Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2020
213. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to plans by Bus Éireann to close a number of its intercity routes, including the x8 from Cork city to Dublin city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28256/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra215. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport his plans to ensure that Bus Éireann retains all of its expressway services and to improve regional connectivity following announcement of plans by Bus Éireann to cut services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28274/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 215 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, the Covid-19 health emergency has had a profound impact on the public transport sector due to the fall in passenger numbers and associated drop in fare revenues.
While the majority of public transport in Ireland is provided by the publicly-subvented bus and rail services funded through National Transport Authority's (NTA) public service obligation (PSO) programme, the public transport system also includes non-subvented bus services provided on a commercial basis by bus and coach businesses of varying size.
The negative impact of Covid on the public transport system has been mitigated by several Government decisions particularly:
- to substantially increase the 2020 budget for the existing PSO system (4 June);
- to introduce new temporary financial support for non-PSO licensed services provided by commercial bus operators (25 June); and
- enhancements to certain PSO bus services announced under the Stimulus package (23 July)
The temporary funding supports for the licensed bus sector have been introduced for a period of up to six months, in accordance with EU and national legislation and are restricted to operators where a clear public interest justification supports such intervention. The NTA, as the public transport licensing agency, is administering the support package through the establishment of contracts between the NTA and the relevant operators.
Among the commercial operators that are being supported under the scheme is most but not all of Bus Éireann’s (BÉ) Expressway business. As is the case in many other sectors of the economy, despite these supports, Covid-19 has resulted in significant financial pressures for public transport operators.
BÉ has developed plans to address its critical financial situation by reducing the size of its commercial Expressway business over time in order to focus on the profitable routes. The decision by the BÉ Board to consolidate its Expressway route network was taken following extensive work within the company. the Board has decided to indefinitely suspend the Dublin/Belfast service and to cease services on the Dublin to Cork, Limerick and Galway routes over the following months. The Board decision will consolidate the commercial Expressway routes from 18 to 14. The company's decisions do not affect the over 200 routes that Bus Éireann operates under its normal PSO contract arrangements with the NTA; these will all continue as before.
I have been assured by the company that there will be no job losses as a result of its decision and that affected staff will be redeployed to new/enhanced services which were announced as part of the Government’s July Stimulus Package. In this regard, BÉ plans to introduce new bus services in Galway, Limerick, Cork as well as Louth and Meath, which will require more than 100 drivers
As regards regional connectivity, I would like to reassure the Deputies that I have asked the NTA to assess any potential loss of connectivity along particular segments of the routes to ensure there are no gaps in the network, and to assess if there is a need to provide any additional services.
The Government is committed to ensuring that essential transport services are protected and supported. Services that provide vital regional and rural connections will continue to operate.
