DUBLIN BUS is “between a rock and a hard place” in attempting to introduce change because of political interference and damaging work practices, according to the Green Party TD Ciarán Cuffe.
Mr Cuffe said each time Dublin Bus or Bus Éireann moved to alter their routes or seek efficiencies on existing journeys the company was beset with phone calls from politicians responding to local concerns.
In relation to work practices, he said even the “jewel in the crown” of the Dublin Bus service, the 46A, had a gap in its schedule because of work practices which were “more about workers’ breaks than about customer service”.
Mr Cuffe said he had long advocated that the State bus companies be given additional buses and be left to get on with their jobs, but now the companies need to show some improvements to their performance.
The Green Party TD made his comments to the Oireachtas Committee on Transport where he was criticised by fellow committee member Tommy Broughan (Labour) who said the comments on bus efficiencies and performances were “a fig leaf” to hide Green Party embarrassment at imposing cuts in public transport.
Mr Cuffe also appeared to be at cross purposes with Oireachtas Transport Committee chairman Frank Fahey who has repeatedly asked the State bus companies for details of where the cuts are to be made and to what routes.
He told a delegation including the managing directors of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann that while their submissions to the committee were appreciated, “we would prefer the delegation to deal with the particular issue of the routes which are being curtailed or discontinued as a result of the cutbacks”.
He added that while he accepted the fact that proposed cuts must be discussed with unions, he said “we need to get some idea of the kinds of routes”.
Mr Fahey later asked specifically about routes “from Kilrush to Ennis or from Lettermore to Galway” as well as the 92 bus in Dublin which, he explained, was one which he and other politicians from the regions frequently took from Heuston Station to the Dáil.
Referring particularly to Dublin Bus routes, he said: “I do not see any option but for the private sector to be given some of those routes to see if it can do any better”.
Michael Flaherty of the National Bus and Rail Union said politicians had been refused details of the routes on the basis that unions needed to be told first, but the unions had not been given the details either.
