Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Last December I raised concerns that local people had outlined to me about the No. 40 bus in Ballyvourney. At the time, the Minister assured me that there were no planned changes, yet today, given the dire financial position of Bus Éireann which has been outlined in recent days, concern is rapidly growing that there could be imminent cuts to the service. Staff should not be scapegoated and rural communities cannot be made to suffer.

Apart from the Expressway service, there is no other public transport available to people in Ballyvourney. The No. 40 bus serves a large population west of Cork city all the way to the Atlantic. People cannot do without it. It provides direct access for a large cohort of people to Cork University Hospital, with a stop outside the gate. The No. 51 bus from Cork to Limerick serves two major cities. It is bad enough that there is no motorway between Cork and Limerick, but now there is a threat that the bus service will be cut. Tá sé fíor-thábhachtach go gcoimeadfaí an córas seo i gcomhair bhus Uimh. 40 ag freastal ar mhuintir Bhaile Bhuirne. Níl aon bhus eile nó córas eile ar fáil do mhuintir Bhaile Bhuirne. Mar sin, tá tábhacht breise ag baint leis.

We acknowledge the difficult financial position Bus Éireann is in and action is needed, but the company needs to work with staff. It is also important to stress that older people should not be made to suffer in any way on account of the cuts. Free travel is not free. People who have worked hard over the years have paid into the system and should be able to avail of the service when they retire.

Services are not being subsidised enough, in that only half of the free travel cost is paid for by the Department of Social Production. It is an area which the Minister needs to examine. He cannot be a passenger on this bus. He needs to take an active role and support rural communities and the bus service.

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