A chara, – In his letter slating the public transport service on St Patrick's Day, Enda Flaherty apparently neglected to refer to what is essentially the root cause of the problem – the reduction of State funding for our public transport service.
This Government has slashed the subvention that the State provides to our public transport network. Perhaps that is driven by the pro-business, pro-privatisation ethos of Fine Gael. Regardless, any company that is obliged to provide a loss-making service – as CIÉ does – in the interest of the public will require subvention. When that subvention is cut, so are services.
Perhaps it would be more productive to direct one’s anger at a Government that implements policies that pave the way for private operators to take over the transport network in order to make a profit for stakeholders, instead of providing a properly funded public transport system. – Is mise,
SIMON O’CONNOR,
Crumlin,
Dublin 12.
Sir, – The subvention of public obligation services has been cut by €70 million over recent years.
The fare rises referred to by Mr Flaherty are actually a form of transport tax whereby commuters replaced government funding. – Yours, etc,
THOMAS O’CONNOR,
Crumlin,
Dublin 12.