Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As President Trump might say, it is so ironic that the motion has been tabled by Fianna Fáil, given that it played a huge role in the race to the bottom in public transport, beginning with the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009 which the Minister will remember. A number of us argued about the dangers we see today in an incredible and vicious assault on the drivers and other staff of Bus Éireann through cuts of more than 30%. Bus Éireann has pumped a lot of its money, €41 million, into the commercial operation because of the fact that PSO funding has been slashed by 60% since 2009. The Fine Gael-Fianna Fáil Government was totally responsible for this. It slashed PSO funding and refused to fund public transport. If we look across Europe, as the Minister knows, there are many brilliant public transport systems, from Spain to the Netherlands and across to eastern Europe, where up to 90% of the costs are subsidised by the state.

The 2,500 workers have been subject to a pay freeze since 2009, while there have been two cost reduction programmes. The details of the assault given to us by SIPTU and the NBRU are astonishing and it is also astonishing that the House should countenance it. There has been a 100% loss of Sunday premium payments and public transport services must be run every day. The rota and shift premium has been eliminated to reflect so-called race to the bottom competition. Overtime rates have been reduced by up to 40% or 50%. There has been a 10% cut in basic allowances and a change to monthly payments. We have seen examples where people wanted to go back to receiving weekly and fortnightly payments to manage low-income households. Sick pay benefits have been slashed by up to 30%. This represents a devastating attack on the workforce of this important national company and important national service.

It may have been told earlier, but I will tell the story of one driver. He is 53 years old and has worked for Bus Éireann for the past nine years. He works a seven week roster, working five days each week. He works four Sundays out of seven. His gross annual earnings are €46,419, almost one quarter of the Minister's wages. He is married with one child and has a mortgage, a credit union loan and outstanding debts since the recession. Drivers have not received a pay rise since 2008, but half of the coaches they drive have increased passenger capacity, from 53 to 78 seats. The drivers also took a pay cut in 2014 for 19 months to help Bus Éireann to recoup some losses. In the case of the particular driver in question, the impending cuts will equate to a loss of €160 per week or €8,300 per year.

I have told the Minister that I want him to stop standing like a sphinx and get out and get involved in dealing with the issue. This is the national public transport system and all of our constituencies require this vital national service to be maintained. As the NTA stated, no town or village should be forgotten. That is the Minister's responsibility.

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