Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 July 2019
791. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department is paying a subsidy either directly or via the NTA to a transport operator on the 52 route; the amount being paid; the conditions attached to the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30647/19]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, Bus Éireann operates 3 types of services - provincial city services, rural stage carriage services and intercity services. Bus Éireann receives Public Service Obligation (PSO) funding under contract with the National Transport Authority (NTA) for the provincial city and rural stage carriage services.
The no. 52 route is part of the company's Expressway intercity service. These are commercial services operated in competition with private operators on main trunk routes and are licensed by the NTA. By their very nature, commercial services cannot and do not receive any PSO funding from the Exchequer.
