Labour Party spokesperson on Rural and Community Development, Senator Nessa Cosgrove has slammed plans to raise public transport fares by 15% and called on the government to halt the increases that are over four times above the rate of inflation.
Speaking ahead of the Labour Party Think In, the senator claimed that raising fares for public transport users at a time when Government are spending €400m to keep diesel under €2 beggars belief and highlights just how anti-climate, anti-public transport and anti-worker this Government is.
Senator Cosgrove said, “Last week Government spent a further €400m on excise cuts for drivers – yet it won’t act to stop fare increases on students, those attending hospital appointments and workers commuting into town centres from rural areas.
“Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and their Independent supporters have shown time and again that they prioritise the car over public transport, and they are failing to listen to the voice of people in Sligo-Leitrim and South Donegal who are crying out for more and better public transport services.
“This was evident in the news that, in the first half of this year that no new urban bus routes, and only four new or enhanced rural or Local Link services have been rolled out, across the whole country. This is despite the calls from local and community groups including county Sligo’s second town, Tubbercurry, calling for the introduction of better rural connectivity.
“To introduce a 15% fare increase at a time when inflation is at about 4%, and at a time when Government is keeping diesel prices below €2 a litre, is a real slap in the face for bus and train users. Perhaps, because they rarely use public transport, Government TDs do not realise that people who rely on buses also face the same financial difficulties as those who drive. ”
It shows that, to this Government, the car is the king.”
She continued, “They are doubling down on the use of fossil fuels when they should be encouraging people to use public transport. Every week people contact me asking if I can lobby for improved public transport, it is clear that the demand is there. It is equally clear that people can not give up their cars unless adequate bus services are made available.
“Will this 15% increase in fares be accompanied by a 15% increase in new bus services in Sligo-Leitrim? I doubt it.”
Senator Cosgrove noted, “These increases come in the wake of cost hikes for parents of children using the school transport scheme. Minister Chambers is robbing Peter to pay Paul while PAYE workers and their families are left squeezed.
“This change will disproportionately hit people on lower incomes at a time when government is going out of its way to spend money to prevent a repeat of this Easter’s fuel protests.”
Senator Cosgrove stressed, “If Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and their Independent allies could find €400mn to make diesel cheaper, they can and must find the money to make public transport commuting accessible and affordable.”
The Labour Party Think In took place in Galway on September 3 and 4 ahead of the new Dáil term.
Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.