John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Nolan for his presentation and thank the officials who have attended for it. Like Deputy Dooley, I am very interested in hearing Bus Éireann's reaction to what has been said by the private coach operators. They say they would provide the PSO services cheaper and better. If we take what they said at face value, they can do this better, but I presume Bus Éireann has the opposite opinion. I would like the representatives of Bus Éireann to be as direct as the private operators were in giving their side.

The changes with regard to Expressway routes have been an issue in recent weeks and I acknowledge Bus Éireann's engagement on that. Perhaps I can be parochial here, as I am sure other members will be also. Mr. Nolan mentioned in his presentation that some changes have been implemented and others are on the way. Are those changes on the way more of the same? Mr. Nolan said in another part of his presentation that he cannot engage with communities for reasons of commercial sensitivity and that it is difficult to engage with communities in advance. We have had the same issue with regard to post offices. We are here to serve our communities but it is important that where communities are not making sufficient use of a service, they are given the opportunity either to make more use of the service or lose it.

The issue in the case of Carracastle in County Mayo was that the changed bus route was a longer route, but there were no extra pick-up points. Therefore, the contention that there would be extra passengers on the Expressway route did not apply. It is very difficult to convince communities this would make any sort of saving for Bus Éireann. Rather, it would increase costs. I acknowledge the fact Bus Éireann has reversed some of the decisions it made there and that it has replaced some of the services with local PSO routes. It is important that any changes the company makes should stand up and achieve what it says they will. I would appreciate this being addressed in the response.

In some discussions I have had with Mr. Nolan, he mentioned at some stage that Expressway services go into Dublin Airport and that Bus Éireann is charged for access to Dublin Airport for those routes. Is it the situation that one semi-State company is paying another semi-State body? Does this charge apply to Dublin Airport alone or must the company pay for access to other airports also? This situation does not add up for the ordinary punter and they would not be aware of it. The Expressway services to Dublin Airport are very successful and widely used.