Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 May 2017
249. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will increase the State subsidy to Bus Éireann in advance of the conclusion of the NBRU ballot; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22106/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 the allocation of Public Service Obligation (PSO) funding to individual operators is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA). However, at a Budgetary level the Deputy is aware that last year an additional 13% was made available in funding for the PSO programme as compared to the previous year. From that additional funding, Bus Éireann itself actually received a 21% increase in its PSO funding in 2016 as compared with 2015. In Budget 2017 I secured a further 11% increase in funding for the PSO programme. That increase means that in 2017 approximately €263 million will be available to the NTA to support the delivery of PSO bus and rail services.
I have already committed publicly, both here in the House and in the Joint Oireachtas Committee, to further increasing PSO funding levels in the future as resources allow.
