This report basically proposes to cut back on bus services to the tune of €6.2 million from July 2002. In particular, the proposals for County Louth are causing grave concern to the people there. I refer specifically to the revision of the Dublin to Drogheda route which is targeted for savings – some €40,000 will be cut in January 2003. It is intended to cancel the rural and one day a week services in the Dundalk area at a saving of €100,000. The town of Drogheda service is to be withdrawn from January of next year – this is a cut of €50,000. A further cut of €90,000 will see the withdrawal of the town of Dundalk service.
The Government is committed to improving public transport, including bus services. I refer to page 44 of the Fianna Fáil manifesto which specifically relates to buses. It is committed to further progress on upgrading the bus fleet, providing bus priorities in Dublin and other cities and increasing the level and frequency of the service. On the same page there is also a commitment to new services being introduced both in new housing developments and existing poorly served communities.
I discussed the report with the regional manager in Dundalk and put it to him that there was grave concern in and around County Louth at the scale of the draconian proposals, particularly as the service had been extended to cope with the expansion of Drogheda and Dundalk in recent years. Bus Éireann has been very good at providing excellent, new services to meet people's demands.
The more people that use public transport the better it will be. This is helpful in regard to sustainable development and will contribute to a reduction in the level of toxic emissions. Efficient public transport would allow town centres to work more effectively. They are currently overrun by people who insist on driving cars because they feel there is no alternative. If people can drive their car to the supermarket then that is what they do.
The fact that this document was prepared in July this year contrasts greatly with the image being presented, particularly by Fianna Fáil in its programme for Government. It is absolutely and totally unacceptable to the people of Louth that these cuts in services will take place. Will the Minister give a commitment that the town services in Drogheda and Dundalk, the services to Dublin and the rural services in County Louth will not be curtailed? Will he stand by his party's election commitments to sustain and improve these services. It is absolutely essential to the people of the county. Many people, including pensioners, are worried and upset about what is proposed.
