Dublin Bus is to hire 70 new drivers after an improvement in passenger numbers for 2013. It is the first time the company has recruited since 2008.

The company recently implemented a series of cost-cutting measures to deal with mounting losses. Last month SIPTU drivers finally accepted the measures having previously gone on strike in August.

The company says it carried an extra 400,000 passengers between October and December this year.

The firm also says additional buses are being deployed at peak times to cater for this growing demand. It has has begun to recruit the new positions which will come on-stream over the next three months.

Speaking about the growth in passenger numbers, Dublin Bus CEO Paddy Doherty said "This growth in passenger numbers marks a significant step forward for Dublin Bus and gives us a solid base from which to grow from in 2014. It also proves the effectiveness of the many developments which have been delivered over the past two years".

While the Chief Executive of the National Transport Authority (NTA) Gerry Murphy added "The National Transport Authority welcomes these positive developments from Dublin Bus which show just how the customer benefits from a steady investment in public transport".