Madam, – A survey carried out by the EU into Irish attitudes towards public transport in 2007 showed that 32 per cent of the people surveyed wanted improved frequency, 23 per cent wanted stops closer to their homes and less than 1 per cent felt that there was no room for improving their local service. Public transport use in Ireland is also 7.1 per cent below the EU average.
When one considers these figures and the opportunities provided by high-frequency and flexible bus transport to significantly reduce congestion and transport pollutants it is astounding that Dublin Bus has been forced to cut back on the services it offers because it is underfunded by the Government. At a time when we need value for money for public investment it is illogical to reduce the service of the most financially efficient form of public mass transit systems. – Yours, etc,