SUBSIDY OF €32 MILLION URGENTLY NEEDED TO KEEP BUSES ON THE ROAD
Michael Fisher
The future for private coach operators is bleak because of Covid-19 restrictions, according to the industry’s representative body, which includes five companies from the Co. Monaghan area. In an open letter they say a 95 per cent drop in revenue incurred by operators will lead to many regional Irish coach operators going out of business. They estimate that 11,000 vehicles are currently off the road. The collapse of these companies would undoubtedly have a ripple effect on local economies across the country, according to the 92 signatories. They include the owners of Rice Coaches from Mullinahinch, Monaghan; Foxhound Travel from Rockcorry; Fitzpatrick Coaches from Glaslough; Collins Coaches from Carrickmacross and Matthews Coach Hire from Inniskeen.
LAST SECTOR TO RETURN TO NORMALITY
Brian Rice of Rice Coaches told The Northern Standard the coach and private bus hire business appeared to be one of the last sectors to be able to return to full-scale operations. At the moment under Covid-19 guidelines, their coaches can only be used at half the…
