Public Transport Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 December 2016

Wednesday, 7 December 2016

Questions (27)

Imelda Munster

Question:

27. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the future of public transport here in view of the serious issues raised by the NTA's rail review, concerns regarding the future of the Expressway bus service, ongoing industrial relations issues surrounding a number of national carriers and previous industrial action taken by Dublin Bus and Luas workers; his further views on whether he should re-evaluate his approach to public transport funding and his engagement with the sector, in view of the ongoing difficulties in the sector since he took office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39117/16]

Oral answers (8 contributions)

Deputy Imelda Munster

My question on the future of public transport has been topical since the Minister took office and even more so in recent days, the Minister having acknowledged that Bus Éireann is in crisis. Has the Minister considered re-evaluating his approach to public transport and his engagement with the sector?

Deputy Shane Ross

First, I thank Deputy Munster for attending the meeting of the select committee this morning. It was good to see her there.

Deputy Robert Troy

The Minister's office had better never ring across looking for us to accommodate him again, as we are this evening.

Deputy Shane Ross

Deputy Munster can be assured that I am fully engaged with establishing an appropriate response to the challenges and needs of the transport sector. The Deputy has identified a range of issues on the industrial relations front and then implied that these issues stem from inadequate funding of public transport.

I have just answered separately a priority parliamentary question tabled by Deputy Troy about Bus Éireann's Expressway services, which are operated in the commercial, competitive bus market and which, by their very nature, do not receive State funding. I cannot accept that the Dublin Bus and Luas disputes, which have since been resolved, somehow reflect adversely on my approach to public transport funding or policy. I can see the connection the Deputy is making, but they were pretty early in my tenure. To suggest that some of those things were not a result of longstanding problems that existed in these companies is probably somewhat misleading.

In 2017, PSO funding for public transport service contracts will increase by 11%.  I am also providing funding for the completion of the Luas cross city project next year. In addition, I will be providing funding for more than 180 new buses comprising 110 buses for the Dublin region and more than 70 buses and coaches for the Bus Éireann fleet. Furthermore, I have secured up to €160 million for the maintenance and  renewal of the rail network and the increased PSO finding will allow the National Transport Authority, NTA, to allocate vital funding for maintenance of railway rolling stock.

In the case of the rail review, the challenges that the railway faces long precede my appointment as Minister. As the Deputy will be aware, the NTA is currently running a public consultation on rail in Ireland.  It was launched with the publication of the Rail Review 2016 report, which review the NTA undertook in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann, together with an NTA consultation document entitled The Role of Rail in Ireland and Funding its Delivery.  Both documents are available on the NTA's website.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

The NTA's public consultation will run until 18 January.  Through the consultation process, the public and interested parties have an opportunity to contribute to the debate on the future of rail. The purpose of the public consultation is to open up a public discussion on the role of rail and its funding and to provide factual material to inform that discussion.  The NTA will then prepare a report about the consultation process which I intend to bring to Government.

In summary, therefore, I am taking all reasonable steps to focus available funding on the improvement of public transport and I am strongly supportive of the rail review process currently under way.  I am determined to make further progress on policies that will help commuters and passengers.

Deputy Imelda Munster

The Minister is aware that public transport is the main option available to us to reduce congestion in cities, improve links in economies in regional areas, meet our carbon targets and continue to ensure rural and social inclusion through our public transport network. In fact, it is the main solution to the myriad transport issues we face. I am sure the Minister understands that public transport is not always profit-making. It is a public service that is provided to serve the people and the State from both economic and social perspectives. It is a hugely important public service.

In recent days, the Minister told his Cabinet colleagues that, due to losses of more than €5 million last year and up to €6 million this year, between six and eight routes may have to be cut. Bus Éireann has also mentioned the separation of the Expressway service - separation being another word for privatisation. It is also proposing a reduction in staff and the introduction of pay cuts and changes in pay conditions for workers, yet the programme for Government commits to a full review of public transport policy and investing in services, including an updated bus fleet.

This issue has been flagged by the company and the unions for quite some time. Will the Minister facilitate engagement by all the stakeholders, including his Department, the NTA, Bus Éireann and the unions, in order to find a resolution to this issue? It is extremely serious. This is our public transport network.

Deputy Shane Ross

The Deputy is correct that I briefed the Cabinet yesterday. No decisions were to be made. I was keeping them informed and in touch with the current situation and its gravity, which I would not like to underestimate. One should not believe everything that one reads about what I said. The Deputy referred to cuts to six to eight routes. I addressed the issue of various routes but the numbers quoted by the Deputy are inaccurate. That is not her fault, because the information is not there. Whether certain routes are commercial and what should be done about them will have to be examined but I do not believe that I spoke in terms of axing routes, as quoted in the newspapers today, nor was there any question of privatisation. I wish to reassure the Deputy that there was no question of talking about privatisation yesterday.

The Deputy may be alarmed by how often I share her view, but I too believe public transport is the main channel for getting people out of their cars to free up the roads and improve the environment through lower emissions.

Deputy Imelda Munster

I am sure the Minister will acknowledge that continued under-investment has been the root cause of the crisis in which we have found ourselves since 2008. The public transport network receives a much smaller subvention than in many countries across Europe. Cutting off links and services that are failing should not be the automatic response, given the economic and social benefits public transport provides. People in rural communities feel isolated as a result of the closure of Garda stations, post offices and so on. I dearly hope the Minister will not cut or privatise public transport services. However, if one believes what one reads, one must wonder whether it is Government policy to cut off rural areas completely. To do so would be a retrograde step. Public services are not supposed to be about making profits. The purpose of a public transport network is to provide a service.

Deputy Shane Ross

I agree that public services are not supposed to be principally or exclusively about profit making. However, as the Deputy will probably be aware, Bus Éireann cannot receive a subvention as it is purely and utterly a commercial operation. The company cannot be viewed in the same way as other semi-State bodies because it must survive without a subvention from the State.

On the wider issue, I agree that public transport entities cannot be viewed as exclusively profit making. There is no danger that they will be privatised. As Minister, I fully acknowledge that a subvention is necessary and that public transport services have a social element and a social duty. To be fair, I believe that view is shared by everybody and reassure the Deputy in that regard. While we seek value for money for taxpayers, commuters and travellers, there is no question of taking a purely commercial view of public transport.