PRESS RELEASE

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

22 June 2010

RD 06/09/10

FARE INCREASES WON'T GROW PUBLIC TRANSPORT

The Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Regional Development has expressed its concerns over the proposals contained in Translink’s Corporate Plan for 2010-2013. Among other things the plan proposes fare increases and a reduction in the frequency of some services. .

Committee Chairperson, Fred Cobain MLA, said today: “The Committee received a detailed briefing on the Translink corporate plan last week and many concerns surfaced that we feel need to be addressed.

“Fare increases won’t grow public transport. The number of passenger journeys fell last year. It is difficult to see how fare increases will halt this decline, let alone encourage people to make the shift to public transport.

“Public transport needs to be sustainable and we appreciate that some services currently offered are not. However, before any changes to timetables are proposed, there has to be local consultation and active consideration of alternative transport options particularly for older passengers, passengers with disabilities, and for rural communities.

“We are all aware that there is a challenging economic time ahead, but with imagination and dynamism from Translink and the Department for Regional Development, it could be an opportunity to make public transport a more attractive option.”

The Committee has written to the Minister for Regional Development on these and other issues, and awaits his response.

Ends

Notes for Editors :

Membership of the Regional Development Committee is as follows:

Chairperson:	Mr Fred Cobain MLA
Deputy Chairperson:	Ms Michelle McIlveen MLA
Committee Members:	Cathal Boylan MLA
	Allan Bresland MLA
	Willie Clarke MLA
	Danny Kinahan MLA
	Billy Leonard MLA
	Trevor Lunn MLA
	Ian McCrea MLA
	Conall McDevitt MLA
	George Robinson MLA

Media enquiries to:

Jennifer Pleavin
Communications Officer
Northern Ireland Assembly
Phone: 028 9052 1606
Mobile : 07502 379339
Email: jennifer.pleavin@niassembly.gov.uk

Sinead Murphy
Deputy Communications Officer
Northern Ireland Assembly
Phone: 028 9052 5938
Mobile : 07899 864368
Email: sinead.murphy@niassembly.gov.uk