asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether his Department has completed its examination into the increases in bus fares and, if so, with what result.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Increases in Bus Fares.
The legislature confided to C.I.E. and to the G.N.R. the task of providing in their respective areas "an efficient, economical, convenient and properly integrated system of public transport", with due regard to certain stated factors, and of conducting their undertakings so as "to secure, as soon as may be, that, taking one year with another, the revenues of the boards shall be not less than sufficient to meet the charges properly chargeable to revenue".
For carrying out this task the boards of the two undertakings were empowered to fix, demand, take and recover such charges as they may think fit. Having regard to these statutory provisions, and to the circumstances in which the increases were made, I am satisfied that it would be inappropriate for me to intervene in the matter.
That is not an answer to my question. The Minister in the last Session promised or told me that his Department were conducting an investigation into the recent increases in city bus fares. That is not an answer to my question. I asked has the investigation taken place and, if so, with what results.
As far as I remember, the Minister on the last occasion promised to consider this matter in accordance with the provisions of the Transport Act, 1950, and did not actually give an undertaking that this examination would be carried out by him.
He said it was being carried out "at the moment".