A chara, – For 29 years, Bus Éireann has provided inter-city and rural passenger transport, and for 29 years central government has acknowledged Bus Éireann was not financially viable and has subsidised it as an essential part of necessary support to Irish rural life.
Now management and unions agree the financial collapse of Bus Éireann may be imminent. What is actually required is that either this Government adequately subsidises Bus Éireann to provide the existing level of services, or state that services to rural communities will be reduced or eliminated.
Minister for Transport Shane Ross says that he, the National Transport Authority and the transport regulator have no part to play, and have declared the problem exclusively one for management and unions to solve.
A government hands-off approach will result in the closure of Bus Éireann. Transport is an area of responsibilty with a full Government Minister. Let’s see him get involved, go to work, and lead in solving Bus Éireann’s problems. – Yours, etc,
JOHN CRONIN,
Terenure,
Dublin 6W.