Bus services resume around the country today after a 48 hour strike ended at midnight.

However drivers at Bus Eireann and Dublin Bus have warned that there could be five more days of work stoppages this month.

They walked off the job on Friday in a row over plans to privatise up to a tenth of all bus routes.

Management at the two transport companies are calling on unions to return to the talks table to try to reach a solution.

The Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe has warned drivers that they, not the taxpayer, will pay the price for the bus strike.

They are taking High Court legal action to reclaim millions in earnings and Minister Donohoe says he will not be asking the Irish taxpayer to pay these costs.