9th July 2011

Use of NDP buses at Oxegen Festival criticised by coach companies

Release to: Coach Journals
Date:           JULY 2011
Title:           Use of NDP buses at Oxegen Festival criticised by coach companies

 

The use of buses that were funded by the National Development Plan (NDP) at the Oxegen Festival in Kildare this weekend has been criticised by the organisation that represents Ireland’s coach companies.

The Coach Tourism & Transport Council (CTTC) says NDP vehicles were given to Dublin Bus as part of the State’s efforts to improve the economic infrastructure of the country, and to “build a more socially inclusive society”. There is no provision in the NDP scheme or Transport 21 to use such vehicles in private hire work at rock festivals.

CTTC Chief Executive Gerry Mullins says: “Ireland’s coach companies rely on summer festival work to help pay for their vehicles and keep their drivers employed. When Dublin Bus uses vehicles that they received for free from the taxpayer to enter the private hire sector, they are putting jobs in danger and may cause some companies to close. It is a gross misuse of NDP funding.”

Today (Friday) Dublin Bus double deck buses lined up on Dublin’s Parnell Square to bring festival attendees to Punchestown, Co. Kildare, for €25 return fare. Vehicles were clearly marked Transport21 and NDP, indicating they were purchased for Dublin Bus by the State for public transport purposes on the streets of Dublin.
Gerry Mullins said: “Private companies cannot compete when State funds are used in this way. This is a clear misuse of State funds that backfires heavily on the taxpayer. It causes a displacement of work in the private sector by a misuse of funds in the public sector. It puts jobs at risk and lessens the much-needed tax revenue collected from this sector.”