asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the recent increases in fares by the Dublin United Tramways Company in the County of Dublin; that the cost of children attending schools in Dublin from the county has been increased by as much as 125 per cent; and if, in view of the hardship whiccch will be inflicted on people eneavouring to provide education for their childern, he will have an inquiry instituted into the question of fares charged in all parts of the county with a view to their reduction.
Written Answers. - Tramway Company's Fares.
I am not aware that there has been any recent gerneral increases in fares by the Dublin United Tramways CCompany. I am aware, however, that certain uneconomic and anomalous fares—a legacy from the conditions of unregulated competition in passenger road transport which recent legislation was designed to abolish— have been adjusted both upwards and downwards on a small proportion of the routes operated by the company and for some only of the stages of those routes; and that wholly uneconomic return fares on about a dozen routes have been withdrawn. I cannot agree that the revised fares will inflict hardship on any section of the community, and from the information availble to my Department I am satisfied that the necessity for a formal inquiry into the question of fares generally odes not arise.