The vast majority of the company's services have been hit and are not operating as the row over a €5 million cost cutting plan continues.

Bus Eireann says it's open to talks with the National Bus and Rail Union at any time.

Spokesperson Andrew McLindon says the strike is costing Bus Eireann €200,000 a day.

The Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has called on the NBRU to re-enter talks with Bus Eireann and he's rejected suggestions that he has issued any instructions to company management.

The union has accused Minister Varadkar of stopping management from engaging in talks to resolve the strike, which has hit over 95 per cent of Bus Eireann services.

In a statement this morning, Minister Varadkar said he fully supports the company's efforts to get their finances back on a secure footing and urged the NBRU to take swift action to re-enter talks without preconditions.