asked the Minister for Transport and Power if his attention has been drawn to contradictory reports on the proposed increases in CIE rail and bus fares; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - CIE Fares.
8.
I have read a number of newspaper reports on the subject but I am not aware that there is any need for a statement as the situation has been fully explained by CIE and in replies by me to previous questions.
Is the Minister aware that even since this question was put down there has been a considerable increase in rail fares and bus fares and that this automatically puts up the cost of living for many citizens of the State who can ill afford such increases?
The question was in relation to contradictory reports about the proposed increases. It has no relation to the overall effect on the cost of living.
Would the contradictory reports not have resulted from the fact that not only did CIE change the charge per stage but also the length of the stage, thus making the increases less evident but at the same time far more real?
That is a separate question.
It is related to the contradictory reports.
Is the Minister aware that up to recently the children's fare was normally one-third of the full fare and that when the changes were brought in, for example, when the 9d fare was made 10d, that the children's fare used to be 3d where a fare was 9d and now it is 5d? Perhaps the Minister would direct CIE's attention to the heavy effect of that, particularly in relation to school-going children?
What the Deputy has said is correct and I will certainly ask the Minister to draw CIE's attention to it.
Am I to take it from the Minister's reply to me that he does not think the increases in bus fares and rail fares have an effect on the cost of living?
No, I did not say that.
I understood the Minister to say that.
All I said was that the question was in connection with contradictory reports. I was asked to make a statement on that and I have said that I was not aware that there was any need for a statement on that situation. There was no reference in the question to the cost of living.