Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I apologise in advance but I must leave before the end of the meeting. I wish to address the following questions to Mr. Nolan. In his address he stated that he is restricted in the level of consultation that can take place because of commercial sensitivities. Is there not an agreed protocol between Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority, NTA, regarding local consultation where services are being reduced or withdrawn? Is it not the case that if adequate notice is given to communities, it allows them to consider alternatives, such as the rural transport initiative or the encouragement of a private operator to take up some of the service? Mr. Nolan is correct when he states that in some cases there are alternatives, and probably the best example is Dromad in County Leitrim, where there is a rail service. What will happen to other communities such as Elphin and Roosky, where no other transport services are available and where the complete withdrawal of services from those communities has a devastating impact on them?

May I revert to the contribution of the Coach Tourism and Transport Council of Ireland?

The commercial operators make the case that there are two types of service. Bus Éireann has made the same case. There is a commercial service and a public service obligation, PSO, service. Why must there be a black and white situation? Can we not have a commercial service between, say, Sligo and Dublin, with each operator that is licensed on the route obliged to stop at one social responsibility town or community on the route? Bus Éireann might stop in Dromod and Rooskey and another operator might stop in another village along the route. This would not impact on a customer who is travelling from Sligo, because the bus would be stopping in selected villages only, and not in every village along the way. It would not reduce competitiveness because each operator would take a share of the public obligation burden. It would, however, improve connectivity along the route and facilitate other operators of non-commercial services to link up with the main route rather than forcing those non-commercial services to go to much larger towns to connect with the network, if they are lucky enough to be able to do that.

Mr. Nolan makes the point that it is hard to make a commercial case for stops at intermediate points. The route through Dromod and Rooskey is shorter than using the bypass. To service Elphin involves only an extra 2 km. I do not see the commercial savings, in fuel for example, by bypassing these communities along the route. Would it not be fairer for everyone to share the burden, rather than have one operator withdraw the only service, leaving everyone without one?