asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that bus fares on services operating in County Galway have recently been considerably increased, and if he can say what are the reasons for these increases; whether he is aware that there is much disquiet and resentment at what is regarded as an attempt to take advantage of the situation of monopoly created by the petrol shortage; and whether he will have this matter examined.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bus Fares in County Galway.
I am aware that fares on omnibus services operating in County Galway were subjected to an increase, as from the 19th of last month, in common with fares on the remainder of the Great Southern Railways Company's passenger road services throughout the country, except their Cork City services and those operated jointly with the Great Northern Railway (Ireland).
The Great Southern Railways Company states that the increases were necessary to avoid a very substantial loss in the operation of its present limited services—which were radically reduced as from 10th February last as a result of the petrol shortage—owing to the continuous increase in the cost of maintaining and operating these services, and this whole matter is at present the subject of examination by my Department. I may add, however, that the increased fares, numbering about 11,500 in all, appear to be within the statutory maximum charges for such fares prescribed by the Road Transport Regulations, 1932.
Can the Minister indicate the ground on which these increases have been made, because it is not obvious to the public? For instance, the cost of petrol has not increased, and it appears that on the services operating in County Galway, at any rate, fewer men than formerly are employed. Is the Minister aware that since the railway line to Clifden was closed down, the fares have been more than doubled? The fare from Galway to Clifden has been increased from 6/6 return to 14/-, and the public do not appreciate that recent changes could justify such a big jump.
Is the Minister aware that there is widespread indignation, not merely in Galway but elsewhere——
The question is limited to Galway.
I have not excluded Galway from my supplementary. Is the Minister aware that there is widespread indignation not merely in Galway but elsewhere in respect of the increase in the fares charged by the bus company, and in view of the declaration of the Government that they propose to set their faces against the attempt of any class to secure compensation for the rise in prices, will he indicate why he permits the railway company to secure compensation in the form of higher bus fares, while the Government are apparently determined to keep down the wages of the employees of this concern and other concerns?
I have only to point out that so far as our examination has gone at present, it has established this fact: the current fares appear to be within the maximum charges for such fares prescribed by the Road Transport Regulations, 1932. In those circumstances, I have no function.
Are we to understand that the Minister proposes to do nothing to protect the travelling public?