies to submit plans detailing the number of buses required to meet immediate and medium-term needs.
Dublin Bus identified a need for 200 new buses, while Bus Éireann asked for 170. These submissions have been with the Government since January but no funding has been forthcoming.
Both companies are "so seriously short of buses" that they are struggling to maintain existing routes and have no hope of expanding services to meet the demands of a growing population, said NBRU acting general secretary Michael Faherty.
"Unlimited funding appears to be available for everything else, ranging from metros to the Luas and roads, but buses remain the poor relation of public transport."
It is understood that Mr Cullen intended to address the underfunding in the bus service but is being blocked by Tánaiste Mary Harney, who is unwilling to agree to large-scale investment of public money because of the lack of competition in the bus market.
The PDs have refused to agree to the introduction of the new buses until 25 per cent of existing routes are opened to competition. Mr Cullen has been in talks with unions over more modest proposals that would see existing routes free from competition but would open 15 per cent of new routes to private operators.
Mr Faherty said the ongoing Government row had resulted in deteriorating conditions for both workers and the travelling public.
He said normal bus services would resume on Friday but further protests were likely if the Government failed to state its position.
While the NBRU represents around 60 per cent of drivers, Siptu workers who make up the remainder are likely to support their colleagues.
Siptu vice-president Brendan Hayes yesterday wrote to Mr Cullen requesting a meeting to secure a commitment on the provision of new buses. He said it would be a "most serious development" if a row between Government parties was allowed to disadvantage the travelling public.
Up to 60,000 passengers on Dublin Bus services alone could be affected, a spokeswoman for the company said. "We are in no dispute with unions and we would urge anyone scheduled to work to provide the service."
A spokeswoman for Bus Éireann said drivers had given no notice of the strike, which was "very regrettable" and would "seriously inconvenience customers".
