asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will consider setting up a committee to inquire into the entire workings of CIE.
6.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - CIE Fares.
5.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will take steps to have CIE postpone any increase in fares pending a full investigation into all the circumstances relevant to the proposed increase.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 6 together.
Under section 8 of the Transport Act, 1958, CIE are free to fix such charges as the board thinks fit for any services provided by the board.
The board notified me of their intention to increase fares and rates but at my request have deferred action pending consideration of the matter.
I am investigating fully all the circumstances relevant to the proposed increases in CIE fares and rates.
As indicated in my reply to a question on this subject on 26th May, 1970, the reasons for the proposed increases are increased costs, mainly labour costs.
I see no necessity to set up a committee to inquire into the workings of Córas Iompair Éireann.
Is the Minister aware that it is not unusual to have as many as six officials engaged in training six trainee conductors in the Dublin area? In Glasgow as many as 50 trainees are trained by one official. Does the Minister not consider this a colossal waste of money and does he not consider that, in the interests of everybody, he should set up this investigating committee and let people see where the waste is in CIE?
If the Deputy will put specific cases in writing to me I will have them investigated.
I should like to ask the Minister if, in view of the fact that it is only five or six months since this Dáil passed a new Transport Act making financial provision for CIE over the next five years, it does not seem extraordinary that a few months later CIE should come along and suggest an exorbitant increase in fares? Does this not indicate all is not well in the management of CIE?
Does the Deputy advocate a reduction in employment in CIE?
I suggest an investigation into the efficiency of the management of CIE.
Surely the Minister is aware—practically everybody in Dublin is—that it is not an isolated case in which six officials are engaged in training six trainees. It is the usual procedure and any bus conductor will tell the Minister that.
I would be very happy to have, and I am sure the Deputy would be happy to help in supplying, the particulars.
The Minister should find them out for himself.
Allowing for the pressures to which the Minister made reference in his original reply, can the Minister indicate what conceivable circumstances could justify CIE in seeking to increase bus fares by 45 to 50 per cent, which is the scale of fares proposed by CIE.
The Government have a say in that.
Would the Minister also investigate the reason why CIE charge by way of train fare from the boat in Dún Laoghaire to Westland Row three times the fare charged for a similar journey on other services?
That does not arise.
That is a separate question.
The first one does.
It does and, as I say, the Government are considering the matter at the moment. It is under very close investigation and, if the House will bear with me, in due course the appropriate fare increases will be announced.
And much less than 50 per cent we hope.
Dublin bus services make a profit and there is no need for Dublin bus fares to go up so much. The Government have channelled all the working-class people out into the suburbs and now they are putting up the fares.
It might be no harm to mention that 11,000 of the 20,000 CIE officials work on the railways.
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, I propose, with your permission, to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.