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Cut nosh and company cars not bus services - plea

Bus services are being cut as Translink try to make savings Picture by Brendan Murphy
Bus services are being cut as Translink try to make savings Picture by Brendan Murphy Bus services are being cut as Translink try to make savings Picture by Brendan Murphy

TRANSLINK has been told to look at its spending on company cars and hospitality before imposing swingeing cuts on "essential" public transport and raising ticket prices.

In March, the company launched a voluntary exit scheme aimed at cutting up to 60 administrative and management posts as it attempts to make savings of £3.1m a year.

It comes after the Executive reduced the company's funding by a fifth.

Two assembly members have now highlighted areas where they believe costs could be cut - including a £113,000 hospitality bill and 40 company cars costing £774,000 over five years.

SDLP regional development spokesman John Dallat said "nosh and company cars" should be cut before services which are lifelines to the vulnerable.

"If they are going to cut services and increase fares then the directors have to ensure that there is no wastage within its own administration," he said.

"How can you have so many company cars in a company that is trying to encourage people onto buses and trains?"

Regional development minister Danny Kennedy stated, in a written answer to an assembly question, that such vehicles are used by employees who are "generally operational staff within the management and engineering grades", including area managers, depot/service delivery managers.

Bus fleet engineers "who between them cover approximately 60 operating sites" also have access.

"Infrastructure engineers who have company cars are generally those responsible for maintenance of track, signalling and all aspects of structures," he added.

Mr Kennedy said the staff are also involved in the organisation's on-call arrangements.

However, DUP West Tyrone assembly member Tom Buchanan said he asked details about the company cars following Translink proposals to end a bus service around Omagh which is depended on by the elderly.

"It is a vital service by Translink that is being cut. Pensioners rely on this to do their shopping and go to appointments," he said.

"I'm just asking the question, where else can these cuts be made before you look at taking away this service from people who really depend on it?"