I propose to take Questions Nos. 532 to 534, inclusive, together.
Since 2010 my Department no longer pays subvention for public transport services paid directly to operators.
The award of Public Service Obligation (PSO) funding falls under the independent statutory remit of the National Transport Authority (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. I have therefore referred the Deputy’s questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive replies within ten working days .
As the Deputy is aware, in Budget 2018 I secured an 8% increase in the overall Exchequer funding available for Public Service Obligation and I can confirm that €284,967 million is available to the National Transport Authority in 2018.
The Deputy has asked about the planned PSO allocation for 2019. The allocation for PSO public transport services is subject to the annual Budgetary process and therefore the 2019 allocation is yet to be determined in the context of the Estimates process.