Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann have failed to encourage commuters out of their cars and onto public transport, an Oireachtas committee was told tonight.
Management at the State transport companies also came under attack from politicians for taking the “soft option” of cutting jobs to cope with financial shortfalls.
They were summoned before the Oireachtas Transport Committee over plans to take hundreds of buses off the road and lay off around 600 workers to survive the recession.
Fianna Fáil’s Frank Fahy, committee chairman, insisted it was not the economic downturn that had put people off using buses. "Both companies have not succeeded in changing the car dependency culture in this country, and therefore both companies haven’t succeeded in popularising the bus,” he said.
Bus Éireann chief executive Tim Hayes said the company plans axing 320 staff in a bid to stem €30 million in losses this yearm while Joe Meagher of Dublin Bus said the company faces a similar fate unless it cuts back the frequency of some of services and sheds 290 workers, including 160 drivers.
Both companies said the recession had hit them particularly badly last year as there were less people commuting to work, less tourists and less people shopping.
But Mr Fahy said: “I cannot accept the case that you are making, that because of the economic downturn you can’t get more people into the buses.”
Addressing Mr Meagher, he said Dublin Bus stayed silent over delays by Dublin City Council in getting traffic reduced in the city centre to free up the roads.
“You’re going for the soft option by simply letting 290 people go,” Mr Fahy said. “There must be greater opportunity for you and the unions to try and get the bus numbers up.”
Mr Meagher rejected the claim, insisting the company had carried out advertising and targeted houses in certain areas offering free tickets to get people on board. “We do all of those things ... But when you got a €35.1 million problem ... we have a responsibility to deal with it,” Mr Meagher said.
Mr Hayes said peak-time services will be maintained, but frequency levels will be cut. He said Bus Éireann has yet to go into the detail of the routes affected with unions, but will reveal its plans next week.
Mr Meagher said some of the smaller services will be cut, while the frequency on other routes will be reduced.
Labour's Tommy Broughan said he tried to move a motion insisting Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey was at the committee to hear the debate. "I think it's outrageous that he's skulking around Government Buildings and the Dáil and is not prepared to be here with us," he said.
Michael Faherty of the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU), who later addressed the committee, claimed bus services in the capital would be cut to 1990 levels.
He branded the move "insane" as there are now more people in work and congestion is worse. He also questioned how Bus Éireann would be able to maintain its integrated service with only two-thirds of its buses on the roads.
"We are pleading here today with all members of the committee to ascertain from the Minister and Bus Éireann management for a comprehensive list of the services that they propose to withdraw," Mr Faherty said. "Once that list is published, you can guarantee there will be a backlash."
Siptu's Andrew McCarthy said drivers were noticing an increase in passenger numbers as people are giving up their cars because of the downturn.
PA