As the Deputy is aware, in Budget 2018 I secured an 8% increase in the overall Exchequer funding available for Public Service Obligation (PSO) public transport services and €285 million is available this year to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for this purpose.
Potential percentage changes to the amount can be calculated from this base: 5% is €14m; 10% is €28m; 15% is €43m; 20% is €57m; and 25% is €71m. The overall PSO amount is set each year as part of the annual Estimates and Budget processes, and the 2018 allocation for the Vote was voted on and approved by this House earlier this year as part of the "Revised Estimates for Public Services 2018". As the Deputy is aware, it is the statutory remit of the NTA to make PSO payments to the public transport operators who provide PSO services, and the payments are made in accordance with the PSO contracts that the NTA has in put place with each of those operators.