Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 March 2022
4. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports that are currently available for bus and coach operators given the increase in fuel costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15397/22]
View answerMy colleague, Minister Eamon Ryan TD., Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally, and for the allocation of associated funding to the relevant transport operators.
Licensed bus and coach operators are an integral part of the overall public transport system particularly in areas which are not covered by existing public service bus and rail services. In recognition of this, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic the Government have provided temporary financial supports for certain licensed commercial services with a view to protecting capacity across the public transport sector throughout the crisis.
The temporary support was initially introduced for a period of 6-months in June 2020, however owing to the continued impact of Covid-19 on passenger numbers and the associated drop in fare revenue, these supports have been extended a number of times. I understand that a further extension of these supports for a period of 3 months, up to the 30 June 2022 has recently been approved by my colleague Minister Eamon Ryan TD.
Additionally, to ensure the continued continuation of public transport services in rural parts of Ireland, the NTA have provided an additional level of subvention to support Local Link operators in the delivery of these services. These are provided to Local Link operators who are on fixed rate contracts and therefore are receiving no further increases to their base contracted rates. Currently, the funding has been provided to cover the costs for Quarter 1 2022. This is a once off payment initially, and the situation will be monitored on an ongoing basis.
