Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The most telling aspect thus far this morning was the statement from the NTA about private operators where it said they were not obliged to continue a service if it is not commercially viable, that the licence can be withdrawn. Is that not what we have said all along? Is that not what we said was the difference between private operators and a public transport network? If we continue on the path we are on of axing public transport routes, we are leaving them at the behest of private operators who can withdraw their licence a week later if they wish. That is very significant because it adds to the argument of public transport being there as a public service to provide transport on routes that are not commercially viable.

Would the NTA accept that the over-staturation of routes has contributed significantly to the financial crisis? It would be foolish not to but the NTA has been reluctant so far to accept that or to admit to it publicly. On the review of all the licences to private operators, would the NTA publish that review or could the committee have sight of it? It seems strange that, particularly on the loss-making routes, with all the goings on over the last three or four months, the NTA has not been forthright in pointing to this detailed review on all routes so we can have the details to scrutinise them. We could then determine whether the over-saturation is linked to the loss-making and so on. I wonder if we could get a commitment on that.

The NTA is the Government policy implementer and in implementing policy I am sure it would recognise that it has contributed to this financial crisis. Given the calls by the unions over the past three or four months to have all stakeholders around the table for negotiations, why has the NTA been so unwilling thus far to engage, especially in view of the fact that it is the implementer of the Government policy? It has been part of the problem in creating the crisis and I do not understand its reluctance thus far to helping to find a resolution.

On the free travel pass, can the NTA confirm if there is a different subsidy given to private operators than to the public transport network? On the travel pass not being accepted on certain routes by certain private operators, would that not be something the NTA would have checked before granting a licence? Why grant a licence to a private operator which was unwilling to use the facility of the free travel pass? Does the NTA know the percentage of private operators who are not taking the free travel pass?

On route closures, can the NTA confirm how many routes it plans to close completely or how many are earmarked? The reason I am raising this issue is the Dublin to Derry route, I think it is called the X3. It is part of Government's National Framework Policy to integrate connectivity between Dublin and the north west and it seems that if the NTA goes ahead with closing the Dublin to Derry route it would be going against Government policy in this area. I am seeking the rationale behind that and all the other routes that it has identified. The NTA has not said what routes are involved and it would be helpful if it said which routes it had targeted and that it planned to axe in view of the adverse effect it will have on people across the community.

I find it confusing that the NTA has said several times that while it plans to cut back on Bus Éireann services it will not leave any rural community behind. What is the plan there? It will not leave any rural community behind. Will there be a service that is free of charge? How is it going to provide a service or give a commitment to not leave rural Ireland behind if there is going to be a cost? If there is already a service available why is the NTA removing a service to replace it with another service that is going to cost possibly even more money?