Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

Does the Minister of State accept that payroll costs at Bus Éireann have been slashed by €15 million since 2009? Does he agree that payments for overtime and driving throughout the night form part of the core wages Bus Éireann workers bring home to their families? I expect he will agree that they cannot afford to lose approximately €3,000 per annum under the deal that was placed before them. Does the Minister of State accept that an independent report commissioned by Deloitte on behalf of the Department indicates that Bus Éireann is an extremely efficient operation?

Does he further agree that the root of this problem lies in the fact that an inadequate level of subvention is being provided? On Leaders' Questions yesterday, the Taoiseach provided a reply which his office subsequently corrected by e-mail. The Taoiseach originally stated that the Department gave Bus Éireann its highest ever subvention, but the e-mail I received in the interim indicates that this is not the case. Does the Minister of State agree that it is obscene that we are paying out millions in taxpayers' money to public private partnerships each year as a result of the fact that roads are not being used? This is at a time when, as he stated earlier, he is prevented from investing in buses that are being used? I have no difficulty with those who operate private buses as long as they pay union rates to employees and allow unions to be recognised.

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