A WELL known Limerick coach operator said he has pulled out of 13 school bus runs because the cost of fuel and tax on fuel were crippling his business.
Paudie Kenneally, Kenneally Coach Hire, Newcastle West, 50s, said: “I’m not going to go bankrupt to cover school runs for Bus Eireann or anyone.”
“I feel sorry for our kids using our service, but this is now a race to the bottom, and I won’t be working like that,” he added.
Asked what he would say to parents and pupils who require school transport, he replied: “Look, that is the heartbreaking part of it, I am driving children all my life, my father before me, we’re in the business 43 years.”
“I drive a lot of children with special educational needs, and autistic children who don’t like change, who like to see the same bus driver – you’d be mad about them,” he said, becoming emotional.
Mr Kenneally said he gave Bus Eireann prior notice that he would not operate the school routes beyond the Easter holidays.
Mr Kenneally said a fuel support package unveiled by government would not change his mind.
“I don’t need the stress and pressure of this anymore. It was very easy to make a decision to make, the numbers don’t add up.”
“The operating costs are gone too high, and this 10 cent (reduction on excise duty on a litre of petrol, diesel) ) is only a waste of time, it will be evaporated straightaway.”
“The biggest problem we have in Ireland is that the middle class are being squeezed, and the middle are paying everything. There is too little paying too much and there is more people paying nothing.”
Mr Kenneally said: “There is no point in me killing myself with stress and pressure.”
He said a 16.5% cut to excise duty on private aircraft fuel was another kick in the teeth to everyone outside of that demographic group, and offered that, “if you have a private jet or a helicopter are you worried about the price of fuel?”.
“If I was a person that lived on benefits all my life I’d be way better off,” he added.
The Limerick coach operator said he supported his neighbours, friends, colleagues and customers who took part in last week’s blockade at a fuel terminal at Foynes village.
Mr Kenneally, whose husband presently lives in the United States, pledged that “if Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael ever again get into power after this, I will leave Ireland”.
He said that he had declined an approach from An Garda Siochana last week, enquiring if he would provide transport for garda members that were ordered by the Garda Commissioner, to use force to open up the blockades at Whitegate, Co Cork.
“I couldn’t do that, there was no problem in them asking me, but, I couldn’t be seen to be doing that, are you joking me?”
“It is a sad day for Ireland to see people being beaten by our own forces for a peaceful protest.”
Mr Kenneally said his late father David Kenneally, who began their school bus service 43 years ago, would have made the same decision that he has now made: “He’s like me, he’s a figures man, one plus one has to make two.”
He added: “Another problem with the school runs is that you’re only operating on a 38-42 week period, you get no pay for bank holidays, you pay your drivers, holiday pay, taxes for your staff, PRSI, and you’ve to keep the bus maintained taxed and insured and to ensure it goes through all its checks and tests, you’re being taxed everywhere and you’re only getting paid for everyday you operate.”
Mr Kenneally, who employs 17 staff and operates a fleet of 25 buses, said he would continue to operate bus services for active retirement groups, tourists, HSE, and private hire services.
“It’s a terror to walk away from the school runs, I’ve been driving second generation kids to school, it’s very upsetting.”