Transport Minister Danny Kennedy has said he will not support any plans to privatise Translink.

The Minister was responding to an Assembly motion on the Committee for Regional Development’s Inquiry into Comprehensive Transport Delivery Structures.

The Minister said: "I was very disappointed that this report was subject to media comment before the Assembly had a chance to debate it. Headlines such as 'privatisation of Translink' cause concern and anxiety for staff, particularly in these times of economic uncertainty.

"It is important to note that public transport in Northern Ireland is going from strength to strength. Passenger journeys are rising at significant rates and last year alone rail journeys were up by 800,000 and bus journeys by 300,000. In fact I expect passenger journeys to increase by over one million this year, potentially exceeding 80 million."

But South Belfast DUP MLA Jimmy Spratt accused the Minister of "diversion" and a failure to address the real issues in the Committee's report.

"This report came about through a great deal of effort by all members of the Regional Development Committee and it is very disappointing that the Minister has failed to accept and address the issues contained within it," he said.

"Nowhere in this report was privatisation ever recommended, but it seems that the roads Minister has been using this issue as a 'diversion' to distract from the real issues at hand. Many will see further comments from the Minister even during today’s debate as just a cheap political stunt. The report did recommend increasing competition which is already provided for within the 2011 Act and which could be used to open up rural transport facilities which are already in operation and can bring people from rural areas to the main Translink network.

"It must be noted however that whilst the Trade Unions have expressed justifiable concern about reports of privatisation, they did not avail of the opportunity to actually engage with the Committee during this report. Whilst their fears are unfounded, they have come very late to the debate."

(IT/CD)