Finian McGrath
Ceist:1903. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he will support a mattter (details supplied). [37694/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 18 September 2012
Ceisteanna (1903, 1915)
Peter Mathews
Ceist:1915. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the subvention made to CIÉ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38168/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1903 and 1915 together.
The decision to increase the subvention to CIÉ was taken to ensure that the Group remains adequately funded for the immediate future and can continue to provide a sufficient service to the travelling public. The decision was only taken after detailed consideration of the consequences of a failure to do so, which involved an unacceptable risk to the provision of public transport services in the coming months.
As regards specific queries raised by the Deputies, the issue was discussed by the Government at its meeting on 24 July and the decision was announced on the same day. The provision of public service obligation (PSO) services by the CIÉ companies is subject to contract between the companies and the National Transport Authority (NTA). The allocation of the additional PSO subvention is a matter therefore for the NTA in conjunction with the companies.
The additional subvention relates to compensation for PSO contracted services and is required in order that the CIÉ companies could fulfil their existing PSO contracts in 2012. There will be absolutely no subvention of any commercial services operated by the CIÉ companies. Funding of PSO contracts is done in accordance with the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, as amended by the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009, and EU Regulation No. 1370/2007 of 23 October 2007 on public passenger transport services by rail and by road.
The reallocation involved includes savings on the public transport programme, Smarter Travel/carbon reduction measures and sports and deferral of expenditure in the maritime sector and on tourism product development.