Fuel Cost Impact: 'We bring people to concerts, nights out etc., I don't want to up my prices for them'

Having been locked into a number of contracts when diesel prices were averaging €1.35 a litre during Covid times, Danny Quinn of Donie Quinn buses says that the rising cost of diesel is placing

even more strain on the bus transport industry, which is already straining under the pressure from increasing expenses.

“I have 41 contracts with Bus Eireann, 11 private contract which include 200 dialysis runs a week. I’m locked into a five year contract on these, there is no wiggle room on it. I have two 5,000l tanks in the yard.

"This time last year they cost €12,000 to fill. Now it costs up to €20,000. When I’m paying this much just for diesel then it becomes harder and harder to be able to keep proper maintenance on a bus.”

The future of the industry is under threat according to Danny, especially given that the sector ground to a halt under covid and it is heavily regulated. “School buses have to be under 20 years old.

"With the way things are now nobody can afford to buy new ones. If you have something like a 2006 registration, you’ll have to replace it soon, but most won’t be able to afford to replace them. We couldn’t work there for nearly 18 months when lockdown was here, I wouldn’t give a yard full of buses to my worst enemy, they were worthless during that time.

"Nobody will be able to afford to get into the industry. Even if diesel comes back to something like €1.70, it’s still unsustainable.”

Danny is unwilling to pass on the extra costs to customers who are already being squeezed due to the rising cost of living.

“We bring people to concerts, home from nights out etc. But I’m reluctant to up my prices for them. They’re under pressure as things are, if I up my prices they’ll just take their business elsewhere.”