Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 May 2010
38 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Transport his views on the subvention this year to CIE, particularly Dublin Bus; his further views on whether Dublin Bus’s plan is in contravention of his policy on Smarter Travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18339/10]
View answerThe enhancement of the public transport system is at the heart of the sustainable travel agenda. In this context, notwithstanding the very real challenges the Government faces in the current difficult economic climate, it remains committed to providing the infrastructure and services required to deliver a modern, high quality public transport system. This has been demonstrated by continued Government support for bus services. The provision of Exchequer subvention to CIE in 2010 is €276 million, of which €76 million will be allocated through the National Transport Authority to Dublin Bus.
It is imperative in the current environment that public services are delivered in an efficient and effective manner and reflect the economic, social and demographic changes of recent years. In response to this challenge, Dublin Bus is currently undertaking the biggest redesign of its network in the history of the company. The objective of the redesign is to provide current and future bus customers with a service that will be modern, accessible, integrated, easy to understand, punctual and frequent. The redesign will deliver real and tangible benefits to the vast majority of bus users. For example, there will be a doubling in routes with a frequency of ten minutes or better and 60% of customers will be carried on high frequency routes — currently this stands at 23%. Complementary measures supporting the quality of the service to customers will also be introduced during 2010, including the provision of integrated ticketing, real time passenger information and further investment in bus priority measures.
The proposals to streamline and improve the frequency of bus services in the Dublin area, improve the quality of service, attract more customers from cars are perfectly aligned with the intent of "Smarter Travel". This is also fully in accordance with the Government's aim of measuring outputs for taxpayers' money and getting more for less.
Is it not a fact that the subvention for Dublin Bus ten years ago was €17,000 per bus and that this figure currently stands at approximately €80,000 per bus, a significant increase in taxpayers' subsidy? Also, there was a decrease of 210 in the number of buses on the road and owned by Dublin Bus in January 2009. The company has cut back its fleet by more than 200 which means the public are getting a rougher and raw deal. Perhaps the Minister will state if this is true. Also, is it not a fact that the Government's concept of smart travel, as enunciated in Government policy, is completely and absolutely riddled with inaccuracies and is resulting in a poor service? The ultimate fact is that Deputy Dempsey has, as Minister for Transport, failed miserably to insist on a proper public transport system for Dublin.
The Deputy is quite incorrect. I am surprised to hear him state that we have a very poor public transport service. This is not true. We may have a somewhat lesser service than we had but we certainly do not have a very poor service.
With regard to the number of buses, I made it very clear from the very start of my term as Minister for Transport that I would not measure success by the number of buses but by how effectively and efficiently they were organised. If I had listened to advice from across the floor of the House in 2007 when I became Minister for Transport I would have purchased another 300 buses at huge cost to the taxpayer — approximately €200,000 apiece — and those buses would not be used now. We are doing precisely what the Government wants in getting more from less, ensuing that the buses in the fleet we have are properly streamlined and serve the needs of customers. The Deloitte report emphasised this and the changes being introduced will further emphasise the quality of the service rather than the quantity of buses. It is possible, with the changes that Deloitte proposed which the Deputy opposite has supported, to provide an even better service with fewer buses, as I outlined in my answer.
One cannot carry more people on fewer buses. There are 210 fewer buses owned by Dublin Bus on the streets of Dublin today and the subsidy has increased by almost 400% in ten years. Is it not a fact that there is a sweetheart deal between the National Transport Authority and Dublin Bus? The authority was established last December and has agreed to allow Dublin Bus to close off the market to competition. Private enterprise cannot compete with Dublin Bus on any new routes that have been opened up or are about to be opened up. This is a shame and it is a mockery of democracy and of the right of people who own private transport to compete with Dublin Bus to service these routes. It is an absolute disgrace.
The Deputy has come forward with a whole series of half-truths. Having 500 buses operating at 20% capacity——
The Minister has increased the subvention and reduced the number of buses.
One can increase the numbers by ensuring that buses are fuller by providing the type of service that consumers want. The subsidy has increased substantially over the past ten years because the number of buses, capital expenditure and the service have improved. Admittedly, in recent years the number of passengers has decreased.
With regard to Deputy O'Dowd's final point, he completely misunderstands the role of the National Transport Authority. It is not possible for it to advertise or put in place any new public service obligation routes without opening it up to competition. The commercial market has been open for many years.
That is exactly what it has done.
