asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that as and from March 19th the bus fares throughout County Cork have been increased approximately 100 per cent. and that it is proposed to increase the fares in Cork City in a similar manner as and from March 24th; whether he will state if he has sanctioned these increases and, if so, whether he will state the grounds on which he did so, and if he has not so sanctioned the increased fares, whether he proposes taking steps to prevent their enforcement by the railway company concerned.
Private Notice Question. - Bus Fares in County Cork.
I have been informed by the Great Southern Railways Company that the omnibus fares charged in respect of all their passenger road transport services, except their Cork City services and those operated jointly with the Great Northern Railway (I), were increased as from March 19th, but that the increased fares do not exceed in any case the maximum charges for such fares prescribed by the regulations made under the Road Transport Act, 1932.
This company also proposes to increase the omnibus fares on their Cork City services as from Monday next, March 24th, but I am assured that these increased fares will also be within the maximum charges prescribed by the aforesaid regulations. Full particulars of the increased, and proposed increased, fares are, in accordance with statutory requirements, being furnished by the company to my Department and will be examined in detail to confirm that they are within the prescribed limits.
The Minister has not answered the part of the question as to the grounds on which those fares have been increased. I want to know from the Minister what those grounds are, considering the fact that wages have not increased, and their cost of petrol has not increased, because owing to the shortage of petrol the buses are carrying many more passengers and there are fewer buses on the roads. I also want to ask the Minister and the Government if it is their policy to continue putting such taxes on the people, and then refusing on the other hand to give them—the workers especially— any increase to meet the increased cost of living.
That opens up a much wider question.
The Deputy, apparently, is unaware of the fact that the Great Southern Railways Company are entitled to make those increases under a statute passed by this House.
I am aware of that, but I should like to know whether the Minister is aware that in Cork City, where the fares are to be increased from Monday next, over 107 casual men have been disemployed because of the shortage of services? Is there any justification for an increase in fares when there are fewer services and the buses are crowded going to and fro.
I do not know what justification the Great Southern Railways Company have for increasing those fares, beyond the fact that they are legally entitled to increase them up to a certain limit, and according to my information they have not exceeded that limit.
Surely it is within the scope of some Department to see whether those increases are justified? I want to ask the Minister if he will hold up the operation of these increases until he is satisfied that, under all the circumstances, these increases are justified? I think that is a reasonable request.
I have no power whatsoever to interfere with the due operation of the law in this matter.
In view of the Minister's recent heavy strictures on the way in which the railway company is being managed, and in view of the possibility that this is another piece of bad management on their part, will the Minister take early steps to look into this matter, and if possible prevent the action that is being taken now, so as not to put this increase into operation against people who are already suffering from high costs?
I am not responsible for the management of the railway company. This is a matter which lies within the purview of the management. My powers are confined and strictly limited to ensuring that the proposed increase will not raise the fares above the legal maximum.
In view of the way in which the Minister has recently criticised the management of the railway company, will he not consider whether he wants more power to prevent further bad management?
That is a separate question.
What steps have been taken to find out whether those increases are justified, and whether the proposed increases from Monday next in the Cork services are justified?
What about the Prices Commission?
If the Deputy had the same experience of the Prices Commission as I had, he would not ask me that.
Tea, coal.