Vol. 527 No. 1
29 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the estimated breakdown of the public service provision to CIE contained in the Estimates for 2001, between Dublin Bus, Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27658/00]
The amount of Exchequer subvention for CIE, as published in the abridged Estimates for the year 2001, is £159,060,000. The subvention is paid to CIE rather than to the individual companies in respect of the provision of socially necessary, non-commercial public transport services. The allocation of this subvention to the individual subsidiary companies is a matter for the board of CIE.
If the Department does not have any input into the spread of the money within the CIE group, will there be any subvention, for example, for Dublin Bus? Will the Minister specify, when making the subvention available to CIE, that Dublin Bus should be subvented or that part of the money should be available for the pur chase of new buses? Is this money only for ongoing revenue costs within CIE or is it capital as well?
The sum of £159,060,000 is for subvention. There is a capital budget for the provision of buses and trains. The 1986 legislation, by which it is now governed, states that the money is paid to the board which then allocates it. The increase in funding is more than 40%. I do not hear any words of congratulations about that, but it led to table thumping.
Words of congratulations will be given when they are due. The new chairman of CIE has said he wants an increase in the subvention or an increase in fares. Will the increased subvention mentioned today exclude the necessity for any further increase in fares?
(Mayo): £159,060,000 is a large tranche of money. Does the Minister agree, however, that irrespective of the sum of money we provide, unless we get a stable industrial relations climate in the company it is all for naught? Does she also accept that the leaking of a sensitive document on rail safety and ILDA's allegations from the Labour Court and the Labour Relations Commission is unhelpful in the context of industrial relations negotiations, particularly when titanic efforts are being made to keep the ship on an even keel?
As regards Deputy Stagg's question, I am aware of the chairman's statement in the annual report that the board will seek an increase in fares. However, I have met the chairman and I have told him there will not be a fares increase. I am sure the subvention will be sufficient but permission will not be given for a fares increase.
I agree with the Deputy about the industrial relations climate. That is why I went on "Morning Ireland" because that was the morning the Estimates were published and £1.6 billion was being given to rail services. It is clear we cannot have the current industrial relations situation. I pay tribute to both the management and the employees, particularly John Keenan, Noel Dowling, Tony Tobin and Liam Tobin who worked day and night over the past two weeks under extreme pressure to reach a result. The signalmen will vote on 22 December and the DART measures have been accepted. These people are again under the same pressure in relation to the level crossing keepers, which is another issue of contention. I do not know about the issue relating to the Labour Relations Commission as I do not interfere in its business.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
