The recent takeover of private bus companies by multinational transport groups has been criticised by the trade union SIPTU.

SIPTU's national organiser Mr Noel Dowling said foreign multinationals were moving in "stealthily" to take over public transport bus routes.

He said the recently announced takeover of Aircoach by Britain's largest bus company FirstGroup had raised concerns.

"This is the third Irish owned company to be bought out by foreign multinationals this year. It appears that the owners of any Irish company that can secure licences on a few routes can then make a financial killing by selling a controlling interest to transport giants such as First Group and Delgro," he said.

"Some of these companies do not even operate services on routes where they are awarded a licence, or make a profit on those routes where they do operate. The pay-off depends on a big multinational buying you out," he added.

"Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann are not allowed to bid for routes and have even been ordered to stop providing services in order to make way for private operators. These licences, are highly valuable commodities and it is time that some transparency was introduced into the system," he said.

Mr Dowling criticised the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, for allowing bus transport to evolve in this manner.

"One has to question the judgment of a Minister who seems hell bent on dismantling proven, existing state owned companies to make way for less successful private operators".