Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of bus services in Ireland. We have put much investment into bus services and public transport but there are major anomalies in the system that must be examined. A key issue is bus fares, which I have been examining over the last few weeks. If one travels the 16 km from Carrigaline to Cork it will cost €4 but if one travels the 28 km from Kinsale to Cork it will cost €14.50 return. That anomaly must be examined. Travelling from Bandon to Cork, which is a distance of 29 km, costs €17.50 return. There is a real dilemma at present. We are promoting public transport and encouraging people to use buses but the fares do not work. I attended a meeting with representatives of Bus Éireann a few weeks ago along with Senator Buttimer and the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, during which we discussed this issue. There must be a complete review of the structure for pricing bus services.

Bus services in rural Ireland are a joke in many ways unless we do something about the prices. We talk about getting people onto buses but it is not economical. If one lives in Kinsale and works in Cork, one will spend €3,000 per year for a bus service. That is not sustainable. If one lives in Bandon and works in Cork one will spend €3,200 per year. People cannot afford to spend that kind of money on public transport. There has to be a complete review of the pricing structures in Bus Éireann, but we have not seen it. Something has been done for the bus services around the cities but not for the services to rural towns. We have examined the situation in rural towns throughout Ireland, not just in Cork. They are priced out of existence because there is no decent pricing structure in place. I appeal to the Leader to invite the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, to the House. I tabled a Commencement matter on this and it was refused because the Minister had no responsibility. The Minister must take responsibility for this. He must come to the House and address it. If he does not, bus services in rural Ireland will be a joke.