In a recent column, Aodhán O’Ríordáin of the Labour Party used the cuts announced by Dublin Bus as an opportunity to attack the Green Party. His article deserves a response, as Dublin Bus services and public transport are far too important to be used to score political points.
Indeed, the article was an example of empty politics at its worst as it called for increases in subsidies and wages for Dublin Bus. Everybody knows that there is a national emergency in this country’s public finances. The simple fact is, unfortunately, that there is no more money for such increases.
It is true that public transport subsidies in Ireland are among the lowest in Europe and the Green Party has called for these to be increased for the past 25 years. Now that it is in Government, the Green Party would of course like to increase public transport subsidies, but for now Dublin Bus must operate within its budget.
However, let us be clear: the Government did not cut Dublin Bus services. Dublin Bus is a semi-state company that makes its own decisions. It is seeping money and expected to lose €31m this year. It needs reform and to adapt its business to attract customers. This is possible as traffic congestion and an increased awareness of climate change mean that people are looking for effective public transport solutions. It also needs to operate more efficiently. But instead of trying to attract new customers and become more efficient Dublin Bus management decided to cut services. This is the opposite of what the Government, the Green Party, the travelling public and indeed Dublin Bus workers want Dublin Bus to do.
There is much Dublin Bus could do to improve its business, as a visit to any similarly sized city in Europe will confirm. Bus services in cities such as Brussels, Bordeaux, Krakow or Copenhagen are far easier and more attractive to use than Dublin Bus.
Timetables at bus stops that tell you when the bus will arrive at that stop and buses that stick to their schedules would be a good place to start. Other improvements could include simpler routes and fare structures, more cross-city routes, connecting services and an integrated public transport ticket system for Dublin. All of these things are possible in other countries – why not here?
These ideas are not new and the Green Party has been demanding them for decades. A report in the early 1990s called for real-time passenger information at bus stops and integrated ticketing in Dublin. Labour were then in Government for four and a half years, between 1993 and 1997, with eight ministers (the Green Party currently has two) but nothing happened. Instead, Dublin got the M50 and more cars. Poor choices back then have caused today’s problems.
Dublin should have a first-class public transport system but we will not get this without reform. The Green Party intends to ensure that Dublin Bus gets the reform it needs this year.
Mr O’Ríordáin’s claims that the Green Party has abandoned its principles and its commitment to public transport are simply wrong. The opposite is in fact the case as the Green Party is working in Government to ensure that Dublin finally gets the bus service it deserves.
David Geary is the Green Party Representative for the North Inner City and will be a candidate in the local elections. For more details see
