James Lawless
Question:84. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport to examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39729/23]
View answerWednesday, 20 September 2023
Questions (84)
Written answers
As Minister for Transport, I am responsible for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in day-to-day operational matters of public transport operators, including those related to the operation of commercial bus services, their fare structures, or the acceptance of free travel passes. Further, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has no direct involvement with the free travel scheme on commercial services either.
While all public service obligation (PSO) transport services, including rural Local Link services, provide free travel to eligible pass holders, only some commercial operators provide the service.
Those private bus companies that have chosen to opt into the Free Travel Scheme are reimbursed for carrying non-fare paying passengers at a discount to reflect the 'fares foregone' nature of the scheme.
In view of the above, the issue raised by the Deputy would be a matter for the company concerned.