Govt urged to refuse public transport price hike
The Government must refuse the State transport company’s bid to raise fares or people will be turned off using public services, it was urged today.
Labour Party transport spokeswoman, Roisin Shortall, said direct support for services should be increased so CIÉ was not forced to pass increased costs onto bus and rail commuters.
“If the Government is serious about getting people to shift from private car use to public transport, its aim should be to keep fares at their present level, or indeed reduce them,” the Dublin North West TD said.
Transport Minister, Martin Cullen, is currently examining the company’s request for an 8% increase for its three sections, Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Irish Rail from January 5 next.
“We are analysing the request and we have made no decision but the minister is expected to deal with it by Christmas,” a spokesman for the Transport Department said.
The minister is looking at the reasons behind CIÉ's price hike request which are believed to include rising fuel, insurance and labour costs.
“It has in recent years been an annual thing in line with inflation. For up to 10 years they didn’t seek an increase at all but then they requested an increase to enhance the service,” the spokesman said.
The Department admitted the increase would be over the level of inflation if it was passed at 8%.
The State company was last year granted permission to raise fares by 3.2%.
The company has been faced with significantly higher costs over the last few months with the soaring costs of fuel and insurance.
If the company was granted the full 8% increase it could mean an increase of up to 32 cent (22p) on Dublin Bus routes or a €5.20 rise for rail tickets.
Ms Shortall said that any increase would in effect be “stealth tax” fored upon the public.
“Ireland already has the highest public transport fares in Europe, and as they increase so will the number of people choosing to drive their cars,” Ms Shortall claimed.
“This increase will hit those on low incomes hardest, those people who depend on public transport and who are already coping with the many price increases we have seen recently.”
