Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 23 together.

I am acutely aware of the service issues currently being experienced across the public transport network in Dublin and the negative impact it is having on the travelling public. I reassure the House that I and my officials have met with senior management from the National Transport Authority in relation to these service issues and we are keeping the situation under close review.

Unfortunately, many operators are experiencing staffing difficulties at present, both as a result of Covid-19 related absences and also in relation to recruiting new drivers. The NTA is working closely with operators to try to mitigate the impacts of these staff shortages through recruitment campaigns in recent months, engagement with the RSA to expedite the testing and licence process and working with operators to minimise service cancellations. Further, in instances where operators have failed to meet the performance standards agreed in the public service obligation contracts, the NTA has applied financial penalties to those operators. The steps being taken by the NTA and operators are positive ones but it is the case that different sectors of the labour market are experiencing recruitment difficulties post-Covid 19 for a variety of reasons.

My Department has engaged with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with regard to the potential inclusion of bus drivers on the critical skills and ineligible occupations lists which determine roles that are in critical short supply or ineligible for employment permits.

I firmly believe we need to expand our public transport offering in Dublin and across the country. We are committed to funding further expansion of public transport services next year and the details and phasing of that expansion are currently being considered. The right pay and conditions for workers are vital so that the system works for them, just as it will then work for passengers. We are committed to that as part of the overall solution to making the switch in the transport system we need to make.

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