Discussion on Public Transport Policy

GM228

https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/0426/957392-transport/

Wonder what, if anything will come from this, just another talk shop??

RTE wrote:

It is understood the event scheduled for 21 May will involve representatives of consumers/passengers, unions and public transport operators - both public and private sector.

It will also encompass policy-makers, business and environmental groups, research institutes, regulators and the academic community.

No doubt the NBRU will have some "issues" to raise, with Dermot O'Leary saying today:-

https://twitter.com/DermotLeary/status/989490627875426304

No doubt his usual stab at GA.

Del.Monte

Another useless waste of time and a photo opportunity for all concerned - especially Shane Ross.

Cookie_Monster

NBRU will ensure tax payer money is not wasted...

Is this a real meeting or a comedy session

schemingbohemia

Of course the NBRU have made it all about them, it's actually a really broad meeting with a wide range of people attending. But that doesn't make a clickable headline.

AlekSmart

The NBRU may just have a point here.

This "Forum" is not the first of it's kind,as the Union,in conjunction with a very broad swathe of Interested Parties participated in the orignal "Public Transport Partnership Forum" established under "The programme for Prosperity and Fairness" back in 2000 by then Minister For Public Enterprise, Mary O'Rourke.

This particular Forum,which included representatives from Private and State sectors such as PAMBO,DCCBA,DCC,CIE and more did in fact produce reports,the final one,sadly appears to be absent.

One of the most important elements of the Forums deliberations was an agreement on a process to allow both State and Private Operators to access the market in a controlled manner.

From memory,an optimum fleet size was agreed at 1,500 vehicles,when the then fleet was approx 1,000 vehicles.
Expansion was to be facilitated by,20% of each annual new vehicle purchase to be ring-fenced for the private operators.
This guaranteed process,at that time,appealed to the Private Sector,as it allowed the smaller indigenous companies to plan a realistic and manageable entry and expansion plan.

However,with the political demise of Mary O'Rourke,it fell to a politician of a somewhat different hue,Seamus Brennan,to take delivery of the report,thank the Forum Members for their participation,and consign their work to the furthest corner of the building.

A taste of the Forums work is available via the dttas website on pdf.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:mmRCF6pB0OwJ:www.dttas.ie/sites/default/files/publications/public-transport/english/public-transport-partnership-forum-interim-report-july-2002-june-2003/public-transport-partnership-forum-interim-report-july-2002-june-2003.pdf+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ie&client=firefox-b

Some interesting TCD stuff from James Wickham also here..

https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:UA1-ude-4rQJ:https://www.tcd.ie/policy-institute/assets/pdf/PIWP09_Wickham.pdf+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ie&client=firefox-b

GM228

First (and only it would seem) media reporting of the Forum on Monday.

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/ross-suggests-workers-could-be-given-a-stake-in-ci-group-36933177.html

I invited radical, even heretical ideas to progress the fortunes of public transport," he told the forum. "I will be happy to entertain the suggestion that the workforce should be given shares or share options in the relevant companies. This might align the interests of passengers, the staff and management. Those who suffered in the downturn could be the first to benefit from any turnaround in the companies' fortunes.

Will be interesting to read the report from Alan Barrett when it's available.

Cookie_Monster

I will be happy to entertain the suggestion that the workforce should be given shares or share options in the relevant companies.

Lol, "I'm a shareholder you know, why doesn't the bus go from my house to where I work? What am I paying for it for?!?!?"