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Transport Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 February 2021

Thursday, 4 February 2021

Questions (36)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

36. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if consideration is being given to a free transport for all pilot project; and the estimated costs associated with same. [6175/21]

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Written answers

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 and have no plans to introduce free public transport for all users, which would require substantial additional funding by the taxpayer or from other sources. 

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has the statutory responsibility for the regulation of fares in relation to public passenger transport services  and also has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public transport services by way of public transport services contracts in respect of services that are socially necessary but commercially unviable.  The funding of those services comprises both the fares paid by passengers and the subvention payments from the Exchequer.  The main purpose of the subvention payment is to meet the gap between income from fares and the cost of operating services.

The Covid-19 health emergency has had a profound and swift shock to the public transport sector.  Public transport’s designation as an essential service throughout the pandemic means, that although fare revenues have collapsed, most of the cost of operations remains and must continue to be met in order to fulfil Government’s broader policy objectives.  Government support for all public transport services in 2020 amounted to over €620m.  For 2021 over €670m has been provided in funding in order to ensure that the existing level of public transport services, albiet at a higher cost, continue to operate in a safe manner. By comparision, the level of PSO and Local Link funding provided in 2019 was in the region of €300m.  It is also worth noting that, in addition to the PSO and Local Link allocation to support the operation of services, there is also a substantial level of multi-annual Exchequer capital investment in public transport infrastructure;  in 2021 this amounts to a further €607 million.

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