However in Ireland we face an unprecedented transport crisis. An ever-growing sprawl of houses and the lack subsidy and investment in a real public transport system and infrastructure which provide a viable alternative to using the car, have created the traffic chaos and transport crisis.
This Government and the main establishment political parties in opposition have formed the governments since the formation of the state but have never displayed a serious commitment to developing a real public transport system throughout the country.
Over 80% of this Government’s transport investment has been spent on roads. Without proper public transport, pollution and congestion will get worse.
Public transport is completely inadequate and is being consciously underfunded to try to manipulate public opinion into supporting privatisaion. The government has consciously cut across both Bus Eireann and Dublin Bus from extending its services to cater for the transport needs of people. Instead they want to use tax payers money to subsidise private bus operators.
Socialist Party says – Invest in a real public transport system:
• For massive state investment to provide a publicly owned, real public transport system.
• Nationally that means an integrated network of efficient and frequent train and bus services where all major destinations are connected, linked to ports and airports.
• Extend local services so rural areas are properly linked with towns and the national network.
• For a massive investment in stock so all cities can be covered by an integrated network of trains, trams and buses.
• In the cities no person should be more than 5 minutes walk from a transport point where all routes run at least every 5 minutes at peak times.
• No to profiteering from the transport crisis.
• No to competition or PPPs or the facilitating of private operators in the provision of public transport which inevitably creates a downward pressure on wages and conditions of all transport employees both private and public.
• Transport services for the public must not be run on a commercial basis or for profit as that means they inevitably will remain limited services and a far cry from what people need.
• No to privatisation, licensing and franchising or bus routes or state subsidies for private transport.
• Democratically controlled public companies could build and operate transport services more efficiently and cheaper than private operators, while guaranteeing decent pay and conditions for transport employees.
• The Socialist Party believes that Cork, Dublin and Shannon airports should be debt free and must be publicly owned and be run democratically.
• The boards of public transport companies should have a majority of representatives of transport employees and of working people generally who use the services, with some representatives from local and central governments.
