andMr. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Transport and Power the amount of profits earned by CIE on the operation of Dublin city bus services in the latest year for which the figures are available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers - Profit on Dublin City Bus Services.
30.
As I have indicated in replies to previous similar questions, CIE do not publish separate accounts for different areas of the country. However, in a report on Internal Transport which has been prepared by CIE it is calculated that for the year ended 31st March, 1962, the Dublin city bus services as a whole contributed a cross-subsidy to other sections of CIE of the order of £380,000. The report also indicates that, of a total of 79 bus routes in Dublin, 35 operated at a loss and eight more are only marginally profitable.
The report also estimates that the operation of the Dublin suburban rail services as a separate entity would entail losses of the order of £500,000 per annum but actual losses on these lines under the present arrangements are not calculated in the report.
Arrangements are being made to have copies of this report made available in the library.
The Minister stated that Dublin passenger bus services contribute a subsidy in the region of £380,000 to the national transport concern. If this is the case, will the Minister, before he permits CIE to increase bus fares, ensure that that profit of £380,000 is used to pay the extra wages and that CIE will no longer fleece the Dublin public in order to subsidise other transport services?
I have already indicated that there is no fleecing of the Dublin public in relation to the fares charged. The only comparison we can make is with the fares charged in other cities by similar types of transport. No excessive charge is imposed by CIE on Dublin bus travellers. The Deputy should be aware of the fact that about half the total of the people employed by CIE are in the Dublin area. He should also have regard to the fact that there is a considerable loss on Dublin suburban rail services, despite the changes made in the past five years. If he adds the whole lot up, he can make no suggestion that the Dublin public are being fleeced.
Mr. Ryan
Is it not clear Dublin is paying £380,000 for uneconomic services?
There are uneconomic services in Dublin, too.
The Deputy should do his homework.
Mr. Ryan
The Deputy has done his homework. All we are asking is that Dublin people should not subsidise the rest of the country.
Dublin people are not subsidising the rest of the country. The Deputy has not done his homework.
Mr. Ryan
The Dublin people are anti-Fianna Fáil and that is why they are being made pay.
(Interruptions.)
Order. Question No. 31.