Transport | Monitoring transport costs and their economic impacts

To ask the Minister for Transport the extent to which he continues to monitor transport costs and the contributory factors thereto, with a view to ensuring that any negative impact on the economy might be alleviated insofar as is possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for estimating and monitoring the costs of providing these services.

Since 2010, the award of Public Service Obligation (PSO) funding falls under the independent statutory remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA).  The allocations to the transport operators for the provision of public transport services are decided by the NTA in exercise of its statutory mandate and in accordance with the various contract arrangements that it has in place with PSO service providers.

This Government is firmly committed to enhancing and expanding our public transport services provision across the country. To support this objective, in Budget 2023, I secured c. €563million of funding for PSO and Local Link services provided by State operators and under contract by the NTA this year.

In light of the Authority’s responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy’s question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.