Public Transport

Wednesday, 24 March 2021

Questions (399, 401, 402, 404, 406, 408, 409)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

399. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which he expects public transport to play a major role in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15881/21]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

401. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which the general public have availed of rail transport services as an option over the past ten years to date; his plans to ensure increased and continued use in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15883/21]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

402. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which the public and private transport sectors co-operate in order to provide adequate and convenient transport to the public in both urban and rural settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15884/21]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

404. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport his pans to enhance rural transport throughout County Kildare with particular reference to linkages between the public and private sectors and the introduction of new services to include any areas, urban or rural, not served by existing areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15886/21]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

406. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the degree to which the commuter towns of north County Kildare can expect improved rail and bus services in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15888/21]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

408. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the number of railway carriages currently in use throughout the north County Kildare commuter routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15890/21]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

409. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which he expects to ensure that the maximum number of rail passengers can be seated for health and safety purposes, personal comfort and convenience on rail services serving Leixlip, Maynooth, Kilcock, Hazelhatch and Sallins, County Kildare; the extent of his plans for any proposed upgrading; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15891/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Transport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 399, 401, 402, 404, 406, 408 and 409 together.

As the 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.

From a policy perspective, there is a need for a fundamental change in the nature of transport in Ireland and the Programme for Government, 'Our Shared Future', commits to making public transport and active travel better and more accessible.

The Deputy will probably be aware that my Department has already been undertaking a review of sustainable mobility policy, which incorporates a review of public transport in rural areas. In this context the Department held a public consultation process between November 2019 and February 2020, and included a stakeholder event in the course of that consultation. Over 250 submissions were received as part of this public consultation process and I published a report of the public consultation.

I intend to develop a new policy framework for the next 10 years that can provide a strategic backdrop to the increased investment planned by this Government across the sustainable mobility programme. The new policy statement will be informed by the review of the previous policy framework (known as Smarter Travel), submissions received during my Department's consultation process and the views and recommendations of other relevant stakeholders. It will provide a platform to advance the ambitions of the Programme for Government in the area of sustainable mobility, including active travel, and will replace the previous Smarter Travel policy, dating from 2009.

Our Programme for Government commitments in relation to public transport in rural areas will be progressed in the context of that new policy statement. Among the measures we will prioritise is a Sustainable Rural Mobility Plan to ensure settlements over a certain size can connect to the national public transport system, expanding the Local Link rural transport service and prioritising public transport projects that enhance regional and rural connectivity.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. The NTA also has responsibility for local and rural transport, including the management of Local Link services. The NTA has undertaken a nationwide study to inform its approach to rolling out improved public transport across the country (excluding the GDA, Regional Cities and Large Towns) by providing better connections between villages and towns by linking them with an enhanced regional network connecting cities and regional centres nationwide.

Arising from this study, I am advised that the NTA has now completed the first phase of consultation on its proposals, titled 'Connecting Ireland', with all Local Authorities and is now engaging with Regional Authorities and other key stakeholders. This will be followed by a wider public consultation in Q3 2021 prior to finalisation of the proposals by the NTA and submission to my Department.

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.

Several targeted Government Decisions made throughout the crisis, in addition to general supports such as the wage subsidy scheme, have provided much needed support to the sector, particularly the decisions to:

- substantially increase the 2020 budget for the existing PSO system;

- introduce temporary financial support for certain licensed services provided by commercial bus operators (CBOs) for an initial period of 6-months;

- provide a higher-than-normal provision for PSO funding in the 2021 budget due to the ongoing impact of Covid-19 on the public transport sector; and

- extend the provision of temporary funding supports for the CBOs for a further 3 months, with the option to extend monthly thereafter subject to engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

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, albeit at a higher cost, continue to operate in a safe manner. By comparison, the level of PSO and Local Link funding provided in 2019 was in the region of €300m.

Prior to the Covid-19 health emergency, licensed operators operated non-subvented bus services on a commercial basis. However, due to the impact of Covid-19 on passenger numbers and the associated drop in fare revenue, these services were no longer commercially viable. As such, on 25 June 2020 Government decided to introduce new temporary financial support for certain licensed services provided by commercial bus operators to ensure the continued operation of these essential services.

These temporary supports were initially introduced for a period of 6-months, with a view to protecting capacity across the public transport sector throughout the crisis. The NTA on behalf of my Department, has entered into contracts with the licensed bus sector to provide funding for routes where a clear public interest justification supports such intervention.

As it remains the case that commercial bus operators are still under severe financial distress due to the fall in passenger numbers and associated drop in fare revenue as a result of Covid-19, Government decided on 26 January 2021 to extend the temporary funding supports to the licensed bus sector for a further period of 3 months, with an option to extend contracts on a monthly basis thereafter.

With regard to the possible enhancement of rural transport throughout County Kildare and the Deputy’s various queries in relation to enhanced bus and rail services, given the NTA's statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally, I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.