Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Heydon and Lawless for raising this matter. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in respect of public transport. I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. Deputies will understand that the operation of Bus Éireann services is a matter for the company, with oversight by the NTA.

The NTA has entered into a contract with Bus Éireann for the provision of a number of public service obligation, PSO, bus services. In accordance with the terms of this contract, the day-to-day operation of these services is managed by Bus Éireann. The company is required to meet performance obligations in respect of service delivery such as punctuality, services operated, vehicles in service and customer information. Route 126, which operates along the Dublin-Kildare corridor, is one such PSO service and will continue to operate through the day until the last service departs Dublin city centre at 11 p.m.

Route 126N, which operates on the Dublin-Naas-Newbridge route on Friday and Saturday nights, is a licensed commercial Bus Éireann service. Given that it is a commercial route, the service receives no State funding. Bus Éireann has advised that the costs to run the service were not being covered due to insufficient passenger numbers and it has been loss-making for some time. As a result, the company made the commercial decision to cancel this service and the associated licence from the end of November. I understand that the NTA was informed of this decision as part of the cancellation process. To mitigate the impact of the cancellation of the night services on route 126N, especially during the festive period, Bus Éireann, in conjunction with the NTA, has announced the introduction of late-night services on route 126 on Friday and Saturday nights. I am advised that these additional services will start on Friday, 30 November and continue until the end of December. These late-night services will depart the city centre at 12.30 a.m. and 3.30 a.m. and serve Busáras, the Ha'penny Bridge and all locations previously served by route 126N. The late-night services will therefore serve Kill, Naas, Newbridge, Sallins and Clane. The NTA has advised me that standard fares will apply on these services rather than the special fares previously charged on route 126N. Free travel passes will also be accepted.

In instances such as this in which operators withdraw commercial services, the NTA determines whether there is a public service obligation to provide the services on a socially necessary basis. As such, the NTA intends to review the late services and determine whether a public service obligation applies in the provision of these late-night services on a continuous basis from 2019.

As the Deputies may be aware, the Bus Éireann PSO route 126 is one of six routes which were competitively tendered by the NTA as part of bus market opening. Go-Ahead was awarded the contract to operate these routes. Routes 120, 120C, 123, 124 and 130 will also form part of the network of services to be operated by Go-Ahead along the Dublin-Kildare corridor under a public service contract with the NTA. Services operated by Go-Ahead are expected to commence in quarter 2 of 2019. The NTA is working to finalise the timetables and other aspects of the services. Any changes to the current configuration will be announced well in advance of the implementation of services.

I hope the update I have given the Deputies will alleviate any concerns about the continued provision of late-night services for the travelling public in the Kildare area, particularly as we enter into the festive period.

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