asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in order to help the Dublin Corporation in their efforts to clear the falling down tenements in Dublin and facilitate the resultant removal of the occupants to new houses three to six miles outside the centre of the city, he will recommend to the transport authorities the immediate need for a reduced fixed fare that will not bear harshly on the people so removed to long distances from their places of employment and the employment exchanges.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Bus Fares.
Mr. A. Byrne
The Transport Act 1950 places on the Board of C.I.E. the obligation of conducting the undertaking so as to secure that, taking one year with another, its revenue shall be not less than sufficient to meet the charges properly chargeable to revenue. The Act also empowers C.I.E. to fix such charges as the board thinks fit for services provided by it.
Having regard to these provisions, I cannot undertake to make any recommendation to C.I.E. in the matter of charges for services provided by it. I have no doubt, however, that the board will give due consideration to any representations which may be made to it by the Dublin Corporation.
Mr. A. Byrne
Regardless of the rules and regulations, will the Minister consider the advisability of making a recommendation himself, in view of the fact that the corporation now have to go five or six miles outside the city to build houses? The fares to Ballyfermot at present payable by working-class people who have been removed from the centre of the city are 4d. and 5d., and, in view of the addition of these high fares to their rents, will he make a recommendation that there shouldbe a fare of not more than 3d. to any corporation housing scheme?
Under the Act for which the Deputy voted, I have no function in the matter. The Deputy and the Dublin Corporation have the same rights to make representations to the board as I have.
Mr. A. Byrne
How can the Minister say he has no function, in view of the amount of money which we make available to C.I.E.? Surely he has some responsibility, in view of the subsidising of the railways, for explaining to the House why C.I.E. are allowed to get away with these big subsidies, while, at the same time, they fail to charge proper fares to the people who are keeping them. I ask the Minister again to make a recommendation to the board in this matter.