Fianna Fáil misleading commuters in relation to bus service – Daly

“Fianna Fáil are completely misguided in their attempts to block the opening up of 10% of bus routes to competition and they are misleading the public,” says Jim Daly Fine Gael TD for Cork South West.

“It is the stated plan of Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe to open up 10% of bus routes to competition. This means choice for commuters. It means competition on prices and efficiency. It is a specific targeted approach to opening up a small portion of the service to competition.

“Fianna Fáil’s political point scoring on this matter is both misleading and misguided. They are scare mongering and trying to mislead people into thinking the Government is to sell off the whole of Bus Éireann- not true. And they are misguided in thinking that choice and competition around pricing and efficiency are not priorities for commuters – they are.

“As the economic recovery takes hold, we have all noticed the increase in traffic congestion in our towns and cities. The expansion of our bus service has to be a crucial part of the solution to this. Of course it must be remembered that Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann are both free to compete for the routes that are put out to tender.

“As Minister Donohoe rightly points out, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann were paid over €90 million in PSO payments by the taxpayer last year, with a further €90 million provided for new buses and the upgrading of the fleet.  This substantial tax payer support for our bus companies must go hand in hand with some degree of competition. It is in the best interests of the tax payer supporting the companies, and crucially the commuters using the services. ”