Tom Morrissey (Progressive Democrats)

I ask the Leader to arrange a debate in the House with the Minister for Transport about the more widespread introduction of private operators into the bus market. Every bus that is introduced into that market by a private operator costs the taxpayer and the Government nothing by way of subvention or subsidy. This is a policy the Government should embrace. A number of issues should be addressed in the debate. One is the length of time it takes for a private bus operator to have a licence approved. I have seen correspondence where an acknowledgement was issued on 30 January but even though it is now 30 June there has been no further progress in the matter.

Furthermore, due to the failure to introduce proper technology, the Department of Transport is paying twice or is duplicating the repayment for the free travel scheme. There is a lack of transparency about how CIE is using its subsidy or whether it is using it to drive private operators off some routes. There is evidence of private bus operators being brought from one part of the country to another by CIE to work against other operators, getting €400 per trip with two or three passengers on board. It does not make economic sense. How is that subsidised? There is widespread abuse. The Minister might tell us that he receives an assurance in the annual accounts from CIE that there is no cross-subsidisation and abuse but it must be happening and I want the issue to be debated.