Paul Murphy Slams Go Ahead, Calls to Renationalise Bus Routes
Paul Murphy criticised the performance of private operator Go Ahead and urged immediate re-nationalisation of affected routes, starting with the 175. He demanded operators be removed, workers transferred to Dublin Bus, and major state investment in an integrated public transport system, while questioning the absence of a free public transport pledge.
Service failures and fines
Go Ahead was singled out for repeated service failures, including the 175 not turning up and passengers being stranded. Murphy noted the NTA fined the company half a million euros for failing to run services at all, and criticised the impact on people who rely on buses to reach work, school and hospital appointments.
Privatisation and profits
Murphy argued the problems stem from the logic of privatisation - a race to the bottom - and said Go Ahead's Irish subsidiary made 2.6 million euros in profit last year. He said that even after fines the company remains profitable while cutting investment in staff and service provision.
Worker conditions and rosters
A worker Murphy spoke to described staffing shortfalls and warned new rosters would worsen conditions. The new roster was called the "divorce roster" because it would keep many workers away from home for three or four weekends in a row; Murphy said the rosters should be withdrawn.
Calls for renationalisation and integrated planning
Murphy called for the Go Ahead-operated route to be taken out of private hands, re-nationalised and for all workers to be transferred to Dublin Bus. He argued the broader system needs proper integration and planning rather than a hodgepodge of disconnected, privatised services, with massive state investment to expand transport nationwide, not just isolated projects such as the Western Rail Corridor and the Navon Line.
Free public transport debate
Murphy questioned why the motion did not include a call for free public transport, citing international examples: Malta becoming the second EU country after Luxembourg to make public transport free, Scotland's free bus travel for those under 22, and over 100 cities with some form of free transport. He said evidence shows abolishing fares increases use and reduces carbon emissions and urged free, frequent, expanded and accessible public transport. He concluded by expressing hope the amendment would be supported.
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Thanks, Chair. I welcome many aspects of this motion, in particular the call for privatised routes to be re-nationalised. This should start immediately with the pathetic excuse for a service being inflicted on ordinary people by Go Ahead. I am inundated by people contacting me who have been stranded as a result of the 175 not turning up. Go Ahead was recently fined half a million euros by the NTA for failing to put on bus services at all. Not for them being late, but literally for not turning up. This is services that are paid for by the state, that are advertised to people, that rely on them to get to work, to get to school, to get to hospital appointments. The problem is I doubt that Go Ahead are that bothered, given that their Irish subsidiary made 2.6 million euros in profit last year. So even after the fines, they are still raking it in at our expense. Why is this taking place at Go Ahead? I was talking to a worker just last night. He said the fundamental issue is that they are skimping in terms of staff. And that is the logic of privatisation, a race to the bottom, not investing properly in staff, and then we have the problems that we have. In fact, he said it is due to get even worse with the new rosters that are being introduced. Even worse for the workers. He said the workers are describing the new roster as the divorce roster, because it means that many workers won't be home for three or four weekends in a row to spend time with their family. Those rosters should be withdrawn, but fundamentally Go Ahead should be put out of business, the route should be re-nationalised, and all the workers should be transferred over to Dublin Bus. But we shouldn't stop there. We need a properly integrated, planned out public transport system, not the hodgepodge of disconnected, privatised services that don't join up with each other. And we need massive state investment in expanding public transport to the very many parts of the country that have no usable service. Not just the Western Rail Corridor and the Navon Line, but the whole country needs a vastly improved public transport system. I do have a question as to why Sinn Féin didn't call for free public transport in this motion. Three weeks ago, Malta became the second EU country after Luxembourg to make public transport free. They follow Scotland, which brought in free bus travel for everyone under 22 last January, and over 100 cities around the world that already offer some form of public transport. All the evidence shows that abolishing fares significantly increases public transport use, thereby reducing carbon emissions. Just ask the pensioners here who avail of the free travel scheme if they would still use it to the same extent, or whether they would drive more if it wasn't free. We have to get people out of cars. That means free, frequent, expanded, accessible public transport. I hope that our amendment will be supported.
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