Dáil debates

Tuesday, 26 May 2009

Priority Questions

Rural Transport Services.

3:00 pm

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans to improve public transport in communities outside Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21639/09]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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In the past ten years the capacity and quality of bus and rail services provided by Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann have increased in line with high levels of capital and current funding. The majority of track and signalling infrastructure on the regional rail network has been upgraded, and the rolling stock fleet has been completely renewed. Station facilities and accessibility have been greatly improved and more frequent services have been introduced on most routes. Some formerly closed lines in the south and west are now being reopened as part of the Government's Transport 21 capital investment programme for rail. In particular, in the current year, the Midleton to Cork commuter line and the first phase of the western rail corridor between Ennis and Athenry will be reopened. Bus Éireann has expanded its commercial expressway services, increased public service obligation services and modernised its fleet throughout the country with the purchase of new buses, including the 239 new Exchequer-funded buses in 2007 and 2008.

The improvement in CIE services in the past ten years has been complemented by growing participation of private bus operators in the provision of scheduled bus services throughout the country. Bus services in rural areas also benefited from the major increase in investment in the rural transport programme, RTP, which addresses social exclusion in rural areas arising from unmet public transport needs. I am pleased to say the RTP is now operational in every county in Ireland.

Building on these achievements, Smarter Travel, which I published in February 2009, provides a strategic framework for the further development of public transport services throughout the country. Further improvement of public transport services in the provincial cities will be also guided by the outcome of the major land use and transport studies currently being funded by my Department. The provision of public transport generally outside the greater Dublin area will also be supported by a new legislative framework which will be promoted through the proposed public transport regulation Bill, the general scheme of which was approved by Government in January 2009. The Bill will contain proposals for a new regime for the licensing of all commercial bus services and contracts for public transport services.

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Notwithstanding the Minister's reply, the fact is that in Dublin Bus - even during the boom when capital investment in the industry was at its height - the number of passengers travelling to work by bus was falling. At this moment Bus Éireann is facing cutbacks due to the €30 million reduction in funding from the Department. We have heard that 150 buses may be withdrawn from routes around the country. Cork, for example, will lose 30 buses, Dublin will lose 25, Waterford will lose 14, Galway will lose 15, Dundalk will lose 12, Sligo will lose four, and Tralee will lose four. There is a serious crisis in public transport as a direct result of the Minister's policy.

The Deloitte report made it clear that Bus Éireann is largely efficient in its services. Is it not the case that due to the cutbacks that must be imposed as a result of the Minister's policy, the poor, the old and those who live in economically disadvantaged areas will suffer most?

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I do not know what cutbacks the Deputy is talking about. The subvention given to Bus Éireann and CIE companies generally increased this year. In the supplementary budget on 7 April, we had to take €10 million of the increased subvention from the company but we did not do that until we received an assurance from the company that it would be able to find that extra money through sales of property or other means.

The Deputy is wrong to suggest there have been cutbacks. There has been a cut in the number of people using buses, that is part of the economic downturn. The Deputy and his party have often spoken of not wasting public money. Is he suggesting now that Bus Éireann should be running empty buses? That would not be a good use of public funds.

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I have the press release here from Bus Éireann that states the company will have to make cutbacks of €30 million in its programme. Part of that is a result of the cuts in the subsidy from the Department while some of it is due to not enough people travelling to work by bus.

The fact is that Green Party policy has not been effective in Government and the Minister is cutting back in the area most valued by the Greens, public transport. The older, the poorer and those in disadvantaged areas who do not have the capacity to buy a car will lose out. Should the Minister not encourage a change in vehicle type? Why not have An Post and Bus Éireann operate a postal delivery and bus service together, using the same vehicle? We need new and radical thinking and we are not getting it from the Minister, all we are getting is cutbacks.

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is wrong, we have not cut back the subsidy to Bus Éireann, I have told him that.

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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That is not true.

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I explained what is happening to the Deputy a few minutes ago and I am not going to waste Dáil time repeating it. The overall subsidy available to Bus Éireann is as it was. The difficulty faced by CIE is being faced across the country in a range of sectors - a reduction in the number of passengers using the buses leading to a fall in revenue. We have asked Bus Éireann to live within its means as far as it can this year and next year.

Bus Éireann intends to maintain its network, although there may be a reduction in service levels on some routes.