Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

Notwithstanding the Minister's reply, the fact is that in Dublin Bus - even during the boom when capital investment in the industry was at its height - the number of passengers travelling to work by bus was falling. At this moment Bus Éireann is facing cutbacks due to the €30 million reduction in funding from the Department. We have heard that 150 buses may be withdrawn from routes around the country. Cork, for example, will lose 30 buses, Dublin will lose 25, Waterford will lose 14, Galway will lose 15, Dundalk will lose 12, Sligo will lose four, and Tralee will lose four. There is a serious crisis in public transport as a direct result of the Minister's policy.

The Deloitte report made it clear that Bus Éireann is largely efficient in its services. Is it not the case that due to the cutbacks that must be imposed as a result of the Minister's policy, the poor, the old and those who live in economically disadvantaged areas will suffer most?

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