Bus owners had by this afternoon signed contracts to sell 343 buses to the government. They include 101 low floor buses and 242 of the older makes.

The total number of buses is 508.

The Transport Ministry said that a substantial number of the owners had also declared they wished to join the new bus service operator.

In terms of the agreement between the government and the Public Transport Association €98,000 will be paid for the old buses and €123,000 for the low-floor types.

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