Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Deputy O'Sullivan. I will add that it is not just about a driver shortage. We are also short of mechanics. In Cork, there are ten or 12 vacancies in mechanic positions at present. If the bus is not maintained, then it cannot run. Irish passengers value and are attracted to their bus services. Passenger numbers on Bus Éireann PSO services went up by 27% last year. That is a huge increase by any measure. When we introduce BusConnects in Cork, the fleet will increase by 50%. We will need Bus Éireann for a variety of needs. There is the school bus service as well as PSO and commercial services. The Deputy is right that the scale of ambition we have is some 2,000 additional drivers for this switch we will make towards public transport.

One of the first things we need to do is make sure that drivers are properly paid. My understanding is that a benchmark exercise on pay was undertaken, which resulted in improved terms for mechanics in January this year, to ensure that their remuneration is in line. The quota requirement for apprenticeships has also been increased. This is a problem we can overcome. It is part of a wider issue in the economy. The truth is, if you talk to people across many different sectors, it is very hard to get people. It is a real challenge because we are at full employment and demand continues to grow. In those circumstances, it is challenging. We will overcome those challenges in providing the new buses and the better bus corridors so that they really fly, as well as having the drivers and mechanics to operate them.

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