Leniency and supports sought for struggling bus sector

“We need to see some leniency shown to bus operators," - Smyth TD

A local TD is calling on the Government to show leniency and that back taxing of school bus vehicles should be suspended for operators who had their business fleet grounded due to school closures.

“Bus operators who are set to return to their school runs in the coming week are facing having to back tax their vehicles for the months their businesses were grounded,” says Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan, Niamh Smyth.

“Thousands of school buses across the country were grounded when schools closed earlier this year in accordance with public health guidelines. Now, as operators are preparing to return their buses to the road for the coming school year, they are facing huge bills to back tax their buses.”

Fellow Oireachtas member and party colleague Brendan Smith TD has also raised again with the Minister for Transport the need to provide adequate supports to the Coach and Bus Sector due to severe difficulties this Sector have faced with covid-19.

Minister Eamonn Ryan, in his recent reply to Deputy Smith’s representation, stated that his Department has been engaging directly with the Coach Tourism and Transport Council of Ireland on a regular basis in relation to the impact of Covid-19. “I am acutely aware of how badly impacted the coach tourism sector has been by the crisis due to the lack of international tourists and a fall in demand for local coach services. These businesses are a vital part of Irish tourism and we will need them when our overseas visitors return. Accordingly, I have asked Fáilte Ireland to develop a Business Continuity Scheme to help these businesses through this very difficult period.  Fáilte Ireland are now engaging with the sector to develop this scheme which has been allocated €10m in funding.” said the Minister.

The Minister noted that contained within the July Stimulus measures are measures that form a significant part of the Government's response to the COVID-19 crisis.

He added that his predecessor had established a Tourism Recovery Taskforce on May 20 to prepare a Tourism Recovery Plan which will include a set of recommendations on how best the Irish tourism sector can adapt and recover in the changed tourism environment as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.

“The plan will identify priority aims, key enablers and market opportunities for the sector for the period 2020-2023. The Taskforce has already undertaken a widespread stakeholder consultation process whereby all sectors and interested parties have provided constructive inputs and innovative ideas on how this vital sector to our economy can adapt and recover in a meaningful and sustainable way. The Taskforce will continue to engage with stakeholders as it seeks to finalise its work over the coming months.”