10% fare rises won’t prevent CIÉ job cuts

TRANSPORT Minister Noel Dempsey has warned CIÉ is facing serious economic difficulties even if it is allowed to increase bus and rail fares by 10% from next January.

Management at the three companies in the CIÉ group — Bus Éireann, Iarnród Éireann and Dublin Bus — are carrying out a cost review of their operations which are expected to result in a rationalisation plan for within the state transport group.

Commenting on weekend media reports that CIÉ could axe hundreds of jobs and make drastic cuts to some bus and rail services, Mr Dempsey acknowledged that the group was “heading for a very serious deficit next year, unless action is taken”.