Viewpoint from John Halpenny, Chairman of the Coach Tourism & Transport Council (CTTC)

“The Coach Tourism & Transport Council (CTTC) has been extremely active with Government Departments and Agencies in relation to the catastrophic impacts on the sector resulting from COVID-19.

The CTTC has written to the Taoiseach, Minister’s Donoghue, Griffin, and Doherty requesting specific measures to help rescue the private Coach and Bus sector around the key areas of business survival and liquidity measures.

The Government has taken tentative first steps in relation to  cashflow supports, such as VAT payments, bank commercial loans, and Local Authority rates all being deferred for 3 months – but these measures are wholly inadequate to the size of the economic challenge facing our sector at this critical time. As stated in the CTTC proposed measures supports will need to be in place for a minimum of a year to allow the industry to get back on its feet.

In addition to lobbying Government, the CTTC in as member of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) COVID19 Tourism Monitoring Group, represented by J.J. Kavanagh.

The CTTC was successful in negotiating a 100% payment on School contract up to 29^th of March and following discussion with the relative Departments, a payment of 50% will now come into effect. We are also liaising with Dublin City Councillors on the issue of introducing coach parking charges.

We will continue to stay in close contact with members during this crisis and would ask all private operators to support each other during this incredibly tough time.”

John Halpenny, Chairman, Coach Tourism & Transport Council (CTTC)