David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the privatisation of bus routes across the State. I have raised the issue a number of times on the Adjournment in past months but have not received a satisfactory response from a Minister. The National Transport Authority is planning to privatise, or put out to tender as the Minister puts it, 10% of bus routes across the State. The routes will be sold to private operators who look to provide the service on the basis of profit rather than on the basis of providing a core service for rural areas. The CIE group of companies employs 10,000 people and many of the workers will look with alarm at what is happening to these bus routes. It is a slippery road to privatisation, and that concerns all workers.

Why, despite the fact that 10% of bus routes are being selected across the State for privatisation, have 100% of bus routes in my home city of Waterford been selected? Is Waterford city being used as a guinea pig in the Minister's privatisation experiment? The Minister has not outlined a credible reason Waterford city has been selected in this manner. It is clear to me and to the people who work in Bus Éireann, who provide the services, that this is what is happening. It would be a shame if the Minister allowed private operators to cherry-pick the more lucrative routes in Bus Éireann and sell them to people who want to provide a service on the basis of profit.

The State would end up having to provide the less lucrative routes at a greater cost to taxpayers. Much more thought must go into this issue. I am opposed to the privatisation of bus routes. The Leader will be aware that public meetings are taking place in Waterford this week. Those who work in these areas are appealing to all Oireachtas Members and local councillors to oppose these plans and support the retention of public services, which is in the interests of the people and of those who use the services and those who work in the companies. I ask the Leader to arrange for a debate on the issue before it is too late, before the Minister proceeds with his plans and before Waterford city loses some of its bus routes to privatisation.