Sir, – Dublin Bus is more important to Dublin than to be the plaything of privatisation fanatics. A very strong brand, it forms part of the brand of the city itself. The livery is instantly recognisable to the resident and tourist as a properly regulated public bus where one will be personally safe and travel in clean, modern vehicles.The drivers are courteous and efficient and well trained and know where they are going. We can be pretty sure they also have driving licences, unlike, apparently and as recently reported, an alarming number of taxi drivers in the “derugulated” taxi industry.
In addition to its basic function of transporting people, the company generally behaves as what is known as a “responsible corporate citizen”. It devotes resources to promoting the Irish language, a feature not generally notable among privatised bus services. The ticketing systems are up to the minute, the real-time information systems work well, and there are all sorts of apps and online services. The bus stops are well presented and are accessible to people who are disabled or visually impaired.
All this requires a large subsidy, but all public transport systems require large subsidies if they are to be efficient. That is the truth. It seems to be another truth, but one peculiar to Ireland, that all our successful companies are to be dismantled, broken up and the parts flogged off to the highest bidder. – Yours, etc,
CONAN KENNEDY,
Killala,
Co Mayo.