Kieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not a member of the committee so I thank the Chairman for allowing me to speak. This is something in which I have taken a particular interest. I am based in Limerick city and I will deal with a microcosm that reflects the issue, particularly the Bus Éireann routes. There are numerous operators on the Limerick to Dublin route, with one being Bus Éireann. I will deal with one private operator as well. Annacotty is close to where I live and I know both services stop there. One of the private operators has only two stops on the way up, with one at the Kildare outlet centre and the other at the Red Cow roundabout before going to Bachelors Walk. It costs €10. Bus Éireann stops in Annacotty and does not stop at Kildare but it stops in Nenagh, Roscrea, twice in Portlaoise and then it effectively goes to the Red Cow as well. It charges €7.99 online. One route appears to be very profitable and the other is not but they are both doing the same and more or less at the same price.

One must consider the sense of equity. This question is directed at Ms Graham and Mr. Duggan. There appears to be a lack of empirical evidence on the number of people using the free travel pass on the Bus Éireann routes, whether they are pensioners, people other than pensioners and companions. There are no free travel passes used on the private operator service and everybody pays the €10. In this day and age, the fact that such information is not available is a scandal. It informs a decision regarding the public service obligation, PSO, and fairness vis-a-visthe service provided by Bus Éireann and private operators. It is almost impossible to evaluate it as a result.

Does Ms Graham believe the current PSO model is outdated? She referred to current legislation. If the two buses pull up side by side in Annacotty and I get on the Bus Éireann vehicle, I will end up going into Nenagh, Roscrea and Portlaoise. If I live in those areas, the service to my town would be provided by Bus Éireann but it is not provided by a private operator. Why is a PSO from the main motorway to Nenagh, Roscrea and Portlaoise not being considered? What reasons would prevent that? Is there a need for a change in legislation in order that we can compare like with like? Where is the information on the number of free travel passes being used on all routes? It is just not good enough that it is not available. How quickly can we get it to have a proper evaluation? Does Ms Graham believe the PSO model is fit for purpose because of the way the bus and transport system has evolved?