NBRU Press Release Re: Bus Éireann Service Cuts

The NBRU today responded to the announcement that Bus Éireann is to cut services to the South and South East of the Country, General Secretary Dermot O’Leary said:

“we have long been campaigning for an open and transparent debate on the provision of a Public Transport Service for the citizens of the state, the irony of today’s announcement is that those charged with providing public transport are the very same body, namely the National Transport Authority, who are, it would appear, issuing licences in the full knowledge that Bus Éireann will be forced to react by withdrawing from rural towns to compete with those who are granted these licences”

Mr O’Leary went on to say:

“this is not a new phenomenon, similar circumstances have already forced Bus Éireann to withdraw from towns between Portlaoise and Cashel to compete with City to City providers, leaving a service gap which had to be subsequently filled using taxpayers’ money. Again it is quite ironic that those who shout loudest are the local Government TDs who feign ignorance when it comes to explaining why a Government-supported quango is responsible for inflicting service cuts on rural Ireland”