There have been very significant events at Bus Éireann which have caused deep concern among the workforce and the travelling public. I make the point that the issues are fundamentally of a policy nature and there are important policy principles at stake. It is very important that the Government makes it clear that it supports the principle of a State-supported public service transport company. I want to make it clear that we do and that we think flowing from that should be a determined effort to ensure the existing issues and challenges are resolved.
It should be acknowledged that there had been significant cuts to the public subvention to Bus Éireann in recent years, from €49 million in 2009 to €36 million this year. While that represents an increase this year over last year, it indicates nonetheless the significant change in terms of public subvention that has occurred. In terms of the operation of the free travel scheme, Bus Éireann receives approximately €4.86 per passenger on a route compared with the fare of €11.78, and it is clear there is a yawning gap between those figures as well. Those are two avenues that are available to the Government of the day in terms of ensuring the retention and viability of any public service transport company. The route licensing system needs to be reviewed and Deputy Troy has articulated that on an ongoing basis.
I make the point that decent wages are important. In this society and in developed economies where there is growing inequality between those on very high wages and those on low wages, the state has a role to play to ensure there is some decent degree of incomes policy in certain sectors of the economy. In certain sectors there have been very significant downward pressures because of globalisation and we have seen the political dislocation and disruption that has occurred as a result. That is a significant issue in the context of the Bus Éireann dispute as well, and of that there is no doubt. That is something the Government must weigh up.
The Labour Court has declined to get involved. I have been making the point consistently to the Taoiseach that this is not only a narrow management-union issue. It is a broader issue in terms of public policy and transport policy. I put it to the Taoiseach that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport needs to convene talks between the National Transport Authority, which has a critical role in such matters as licensing, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Bus Éireann and the various trade unions involved to iron out the policy framework and the key issues that can form the background to a successful resolution of the outstanding issues.