Manifesto Check Fianna Fail: Public Transport

The Fianna Fail manifesto is one of the most difficult manifestos to check: it is very ambiguous. It says things like “we will have better buses,” but how they will be better is left to our imagination.

Fianna Fail supports the idea of lower pricing for public transport around the peak travel times. We will examine the possibility of introducing discount for travel within an hour either side of the peak times to help spread the load. This will be further facilitated by integrated ticketing and smart card technologies which will allow a differential pricing system to be introduced.

They may have examined it but they have not done anything on it.

We support the Forum’s suggestion that an independent public transport regulatory authority should be established.

Not done.

Fianna Fail will place particular emphasis on replacing the Road Transport Act, 1932, with modernized legislation.

There is the Road Traffic And Transport Act 2006, but I think that is a replacement for a 1994 act, not the 1932 act. I think the 1932 act still stands, so until someone can correct me, not done.

Fianna Fail will complete the first rail safety programme involving investment of €546 million and initiate a new five year programme beginning in 2004.

Done.

An independent Railway Safety Authority will be established to regulate safety, to assess safety plans submitted by operators, to investigate accidents, and to set standards.

Done.

In July 2000, the Government approved the development of a metro system for Dublin. Particular priority will be given to the development of an early link to Dublin Airport.

Well, there is a link on the map.

The DART will be upgraded from 6 to 8 car trains to relieve overcrowding at peak times. The outer suburban Kildare and Maynooth lines will be upgraded.

Done however I don’t think it has relieved overcrowding.

Further progress will be made on upgrading the bus fleet, providing bus priorities both in Dublin and other cities, and in increasing the level and frequency of service, and the interchangeability of commuter tickets on bus and rail.

Integrated ticketing not done, and services still poor and not very frequent.

New services will be introduced both to some new housing developments but also to existing poorly served communities

Do they commit to anything in this bloody manifesto? “To some new housing?” That could be two new developments or six hundred! How can anyone say if they have done what they said they would do? Basically service is still poor.

Fianna Fail will build upon the clear success of the Nitelink and late DART services.

They may have built on it but by much?

We will continue the process of making taxis wheelchair accessible.

Not Done.

We will appoint a single national regulator for the industry for the future regulation of licensing, standards and the quality of service.

Done.

Fianna Fail in government will establish All-Ireland Free Travel for pensioners resident in Ireland (north and south).

Done.

Interesting. Certainly a lot more hits then the PDs on public transport, but I think a lot of that has to do with the ambiguity of the document. Whereas the PDs’ set specific targets (metro open in 2007), Fianna Fail’s was made up of stuff they had already earmarked or else very ambiguous targets of “better Nitebus,” so it really is hard to judge. They have delivered on many of the things in the manifesto, so I will give them a five (my marking scheme is totally arbitrary). Points gained for All-Ireland travel, taxi regulator, railway regulator, and DART carriages. Maybe there is a lesson in there for the PDs: don’t be so specific in your manifesto.