Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

On Sunday next, 28 February, Bus Éireann will bring a long list of what it euphemistically describes as timetable and route changes into effect. This is part of a cost-cutting plan which will mean that the service between Dungarvan and Mallow provided on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, will cease. This service currently leaves Dungarvan at 9 a.m., returning to Dungarvan at 3.40 p.m. and leaving Dungarvan again at 5.30 p.m. for Tallow. It returns to Dungarvan at 6.10 p.m. to connect with the Dublin and Cork services. These services stop at Cappoquin and Lismore. My colleague, Deputy Sherlock, will describe the service in his constituency.

The National Bus and Rail Workers Union has come up with a proposal that would allow this service to be retained one day a week, on Thursdays, at no cost to the company other than that associated with making an additional bus available. The Dungarvan driver, who links with Clonmel and Waterford, would switch his rest days from Wednesday and Thursday to Tuesday and Wednesday. His colleague in Clonmel would switch his leave days from Sunday and Tuesday to Sunday and Monday, thereby having back-to-back rest days, which is what Bus Éireann is always trying to achieve for its drivers. Under the new arrangement, the Dungarvan driver, who is a spare driver one day a week, would work on that day. If the union proposal is accepted, the people of west Waterford will have a service one day a week, at least. I understand that an average of between 90 and 100 passengers use the service each day. While many of these passengers hold free travel passes, Bus Éireann is paid to carry them.

This measure represents the final reneging on the commitment, outlined in the January 1976 notice of termination of train services on the railway line between Mallow and Waterford via Fermoy, that new road passenger services would be provided as an alternative for passengers. If Bus Éireann shows the ability to think outside the box and focus primarily on the needs of passengers, it will be possible for a one-day service to be provided. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Moloney, to ensure that the Official Report of this debate is passed on to Bus Éireann tomorrow. Time is running out on this issue.

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