Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I am sorry Senator Boyle is leaving the House because we share common ground on this issue. I welcome the Minister of State.

It is important we focus on two aspects of the report, namely Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann. The issue of subvention is controversial and Senator Ryan read into the record the public service obligation. Capital payments here are low compared to other countries. The basic question is whether we want proper public transport. We must stop hiding behind the unions of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann or behind their management. We need ministerial leadership and authority on the question of the provision of public transport by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann. Let us stop the charade of blaming the workers and managers and let us have leadership and authority from Government.

We need value for money and we must examine and create better efficiencies in the provision of public transport. The bottom line is that public transport must be about serving people and, as Senators Boyle and Donohoe rightly said, offering diverse transportation arrangements. We must think beyond the old regime and the traditional formats of public transport. Undoubtedly, much change has taken place and much of it has been good, which we welcome. This is down to commitment by workers, management and successive Governments. As Senator Boyle stated, we made a profit of €2.5 million and it is gone. Where did it go?

The report states that Bus Éireann passenger numbers increased between 2001 and 2007 and they increased by 6% in Dublin Bus. Surely at a time of economic recession and frugal living more people will look to public transport. I will return to Senator Boyle's comments on the French and Spanish models. The French model with regard to putting the management up for tender is one we should examine and I would have no difficulty with this.

We should tie in more with local authorities. Rapid transport corridors will be introduced in Cork in three parts of the city. I welcome this and I accept that at a time of economic stringency the money may not be there to fund and promote these new routes from the train station to Ballincollig via UCC and the CIT and from the airport into town and to Blackpool and from Mahon to the city centre. The planning process should begin now so that when we come into times of money again, which will happen, we will have the plans ready to go and we will not be waiting or procrastinating. It is important that we look at how the local authorities and the Department of Transport interact and the way in which people use various modes of transport. Is the Minister of State prepared to do this with regard to Cork city?

The car is the first port of call, and it should not be, for the majority of people in our cities and in metropolitan Cork covered by the Cork area strategic plan, CASP. Last week, when schools were on mid-term break, one could drive from Bishopstown to the city centre in ten minutes. On a school day, it takes almost 45 minutes at peak times in the evening and in the afternoon. We have failed miserably to move people away from car dependency. The modal shift must start again and we must sell the package better. We must offer people a reason to move.

To prepare for today's debate I spoke to a number of people who use buses on a regular basis in Cork and Dublin. I was told services were unreliable, expensive and had poor timetabling. Dublin has the Luas and the DART but Cork has no competition. I praise the workers of Bus Éireann in Cork and Joe Fitzgerald, the manager, who is very affable and is willing to meet and speak to public representatives. By comparison, private companies are reasonably priced, well structured and reliable.

A passenger who uses public transport to get to work in Dublin told me it was preferable to walk a mile to get the Luas rather than wait for a bus. When I ask why I was told by the person that taking the Luas would mean getting into town in 20 minutes and getting to work on time whereas the No. 44 bus would take at least an hour. Another passenger told me of seeing people who, after waiting for a 46A but, flagged down a taxi. This does not make sense. Surely, as the report states, our bus schedules should be led by the requirements of passengers. Passengers must be at the core of public transport delivery. It is a service for people to ferry them from point A to point B.

I call for more radical routes. Displays at bus stops showing real time arrival, as at Luas stations, must become part of our commitment to the people. Integrated ticketing has been discussed and I blame the Government for failure to do this. There is no other excuse. Stop blaming the management and the workers. The Government has the authority and it should drive it on. It makes no sense that we do not have integrated ticketing in this city. Consider Barcelona where one can buy tickets for zones and hop on and off.

I welcome the commitment of Bus Éireann in Cork and I acknowledge what the Minister of State stated about the Carrigaline route. I hope we will see it come to fruition. Recently, Bus Éireann changed the Cork city to Monkstown route. These are growing satellite towns in Cork which require a proactive bus service. CASP must be integrated with the local authority and Bus Éireann.

How many people here can tell me the cost of a bus ticket in Dublin? The last time I checked, it was €2.20, which is preposterous. We should consider allowing bicycles to be carried on buses, DART and commuter trains during off peak hours and on Saturdays. Introducing ticket zones, as exist in Barcelona, would also be of help. To incentivise people, can we provide a better discount for buying tickets in bulk?

We can get people away from cars and into buses. I travel by train, bus, plane and car. If we had a proper bus system and public transport system we would have a healthier society with less traffic congestion and pollution and more efficiencies. This is in the hands of the Government. The Minister of State can drive the bus or be the back seat passenger. It is his choice.