Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 July 2020
53. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will initiate a public transport recovery task force if he has not already done so with an independent chair and budget (details supplied). [16319/20]
View answerI understand that the focus of the Deputy's question is about the approach for supporting both public and private operators in the public transport sector in relation to the challenges raised by the Covid-19 health emergency.
Over the course of the COVID-19 crisis, my Department has been working closely with the National Transport Authority (NTA) to ensure public transport services continue safety and to plan for capacity as demand for public transport services changes along the course of the Government's Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. In this context, the NTA has been engaging directly with both public service obligation (PSO) and commercial transport operators. My Department has also been also engaging directly with commercial bus operators to help inform policy decisions in relation to the public transport sector as we progress through the various phases of the Roadmap. In relation to taxis and hackneys, there has also been direct engagement with the Taxi Advisory Committee who have since been reviewing the situation in relation to the small public service vehicles (SPSV) sector and I expect to consider the output of their work shortly. In connection with all this, my Department has engaged intensively across Government in relation to progressing a wide range of relevant issues in relation to public transport, particularly focused on safety, capacity, and financial challenges.
It should be noted that the sharp decline in passenger numbers since mid-March this year as a result of the Covid-19 health emergency has caused an unprecedented fall in fare revenues, thus creating a wide gap between the operators' costs and actual revenues. This is putting acute pressure on the existing Public Service Obligation (PSO) budget. However, it is clear that public transport is an essential service and that it is an important facilitator of the Government's Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. We will ensure that this year's PSO is appropriately funded and my Department is working closely with the NTA to quantify the additional funding requirements for the coming months.
From my Department's engagement with their representatives, and indeed from the NTA's regular engagement with them throughout the crisis, I understand the very difficult business environment that the commercial operators have been facing. Indeed, across Government we are acutely aware that the Covid-19 situation presents huge challenges for many business sectors.
It is critical for the public transport sector to be functioning so that it can carry the passengers that we need to return to work and to other activities as they re-open. Many of these operators provide essential transport services for people who need to get to work and are vital to ensure economic recovery.
For that reason, the Deputy will be pleased to know that on 25 June the Government approved temporary funding supports, in accordance with EU and national legislation, for the licensed bus sector. These supports are aimed at ensuring the continued operation of essential licensed bus services for a period of up to six months. The package will be restricted to operators where a clear public interest justification supports such intervention and will be targeted at compensating the gap between specified costs and the revenues generated on the services. The NTA, as the public transport licensing agency, is responsible for administering funding support through the establishment of contracts between the NTA and the relevant operators.
This is, of course, additional to the wider programme of Government supports for impacted businesses were introduced, including new schemes of wage subsidies, rates waivers, re-start grants, lending facilities, equity injection, and business advisory supports for example. In relation to SPSVs specifically, the NTA has also introduced a range of measures to facilitate their operation, and engaged with the insurance industry also on their behalf.
With the commencement of Phase 3 of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business on 29 June 2020, changes to the existing public transport social distancing restrictions were agreed, allowing a move from 2 metres social distancing to utilising 50% of the passenger-carrying capacity of bus and rail fleet. This will help to underpin public transport services provided by both public and commercial licensed operators during these unprecedented times, with a view to safeguarding public transport for the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business.
In relation to active travel the NTA has offered financial and technical support to all local authorities in order to deliver improved walking and cycling infrastructure across the country. The NTA’s technical and financial support will be funded by my Department’s sustainable mobility investment programme and will support delivery of measures such as:
- widening of footpaths to facilitate queuing outside shops and enable social distancing
- potential pedestrianisation of some streets where necessary and feasible to accommodate social distancing, particularly where this supports business activities
- potential one-way systems to create space for footpath widening
- altering traffic signal times to reduce pedestrian waiting/crowding plus the automatic activation of some pedestrian phases in order to aid pedestrian movement and to minimise contact with signal push buttons
- providing additional temporary facilities for cyclists
- provision of some external space where appropriate to support business activities
In view of all the existing necessary engagements to address the Covid challenges I have no plans, at this time, to establish an additional administrative structure in relation to Covid matters.
