Richard Boyd Barrett on Aircoach cuts and public transport
Richard Boyd Barrett criticised recent operator cuts to airport and local bus routes and warned against further privatisation. He said privatisation of public transport is a failure and called for vital services to be maintained as public goods.
He highlighted that Aircoach announced cuts including a route through his area that will end service from Shank Hill, Ballybrack, Lachlanstown to Dublin Airport. He also said bus drivers reported the 7 route may be handed to Go Ahead, which he said made losses last year and is failing to fulfil its contract.
He argued that vital bus routes and public transport should not run only if a private company can make profit, stating "Privatisation of public transport is a failure." He called for the airport service to be reinstated because it is a necessary public good and opposed privatising more Dublin Bus routes.
He noted that about £660 million has been assigned for public service or PSO and for Ireland local link services, describing this as a significant increase on previous budgets. He said this funding "also covers various fairinesses", and referenced the young adult continuation of the 90-minute fare until the end of 2025.
He outlined that where an operator withdraws a service, the Minister and the NTA will first evaluate the situation and then decide whether the route can be resumed with the help of PSO or other measures.
Main complaint
He highlighted that Aircoach announced cuts including a route through his area that will end service from Shank Hill, Ballybrack, Lachlanstown to Dublin Airport. He also said bus drivers reported the 7 route may be handed to Go Ahead, which he said made losses last year and is failing to fulfil its contract.
Privatisation stance
He argued that vital bus routes and public transport should not run only if a private company can make profit, stating "Privatisation of public transport is a failure." He called for the airport service to be reinstated because it is a necessary public good and opposed privatising more Dublin Bus routes.
Funding and PSO measures
He noted that about £660 million has been assigned for public service or PSO and for Ireland local link services, describing this as a significant increase on previous budgets. He said this funding "also covers various fairinesses", and referenced the young adult continuation of the 90-minute fare until the end of 2025.
Decision process and next steps
He outlined that where an operator withdraws a service, the Minister and the NTA will first evaluate the situation and then decide whether the route can be resumed with the help of PSO or other measures.
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Transcript
Taoiseach, vital bus routes and public transport services should not run only if a private company can make profit out of them. A private company, Aircoach, has just announced that it is going to cut several routes, including one going through my area, which will mean there will be no longer a route going from Shank Hill, Ballybrack, Lachlanstown to Dublin Airport. I also know bus drivers in my area are telling me the 7 route is now possibly going to be handed over to Go Ahead, a company that made losses last year, is failing to fulfil its contract in terms of providing routes all over the place, and incredibly they are going to be rewarded with one of the best routes that Dublin Bus had. This stuff has to stop. Privatisation of public transport is a failure. We need the service to the airport put in place because it is a necessary public good and similarly we should not be privatising more Dublin Bus routes. We continue to invest in public service transport and we will continue to do so. In respect of the specific issue, about £660 million now has been assigned for public service or PSO and transport for Ireland local link services, such as a significant increase in previous budgets, it also covers various fairinesses, just as young adult carried on the 90-minute fair until the end of 2025. Now, the airport hoppers bus services that you have identified between Maynooth and Tala and Dublin Airport was withdrawn by the operator. What will happen here is if there is a withdrawal, the Minister, the NTA in the first instance, decisions will be made in respect of whether we can resume them with the help of PSO or whatever, but an evaluation has to take place first. Thank you. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .