Transport Minister Martin Cullen TD visits Wright Group of Ballymena; announces €11.5 million contract to supply 48-single deck city buses to Bus Éireann

Date: 05 April 2007

Transport Minister, Mr Martin Cullen, TD, today (Thursday 5 April 2007) visited the Wright Group’s bus operation in the Galgorm Industrial Estate, Ballymena, County Antrim. This visit follows an Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ (ICTU) sponsored meeting between the Minister and worker representatives from Wrights in January this year. The Minister toured the premises of the Group, which is the largest independent bus-building company in Western Europe and met with both staff and management. Founded in 1946, the Wright Group has pioneered low floor buses in the UK and employs almost 900 personnel. Among the local dignitaries present for the factory visit were the Right Honourable Dr Ian Paisley, MP for North Antrim and future first Minister and Mr Ian Paisley Junior, MLA. The Deputy Mayor of Ballymena, Councillor Maurice Mills was also in attendance. Those visiting the coach-building firm with Minister Cullen during his two-hour visit included Mr Tim Hayes, Chief Executive of Bus Éireann and Mr Joe Meagher, Chief Executive of Dublin Bus and Mr David Begg, General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

Speaking today, Minister Cullen said: “I am delighted to meet Dr Paisley and his son, Mr Ian Paisley Junior, here today at the Wright Group in their home town of Ballymena.”

The Wright Group has supplied buses to markets in North America, Asia and mainland Europe. The Minister said: “I believe that practical North/South co-operation can benefit us all. There are many areas in which we can do business to advance the economic agenda, to the advantage of North and South. There is real potential for significant purchasing contracts to service our need for new buses. We are in the business of buses - and I’m delighted to see you tendering for the supply of buses in our market”. The Minister said: ”I am happy to announce today that Bus Éireann will purchase 48 single deck city buses from you which I understand are to be delivered by the end of this year. The value of the contract is €11.5 million”. The Minister also confirmed, with his support, that Dublin Bus has agreed with Wrights to supply their first prototype - a hybrid electric double deck vehicle, “to advance the sustainable agenda within Dublin Bus.” The Wright Group has taken the lead in the development of a range of passenger transport vehicles which feature environmentally friendly advanced hybrid engines.

Minister Cullen added: “As the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern has said, this announcement is an example of where our new relationship of respect and understanding will promote economic prosperity and development in Northern Ireland, as well as benefit the island as a whole.”

The Minister said that both Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann have further orders coming to the market and he wished Mr Mark Nodder, Managing Director, Wright Group, every success in; “building a good commercial relationship with both companies and in the bidding process”. Under Transport 21, the Government’s investment programme for transport, and the National Development Plan, a total of €770 million is provided to fund bus investment up to 2015.

In relation to further economic development, Minister Cullen said: “A key issue for us all is economic development in both parts of the island. We have committed over €580 million (£400 million) to the Financial Package for Northern Ireland announced by Chancellor Brown last month.

“Our contribution will be targeted at a major infrastructure investment programme for Northern Ireland to upgrade selected road links. We are also jointly contributing with the British Government, to an innovation fund for Northern Ireland to help stimulate collaborative Research and Development on the island.”

Minister Cullen concluded: “These developments represent the kind of practical co-operation which can bring significant social and economic benefits to communities in both parts of the island”.

Editor’s note: The Irish Government is investing, through the Department of Transport over €131 million in cross border road projects this year. These include the A1/N1 Newry to Dundalk Link Road; the N2/52 Ardee Bypass; the N2 Ashbourne-M50 project; the N2 Slane Bypass; the N2 Monaghan Bypass; the N2 Carrickmacross Bypass; the N2 Castleblaney Bypass; the N3 Virginia Bypass; the N3 Belturbet Bypass, the M3 Clonee-South of Virginia Scheme; the N14 Lifford/Strabane project and the N15 Ballybofey/Stranorlar Bypass and the N15 Bundoran/Ballyshannon Bypass.