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

I would like to reassure the Deputy that both my Department and the National Transport Authority, NTA, are aware of Aircoach’s decision to withdraw its 706 Galway to Dublin Airport service from 8 April. While the majority of public transport in Ireland is Exchequer-funded through the PSO programme, a critical part of the national public transport system is comprised of bus services run on a commercial basis throughout the country. The Galway to Dublin Airport service provided by Aircoach falls into the latter category. As a result, any decision taken on the cessation of that specific route is a commercial decision solely for the operator, in which neither my Department or the NTA has a role.

That said, in circumstances where a commercial operator ceases running a specific route, the NTA undertakes an examination to determine whether, with the discontinuation of the commercial service, it is necessary for a replacement PSO route to be introduced to ensure no loss of connectivity to the public. This process includes an assessment of the level of demand for public transport services in the affected area, an evaluation of whether existing PSO services can be reconfigured to meet any shortfall, and whether it is necessary to competitively tender for the provision of services.

Regarding the connectivity consequences of Aircoach’s decision, I reassure the Deputy that my officials and I are engaging with the NTA on this matter to ensure there are no gaps along particular segments in the network, and to assess if there is a need to provide any additional services. Once the NTA has carried out its assessment, its decision will be made public.

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