Future bus requirements and funding
Daly raised redundancies and uncertainty over future city, school and rural bus orders. The Minister said the national plan set out funding, including £13 million this year and school-bus provision of £3 million next year and £6 million the year after.
What would be the requirements of the city buses in the coming period? The Minister will be aware that there is widespread anxiety in the company——
Comment on this
The Minister will be aware that quite recently up to 40 people were made redundant in the company. Because no clear indication is coming from the Department of Education in relation to school buses or the whole rural bus area of what the likely outcome for 1985——
Comment on this
Having asked the question, the Deputy might let me answer. The problem is not one of clarity as to the Estimate provisions for bus building. It is because there is clarity that the problem has arisen. In the non-Exchequer Vote in my Department £13 million will be provided for this year, £12 million next year and £11 million in 1987. Nothing has been provided in the Department of Education Vote for bus replenishments this year, but £3 million will be provided for next year and £6 million for the year after. Therefore, for bus provision the total figures will be £13 million this year, £15 million next year and £17 million the year after. I had discussions with representatives of management and unions recently — the Deputy is correct in that — and I have had many discussions with CIE in this respect. Difficulties and problems there have yet to be overcome.