Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 May 2021
179. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Bus Éireann is reducing services on the 51 route Galway to Limerick and Cork which will remove the availability of public transport services for communities in Gort and across south County Galway; if he will take steps to restore these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27128/21]
View answer185. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport the reason Bus Éireann has cancelled the overnight services on route 30 and X30 at 1:00 and 2:30 from Donegal and the 6:30, 8:00 services from Dublin to Donegal; the alternatives are available to persons instead of having to overnight in Dublin for appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27265/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 185 together.
Both the National Transport Authority (NTA) and my Department have been engaging directly with commercial bus operators throughout the Covid-19 Emergency. The public transport system in Ireland has played an essential service role over the course of the pandemic, especially in carrying essential workers and others making necessary journeys.
In this regard, the Government agreed substantial increases to the PSO budget to support continuation of PSO services during the Covid situation in 2020 and 2021. In addition, the Government has recognised the situation of the licensed bus sector - which normally operates on a commercial basis without public subvention but which, during the Covid crisis, was in a situation where its operations were no longer commercially viable, owing to the impact of Covid-19 on passenger numbers and the associated drop in fare revenue.
Therefore, last June the 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. The Expressway business operated by Bus Éireann is one of the many commercial operations of licensed public transport services that have been able to avail of this new, temporary, Covid-related support.
The temporary support was 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, 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, on 26 January 2021, Government decided to extend the temporary funding supports for the licensed bus sector for a further period of 3 months, with an option to extend contracts on a monthly basis thereafter. The NTA, following consultation with operators, has recently finalised a review of the scheme and as a result some changes to services are expected to be implemented this month.
Given the NTA's statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally, I have also 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.
