§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the cost in 2003–04 of the shuttle buses currently serving the Royal Victoria Hospital. [166701]
§ Mr. SpellarTranslink has advised that for the year 2003–04 the cost of providing the shuttle bus service to the Royal Victoria Hospital from Belfast City center was £80,300. Income from fares amounting to £69,400 went towards supporting this service.
§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the cost of introducing a shuttle bus service between the Ulster Hospital and Belfast City center. [166710]
§ Mr. SpellarTranslink has advised that the estimated cost of providing a shuttle bus service between Belfast City center and the Ulster Hospital at Dundonald would be approximately £156,600 per year, depending on the required hours of operation and frequency of service. Although Translink do not supply a dedicated bus to the Ulster Hospital, approximately 190 buses per day stop at a terminus, located adjacent to the hospital.