National transport - Privatisation of no benefit to commuter

On the face of it, proposals

The Minister’s rationale in wanting to scrap CIE and replace it with three new independent companies to run the national rail, bus and Dublin transport services is predicated on an aspiration to encourage more competition. In tandem with that, is a commitment that private companies will be offered a franchise to run bus services throughout the country, which, in principle, is long overdue.

Unquestionably, CIE badly needs a major shake-up, but a number of caveats must be entered in relation to the direction in which the Minister intends to go.