A NORTHSIDE TD has expressed surprise that over
?¬1 million is unclaimed every year in refunds of change from fares on Dublin Bus services.
Recently in the Dáil, Deputy Tommy Broughan asked Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar, to report on the amount of money unclaimed in refunds from bus tickets in the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and to date in 2014.
Dublin Bus reported directly to Deputy Broughan and the amounts unclaimed were as follows:
?¬1.7 million in 2010,
?¬1.6 million in 2011,
?¬1.3 million in 2012 and
?¬1.3 million in 2013. He was also advised that e160,000 in unclaimed refunds has been accumulated to date this year.
Deputy Broughan was informed that money from the claimed change is held in a fund in order to be available for reclaim by passengers as there is no statute of limitations regarding reclaiming passenger change.
However, Dublin Bus has put some of the unclaimed money to good use, having returned a percentage of it to local communities via the Community Support Programme.
To date over 1,500 voluntary groups have benefitted from grants awarded under the successful programme.
In 2013, the now renamed Community Spirit Initiative saw 85 local charities and voluntary groups receive grants of
?¬5,000,
?¬2,000 and
?¬1,000.
Deputy Broughan welcomed the report provided by Dublin Bus.
“It is commendable that Dublin Bus continues to operate the Community Spirit Initiative out of the money available from unclaimed refunds of bus fares,
? he told Northside People.