Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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70. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on media reports that the management of Bus Éireann has contingency plans to declare insolvency depending on the outcome of the pending ballot of its workers; his plans to deal with this; and if he or officials from his Department met with Bus Éireann management recently to discuss this issue. [22130/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​We are all aware of the very difficult situation in Bus Éireann and I do not think that the situation is in anyway assisted by speculating on media reports that may, or may not, exist.

The Deputy is aware that trade union members are currently balloting on a Labour Court Recommendation. That Recommendation issued following a period of intensive discussions between both trade unions and management at both the Workplace Relations Commision and the Labour Court. I know that trade union members have been considering the Recommendation in great detail, and its implications for both them and the Company, ahead of their ballot. I believe those members should be allowed the opportunity to exercise their vote freely without undue external pressures or influence.

I am in absolutely no doubt as regards the seriousness of the situation facing the Company. The gravity of the Company's finances has been highlighted to me once again in a recent meeting I held with the Chair of the Company.  

I believe Bus Éireann has a vital role to play in providing transport services and I have committed toward building upon the increased funding I have already provided to the Company in relation to supporting and expanding its PSO bus services in the years ahead.