Written Answers Nos. 329-333
329. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the most recent data available to his Department on the cost of traffic congestion to the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17076/17]
View answerIn recognition of the growing body of evidence emerging of increased travel demand across the Dublin region in particular, my Department's economic and financial evaluation unit has undertaken a research project to estimate the cost of aggravated congestion across Ireland's transport system. Aggravated congestion occurs when the number of vehicles on a part of the network is higher than the network can handle and the point at which serious traffic delays arise. The first phase of the project, which is currently being finalised estimates the annual value of time lost to road users due to aggravated congestion in the greater Dublin area. The study uses data from a variety of sources to estimate activity on the network including census travel to work data, NTA GDA surveys, car ownership data and CSO small area population statistics. The project has been carried out in conjunction with the National Transport Authority, NTA, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, and Dublin City Council, DCC, with particular support from the NTA's modelling team in producing the modelled outputs.
A final project report will be published on my Department's website in the coming weeks. However, I understand that the analysis undertaken for the report estimates that the cost of time lost due to aggravated congestion is currently €350 million per annum and is forecasted to rise to €2 billion per annum in 2033. This work is an important consideration in formulating my overall approach to tackling congestion in the short to medium term and forms a key part of the case for increased public transport investment, as part of the mid-term review of the Government's capital plan in 2017.
330. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the PSO, public service obligation, air tender service between Donegal and Dublin and Kerry and Dublin; the dates the current PSO contracts were awarded and to which airline; the expiry date of the current PSO contract; the daily service frequency timetable from Monday to Sunday; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17079/17]
View answer331. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details for the annual passenger numbers carried, average annual fare and annual PSO payments for each route from 2014 to 2016 in counties Donegal and Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17080/17]
View answer332. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to renew the PSO air tender services for Donegal-Dublin and Kerry-Dublin on expiration of the current tender period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17081/17]
View answer333. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are other PSO air tender routes being considered by his department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17082/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 330 to 333, inclusive, together.
The Public Service Obligation, PSO, air services regime operates in accordance with EU Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1008/2008.
The current contract to provide PSO air services between Dublin and the airports in Donegal and Kerry was awarded to Stobart Air and signed on 23 December 2014 following an EU public procurement process conducted by my Department. This three-year contract operates from 1 February 2015 until 31 January 2018 and provides for two daily return flights on each route. The daily timetables are available on the airports' websites donegalairport.ie and kerryairport.ie.
It is an EU requirement that the continuing justification for any PSO services is reviewed prior to tendering again for such services and my Department is aiming to conduct this review by mid-year. Subject to the outcome of that review, the tender process will commence in the second half of the year to ensure continuity of services in 2018. There are no proposals to establish PSO air services on any additional routes.
Details of annual passenger numbers and PSO contractual payments from 2014 to 2016 are provided in the table below.
The PSO contract provides that at least 80% of the contracted minimum daily seat capacity on each route be available at a fare, inclusive of airport charges, not exceeding €80 each way. Fares in relation to the balance of available seats may be determined by the carrier.
Annual PSO Passenger Numbers
|
- |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Donegal/Dublin |
22,022 |
24,460 |
31,014 |
|
Kerry/Dublin |
37,303 |
44,489 |
46,340 |
PSO Payments
|
- |
2014² |
2015¹ |
2016¹ |
|
Donegal/Dublin |
€3.75m |
||
|
Kerry/Dublin |
€4.06m |
€7.53m |
€7.60m |
¹One contract for both services. Figures are for first year of contract 1 February 2015 – 31 January 2016 and for second year of contract 1 February 2016 – 31 January 2017.
²Figures are for equivalent period in 2014, namely 1 February 2014 – 31 January 2015.
