asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether there was any inquiry by his Department into the finances of the Dublin bus services before or during the discussions that resulted in the recent increases in bus fares and the shortening of the stages in 1952 and if he is aware that the increased fares will mean an additional burden to be added to the high rents paid by tenants of houses in the outlying districts and will have a detrimental effect on the proposed building of houses in these outlying districts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Bus Fares.
Mr. A. Byrne
The board of C.I.E. is empowered by Section 20 (2) of the Transport Act, 1950, to fix, demand, take and recover such charges as it thinks fit for the services which it provides. The board has also the statutory obligation, imposed on it by the 1950 Act, to conduct the undertaking so as to secure that revenue should be not less than sufficient to meet the charges properly chargeable to revenue.
The charges to be made by C.I.E. were covered by the Prices and Charges (Standstill) Order, 1951, made on 2nd January, 1951, but by direction of my predecessor as Minister for Industry and Commerce, dated 17th April, 1951, all rail, road and canal charges for passengers and goods carried by C.I.E. were removed from the scope of this Order.
The position is, therefore, that I have no statutory function in this matter, which is one solely for decision by C.I.E., and the question of discussions or of the holding of a departmental inquiry does not arise.
The Deputy may not have seen the official announcement of the board that the increases in rates and fares were made necessary by reason of increased costs of which the most important is increased wages, which it is estimatedwill involve increased outgoings to the extent of £534,000 per year.
Mr. Byrne
The Minister has not answered the last portion of the question in which I asked is he aware of the detrimental effect the increased fares will have on the building of houses for the workers of Dublin. There are now no sites available within five miles of the city. Sending workers five miles away while the present extravagant fares are charged, even for transporting children to and from school, will have a detrimental effect on house building. Would the Minister not approach the authorities concerned and point out to them that the people of Dublin should not be expected to carry the railways of the whole country?
I am quite certain increased charges have a detrimental effect on everybody. In this particular case, however, a substantial increase in wages became payable to the company's staff. I do not think it will be held by anybody that that increase was not justifiable and obviously the money wherewith to pay that increase must be got from transport users.
Mr. Byrne
The corporation tenants are to pay for it. Is that not so?