Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I met a number of Bus Éireann drivers in my constituency office yesterday, who came to speak to me about the plans that are being put forward to decimate the service and which would have an impact on people in our constituency. The Minister referred to Bus Éireann introducing a new plan to help achieve profitability. My fear is that some of the proposals are already being put in place without consensus being reached between unions and management. As we speak, practices that are destructive to passengers are being implemented as management goes head to head with drivers.

A driver I spoke to yesterday operates the crucial service between the airport, Kells, Navan and Ashbourne. He telephoned the company to say he could not work because of a medical issue, but was conscious of his duty of care to the passengers he served who need to access the airport and DCU. He was told not to worry and thanked for calling. The company did not operate two of the services that day. Commuters who wished to travel to the airport and students who needed to travel to DCU were left stranded on the side of the road. Managers decided not to provide a replacement driver to cover the service.

They are the kind of destructive head-to-head games that are already happening. That is why we need to save the company from itself. Passengers are the pawns in all of this. There is a service across the State of which we can be proud. It needs to be valued and supported. The Minister spoke at length about rural Ireland and the need for connectivity to be maintained. He is correct. It is equally important for urban Ireland. We are living in a more urbanised society. The national framework plan will create more urbanisation.

Before Christmas, the Minister addressed the lack of a rail line in my constituency. The way things are going, we will have no bus service. The smarter travel plan was announced ten years ago. I appeal to the Minister to note that did not get enough people out of private cars and onto public transport. We need a smarter policy in that respect and to help the service.

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