asked the Minister for Transport and Power how payment for C.I.E. employees will be made arising out of the recent award of the Court of Inquiry; and if the payment will involve a charge on the subsidy payable to C.I.E.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payments to C.I.E. Employees.
28.
The cost of implementing the award of the Court of Inquiry into the recent dispute affecting road passenger employees of C.I.E. like other wage or salary costs falls to be met by C.I.E. out of revenue. In so far as revenue is not sufficient to meet all revenue charges of the Board they fall to be met from the annual grant-in-aid provided under the Transport Act, 1958, for each of the 5 years 1959-60 to 1963-64.
I am informed by C.I.E. that while final figures for the year ended 31st March, 1961, are not yet available, further appreciable reductions in the Board's revenue losses for the year are assured. In the confident expectation that the improvement in the revenue earning position of the undertaking will continue during the coming year the Board have decided to meet the cost of implementing the recommendation of the Court's award without resorting to an increase in bus fares.
I am sure Deputies will share my gratification at the Board's decision and, even more, at the improvement in the whole financial position of the undertaking which enables them to contemplate such a decision at all.