CIÉ's annual results, published this week, make grim reading. The transport group posted a €7.1 million deficit, compared to a €21.9 million surplus last year.
Predictably, it blamed higher wage costs, increased costs incurred through providing extra services and upkeep of the railways. It also made its annual call for an increase in fares. CIÉ argues that it has not increased its fares for several years and that a rise is now necessary if it is to continue to operate a proper transport service.
One could be forgiven for thinking CIÉ funds all its operations from its own pocket. Its annual report labours the increased costs associated with upgrading the railways (€223 million) and stresses that "the provision of improved bus services will increase costs in Bus Átha Cliath and Bus Éireann". Only then does it allude to the National Development Plan's €2.8 billion investment in transport which will be spread over six years. It is the biggest investment ever made in transport.
In addition, the group received £734 million (€929 million) between 1995 and 2001 in annual subventions. Last year it received €245 million, up €41 million from 2000. Remarkably, it does not have to meet specific performance standards in return for this, nor must it account in any meaningful way for how it spends the money. CIÉ has received steady increases through the Exchequer subvention. Through this, taxpayers and transport users are already subsidising CIÉ by the equivalent of 78 cents per journey.
It could also be argued that if users want an efficient, well-funded transport system they must be prepared to pay for it - making it all the more imperative for CIÉ to become more transparent in its operations.Given its poor track record in this area, it was not surprising that CIÉ was not given responsibility for operating Luas - a mode of transport which must, nevertheless interface with existing traffic systems.
CIÉ, with its disparate group of interests, has always been a difficult part of the transport portfolio to manage. Hopefully, Mr Brennan will take immediate action to overhaul CIÉ and refrain from opting to defer tough decisions by commissioning reports on what should be done.