Results 22,141-22,160 of 26,162 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: I have interacted with the CTTC since the start of the pandemic. I have spoken to Mr. Willie Martin, the local man in Limerick, and I acknowledge the work he has done. A commercial operator in Limerick lost all its supports post pandemic and the route was not commercially viable. I worked to secure a PSO for that route and it has been quite dramatic. I must get down to the granular...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: I find that difficult. I worked to try to fast-track that. I saw for myself in real time the process of getting a route up and running. I am familiar with that process. If a provider is up and running within the NTA's internal system to provide the fare reduction for young adults, I presume that bringing forth the 20% reduction for the general population is only a variation on that...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: Mr. Conway expects that would cost €24 million.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: Have many members of the CTTC had to discontinue routes from when the subsidies that were available ended until the end of June or thereabouts because the 20% reduction does not apply to them?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: Is any work being done by the CTTC to consider the implications for its members of not qualifying for the general 20% reduction? Has the CTTC been able to do any empirical work in that regard?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: I suspect some CTTC members have PSO routes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: Those companies probably have a very good picture of the situation. If the witnesses have more empirical work, we will follow up on it. We are trying to promote public transport by offering a 20% reduction on PSO routes. The argument is that to create a level playing field, that reduction should apply to all routes. Is that the point, in simple terms?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: We will follow up on that point.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: When will the cliff edge come?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: Why is that the case?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: Would those prices not already have dropped by 20%?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: Would those prices not already have dropped?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: How does the taxsaver ticket scheme work?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: Has the CTTC been able to quantify how much of the business of its members is coming through that taxsaver area?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: The CTTC will, through its members, be doing further empirical work.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: The committee is available too. This is a matter we will take up. It is all about timing. It seems things are unfolding now. We do not wish for this to lead to the loss of jobs. I am in favour of supporting people who are trying to create and provide jobs. Career paths and incomes were raised by Senator Dooley, and I get that. Mr. Conway mentioned a second area of funding, additional to...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: On the area of skills shortages, my understanding is that coach drivers are not currently covered under the work permit scheme that is coming in through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the RSA. If a driver from, say, South Africa wants to come here, that facility is not there for the industry. How big an issue for the organisation’s members is bringing in...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: I previously proposed that the category D licence be looked at but Bus Éireann, which awards the contracts, was not willing to go into that space. How great a shortage of bus drivers is there in the sector? If Mr. Conway could give a percentage, by what extent is it lacking bus drivers? What capacity is not being fulfilled?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: Could Mr. Conway put a figure on the number of drivers by which the industry is short?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: Is it a matter the council has taken up with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to see whether the industry can qualify for the recognition of foreign driving licences?