(Limerick-East) asked the Minister for Transport if the agreement made between the Taoiseach prior to his nomination as Taoiseach and Deputy Gregory-Independent not to increase city bus fares for the remainder of 1982 will apply to Limerick city services.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - City Bus Fares.
11.
Yes.
(Limerick-East): I am very grateful that the answer is yes. Could the Minister give us the cost of the freezing of CIE fares in the current year for the whole country?
I will, provided the Deputy does not come in with a calculator later and hold it against me. Off the top of my head, the figure is about £6 million.
Will this also apply to Cork?
Cork, being a city to the south east of Limerick, is included.
Did the Minister mention a figure of £6 million?
Yes.
For all urban road passenger subventions?
For the decision about fares.
What did that relate to?
It related to cities.
All cities?
All cities.
Is the Minister saying that the total subvention for road passenger subsidies to CIE in respect of all urban passenger services is to be £6 million, and a freezing of all fares to the end of the year?
The Deputy is talking nonsense. I said that the actual decision with regard to city fares, with regard to the July increase in fares, would cost £6 million, which is a different thing from the words the Deputy is attempting to put into my mouth.
Could the Minister give some breakdown of the £6 million Exchequer subvention to CIE in view of that decision? Is he aware that the figure is totally at variance with the figure available to CIE?
The Deputy's questions are not about the subject matter of the parliamentary question.
(Interruptions.)
On a point of order, in view of the utterly unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I wish to give notice that——
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
If the Chair will only stop talking and give me a chance. I wish to raise the matter on the adjournment.
(Limerick East): One final supplementary.
I am sorry, I have gone on to the next question.
(Limerick East): It was my question in the first instance.
Question No. 12 is for written reply. I am calling question No. 13.
I was told that question No. 13 was withdrawn for the moment.
What was the reply to No. 12?
It is for written reply.
Is the answer yes or no?
The Deputy may not ask that. We are on question No. 13.