asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether his attention has been called to the statements published in the daily newspapers of 10th June, 1952, to the effect that Córas Iompair Éireann are considering increases in bus fares and whether he will make a statement in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Increase in Córas Iompair Éireann Bus Fares.
Mr. Byrne
I have seen the Press announcement to which the Deputy refers. By Section 20 (2) of the Transport Act, 1950, it is provided that the Board of Córas Iompair Éireann may fix, demand, take and recover such charges as the board thinks fit for services provided by it.
The charges to be made by Córas Iompair Éireann were covered by the Prices and Charges (Standstill) Order, 1951, made on 2nd January, 1951, but, by direction of my predecessor as Minister for Industry and Commerce, dated 17th April, 1951, all rail, road and canal charges for passengers and merchandise traffic carried by Córas Iompair Éireann were removed from the Prices and Charges (Standstill) Order, 1951. The statutory position is, therefore, that I have no function in the matter, which is one solely for decision by Córas Iompair Éireann.
Mr. Byrne
Has the Minister not power to sanction or refuse to sanction any proposals coming from Córas Iompair Éireann for increased charges and, before he gives his sanction to any increase in bus fares, will he hold an inquiry and find out the cause? May I ask, further, if he is aware that the Dublin Corporation within the past six years sent 10,000 families to the outskirts of the city into houses for which they must pay increased rents? These increased bus fares now will mean a further imposition on these families and I ask him not to sanction any further increase in these fares.
Is the Minister aware that in Dublin City the operations of Córas Iompair Éireann show a substantial profit each year?
So far as sanction is concerned, the question does not arise. Córas Iompair Éireann do not have to seek my sanction for increases in charges and neither must they inform me of their proposals in that regard. If, in fact, Córas Iompair Éireann have the intention of increasing their charges, it is hardly necessary to conduct an inquiry to find out the reason for it. Córas Iompair Éireann are losing money heavily. It is, I think, already clear that their losses in the present financial year will exceed considerably the amount of subsidy provided in the Estimates. They are under obligation by the statute passed here in 1950 to conduct their undertaking so as to keep their receipts and expenditure in line. If they are not doing so, they have to consider how to remedy that situation, and it may be that the alternative to increasing charges would be to reduce services and, incidentally, employment. It is a matter solely for decision by Córas Iompair Éireann.
Mr. Byrne
Or get an increased subsidy.
Would the Deputy tell me what taxes he will vote for for that purpose?
The dance tax.
Is it a fact that the Minister gave an order to the Board of Córas Iompair Éireann that they must so arrange their administration from the day he interviewed the board that they will have to pay their way, irrespective of whether it means dismissals or increased fares?
On the contrary, the position is that the obligation on Córas Iompair Éireann to pay their way was put on them by an Act passed by the previous Government in 1950. Let me remind the Deputy that last year there was no provision in the Budget for any subsidy to Córas Iompair Éireann and that this year's Budget contains a sum of £1,300,000 for that purpose.
And a substantial tax on petrol.
It amounts to 5 per cent.
Is it not a fact that when the inter-Party Government came into office the first bill they had to face was the bill left by you for £4,090,000?
That does not affect the present situation. In connection with Press announcements that this need to increase charges is consequential on the Budget — announcements which have been attributed in the Press to a spokesman of Córas Iompair Éireann— if I find that in fact such statements were made by Córas Iompair Éireann, I am going to take official notice of them, because the increased charge arising from the Budget would be less than 5 per cent. of the losses Córas Iompair Éireann look like incurring this year and very much less than the losses over and above the subsidy which they tell me they are likely to incur.
If the Minister is in a position to tell us that now, why was it that the Minister for Finance either could not or would not give any explanation to the House as to the effect of the petrol and oil tax on the transport position when we were discussing the Finance Bill?
That information can be secured.
The Minister for Finance declined to give us the information which would enable us to discuss that tax.
Can the Minister translate 5 per cent. into cash?
Mr. Byrne
I propose with your permission, Sir, to raise this matter on the Adjournment to give the Minister an opportunity of making a further statement.
I will consider the matter and notify the Deputy.