Olivia Mitchell
Ceist:5 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the plans, if any, she has to increase the level of State subvention to Dublin Bus. [27061/98]
Ceisteanna — Questions. Priority Questions. - Dublin Bus Subvention.
It is planned to replace the existing Exchequer subvention with a series of multi-annual public service contracts. The contracts will specify the quantity and quality of public transport services to be provided by the company concerned and the payment to be made by the State for these services.
Following the recent restructuring agreement reached between Dublin Bus and the unions representing bus drivers, I have asked my Department to conclude the negotiations on a public service contract for Dublin Bus as quickly as possible.
In addition, I am keeping under review the proposal in the DTO action plan that extra funding be allocated to Dublin Bus to cover any additional operational costs which may be incurred when the additional 150 buses come into service. It will be possible to reach a definitive conclusion on the revenue implications for Dublin Bus only when these buses have been in service for a period.
That is a fanciful description of the facts. In the emergency recommendations given by the DTO it is stated that there must be substantial external operating finance provided, and that without this the entire plan will fail to achieve its goal. Does the Minister accept this was an emergency short-term plan aimed merely at maintaining congestion at its current levels, not solving the problem, that it was clearly calculated at a cost of £14 million, and that she had already promised this matter would be considered in the context of the Estimates? We now know this was not done and that what is being considered is a fare increase. Does the Minister accept there is a considerable difference between a State subvention to improve a service and a fare increase for a very deficient service?
I have spoken to the unions since last July about a fare increase. This is a matter of record and the Deputy may check it with whomsoever she wishes. Months ago I had correspondence from the chairman of CIE asking if the company could at least have a minimum fare increase in light of an eight year delay. Therefore, this matter has not just arisen now.
Yesterday I gave a list of the times when the new buses for Dublin Bus will come onstream, beginning in April and June and monthly after that. We will examine the input of the new buses, how they will operate and what call they will make on the Exchequer through the subvention CIE gives to Dublin Bus. I cannot provide subvention until the buses arrive.
I have no objection to a fare increase in the context of an efficient, flexible service which is responsive to people's needs. A good service would not be as price sensitive and people would be willing to pay more for a comprehensive service. Does the Minister accept that at present a fare increase is a positive disincentive to trying to achieve the aim of the current campaign, namely, to make people switch from private to public transport and that what is necessary is State subvention which has been clearly catalogued in the recommendations of the DTO? As there will be no budget before next April when the buses come onstream, from where will the money materialise? The estimated cost of £14 million should have been provided for in the budget. Does the Minister accept that what is necessary is a State subvention which will improve the service and allow a good service to be put in place and that when a better service is in place a price increase could be considered?
I welcome the Deputy's statement that, per se, she has no antipathy to a fare increase, the first in eight years.
When we have the service.
Everybody in the public service gets their wage increase and CIE is entitled to some consideration in this regard. I agree that an efficient, flexible service must be provided. For the very first time the State is giving money to CIE to purchase buses. This never happened before, something I cannot understand. I am not blaming Deputy Mitchell who is new to the Dáil.
What is the amount of subvention to CIE?
I do not know. CIE receives a bloc of funding which it divvies out. I can find out the amount for the Deputy.
Is it the same as last year?
In the context of the discussion about buses, has the Minister had any change of mind regarding the provision of disabled accessible buses in the context of purchasing new buses? I am sure the Minister is aware of the extreme——
That matter will be taken on the Adjournment this evening. The Deputy may not anticipate that discussion and the matter is not relevant to the question.
I am not anticipating it. The matter has been discussed in the House several times.
The Deputy will accept the ruling of the Chair in this matter and should not challenge it.
The Chair is in very bad form. Did he have a late night last night?
I am trying to implement the rules of the House which should be obeyed by Deputies.