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Public Transport

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Questions (272, 273, 274, 275)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

272. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the estimated full year cost of halving all public transport fares and for providing free public transport to all in full-time education. [41182/21]

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Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

273. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the estimated full year cost of making all public transport free for all users. [41183/21]

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Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

274. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost to restore the CIÉ subvention to 2008 levels. [41184/21]

View answer

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

275. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost to restore the CIÉ subvention to 2008 levels and add 33%. [41185/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 272 to 275, inclusive, together.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. Since 2010, the award of Public Service Obligation (PSO) funding falls under the independent statutory remit of the NTA. The allocations to the companies are decided by the NTA in exercise of its statutory mandate and in accordance with the various contract arrangements that it has in place with PSO service providers.

The NTA also has statutory responsibility for the regulation of fares in relation to public passenger transport services, and 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.

Public transport’s designation as an essential service throughout the Covid-19 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. The allocation for the Public Service Obligation (PSO) is subject to the annual Budgetary process. My priority is to ensure the continued operation of existing services and for 2021, I secured in excess of €670m from the Exchequer in respect of the PSO and Local Link allocations to public transport operators. By comparison, the level of PSO and Local Link funding provided in Budget 2020 (pre-Covid) was in the region of €303m.

Public Service Obligation (PSO) subvention provided in 2008 - the year of record funding - was €308 million. Therefore, the total funding committed toward the PSO programme in 2020 (pre-Covid 19) was approximately 98% of the 2008 figure. As is normal, the precise allocations to the companies are decided by the NTA in exercise of its statutory mandate and in accordance with the various contract arrangements that it has in place with PSO service providers.

Any assessment of a proposed change to public transport fare structures would be a matter for the NTA to consider in the first instance. I have, therefore, forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Question No. 273 answered with Question No. 272.
Question No. 274 answered with Question No. 272.
Question No. 275 answered with Question No. 272.
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