Private bus services still dealing with "huge uncertainty" over fuel prices

As the Irish government announced a €505m in fuel cost measures following a week of protests private coach services say this may not be enough to support their business.

Brian Roe from Sillan Coaches said said the supports are encouraging but he does not think they will be enough and “There is still huge uncertainty across our industry as to whether a level of service can be maintained during this latest crisis and there is only so much pain that can be absorbed before losses impact on us again. After that, cost increases have to be passed on to customers and that’s not something we want to see happening. The length of the current crisis and the level of impact of increased costs for operators will determine what the end game is for all of the parties involved.”

BRoe said talks were already ongoing before the protests “but I have no doubt the impact the protests had will certainly have increased the urgency to find an outcome of the talks. I have a feeling that both courses of action complimented each other and at the end of the day the outcome of any deal is for the benefit of everyone involved.”

The fuel package includes a further 10c per litre excise duty cut on petrol and diesel, a 2.4c per litre excise cut on green diesel, and the deferment of the increase in carbon tax until the budget in October.

“On the fuel protests themselves, you could see by the vast numbers protesting, that there was a huge appetite all over the country to get out and demand action," Roe said.

"People are really suffering across the board from Energy costs to Food costs and the amount of people now living paycheck to paycheck is frightening. Something had to give. “

He said protests only had a minimal effect on coach services with only some running later than usual and passenger were mostly in favour of the blockades.

Sillan coaches have already been forced to raise prices on customers earlier this month and a licence offer accepted to run a service in DCU might have to be shelved if costs continue to rise.

Disruptions are still ongoing on the M9 and N81 and blockages are along the M1 and M3 with the government to face a no-confidence motion over fuel costs.

Other bus services, including Carolan coaches and other school bus contractors across the country, will hold a one day strike this Wednesday (15th April).

James Carolan of Carolan Coaches said yesterday's (Sunday) government package as "an insult" and warned that a lot of bus and tour operators will go to the wall with the rising fuel prices.

"I don't know what will happen. It is extremely difficult. All our tour work was priced last year. We have 185 eight-day back to back tours booked since last year and we cannot get one cent extra on any of them.”