The Minister for Transport says he is hopeful an agreement can be reached in the dispute at Bus Eireann.

Management and unions are meeting at the Labour Relations Commission today to try and reach a settlement in the dispute over €5 million worth of cost-cutting measures.

The National Bus and Rail Union has suspended its strike action for 48 hours to allow the talks to take place. It comes after 2 days of major disruption for passengers. Both sides entered talks last night in a bid to resolve the dispute.

Potential breakthrough

The company accepted an invitation from the LRC for talks with the trade unions, which began at 8pm last night. 

Yesterday the NBRU warned the rolling strike could spread to Irish Rail and Dublin Bus.

There was also a further escalation in Cork where striking drivers blocked a GoBus service to Dublin Airport from leaving. GoBus eventually had to cancel a handful of services between Cork and Dublin. GoBus is a venture run jointly by Bus Eireann and a private company.

School services will operate normally again today.

Speaking on his way into the talks, Bus Eireann representative Joe Kenny admits finding a resolution will be difficult:

Earlier, Andrew McAlinden from Bus Eireann told Newstalk Breakfast the company is aiming to provide full service today:

While the Transport Minister Leo Varadkar says an agreement has to be reached this time:

Bus Éireann is issuing updates for customers on its website.