asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if it is intended to amend the Transport (Reorganisation of CIE) Act, 1986, to provide for the reintegration of the rail and provincial bus services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Reintegration of Rail and Bus Services.
15.
When the Transport (Reorganisation of CIE) Act, 1986, was under discussion in the Houses of the Oireachtas some Members of both Houses supported the concept of two rather than three subsidiary companies. The Oireachtas, however, decided in favour of the three company proposal, and three subsidiaries, Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann and Bus Átha Cliath, were registered by CIE under the Companies Acts, in accordance with the intentions of the legislature. They commenced trading on 2 February 1987.
The new organisational arrangements for CIE services are now firmly in place and so far are, I understand, working sucessfully. To contemplate further changes in the organisation of CIE at this stage would, I believe, lead to confusion and uncertainty and would not be in the best interest of the CIE organisation as a whole and its some 14,500 employees. In the circumstances, I do not propose to bring forward proposals for amending the legislation in the short term at least. The real value of the reorganisation can only be judged on the basis of experience over a number of years. When the organisational structure of CIE again falls to be assessed, the value of a two company approach can also be examined.