Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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115. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to extend public service obligation funding to currently unsubsidised bus routes which are economically and socially valuable, such as routes 5 and 7 and the over 100 services which are to be cut by Bus Éireann. [10200/15]

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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An bhfuil beartas ag an Aire chun airgead sa bhreis a chur ar fáil do bhealaí PSO, public service obligation, agus go háirithe do bhealaí uimhir a 5 agus uimhir a 7 atá á ngearradh siar ag Bus Éireann? Tá plean ann gearradh siar a dhéanamh ar thart ar 100 seirbhís i 2017. An ndéanfaidh an tAire ráiteas ar an bplean seo?

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Tá brón orm that I do not have enough of the líofacht to respond to the statement from the Deputy as Gaeilge but I want to accurately respond to the points he made. The National Transport Authority, NTA, has responsibility for securing the provision of public transport services, including the provision of PSO subvented services. I ensured that PSO funding was maintained at current levels in the last budget, the first time this has happened since 2008. I was also able to secure an additional €101 million in funding for our public transport companies in a Supplementary Estimate,

Expressway services are commercial services operated in competition with private operators on main trunk routes and are licensed by the NTA. These commercial services do not receive any PSO funding from the Exchequer. I am acutely aware of the concerns of many people regarding recent decisions to withdraw services to a number of intermediate locations on major routes into Dublin. Major improvements to the national roads network have provided the opportunity for commercial bus operators to offer improved journey times between Dublin and the regional cities in particular with the consequent effect of reducing the level of service provided to a number of intermediate locations.

There are two routes - not hundreds, as reported in the media - that are currently at issue. These are routes 5 and 7. At a recent community meeting in Castlecomer, Bus Éireann agreed to postpone the changes to its licensed route 7 services until June. A working group comprising local representatives and members of the local community is now in place to respond to this issue. The NTA is examining what might be an appropriate PSO service to put in place subject to funding.

Separately, the NTA, in conjunction with Bus Éireann, is examining options to reconfigure existing PSO services in the south east in order to maintain socially necessary services to the affected areas following the withdrawal of route 5.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

I assure the Deputy that I will continue to work with the NTA on wider issues around transport in rural Ireland over the coming weeks.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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An mí seo caite, fógraíodh go raibh Bus Éireann chun breis agus 100 seirbhís dá chuid a chiorrú. Is seirbhísí bus iad seo a fhreastalaíonn ar bhailte agus ar shráidbhailte iargúlta. Fógraíodh chomh maith go leanfaí le dhá bhealach thábhachtacht a athrú i slí ins nach mbeidh siad ag freastal ar roinnt stadanna iargúlta anois. Is é an baol atá ann ná go dtarlóidh sé seo le bealaí eile chomh maith. Is ó Chluain Meala go Baile Átha Claith-Aerfort Bhaile Átha Cliath a bheidh i gceist le bealach uimhir a 7 anois agus ní ó Corcaigh go Baile Átha Cliath-Aerfort Bhaile Átha Cliath. Beidh deireadh le bealach uimhir a 5 ó Bhaile Átha Cliath go Port Láirge ach sínfear bealach uimhir a 4 go Ros Mhic Thriúin. Tá imní ar an-chuid daoine faoin bplean seo. Tá imní ar na daoine sna bailte ar na bealaí seo faoin tslí ina cuireadh na hathruithe seo isteach orthu agus ar eacnamaíocht an bhaile. Tá fios ag an Aire go ndúnadh na bancanna i sráidbhailte éagsúla. Tá an seans ann agus imní ann go dtarlóidh an rud céanna anois agus go ndéanfaidh sé damáiste do bhailte éagsúla.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I appreciate the point the Deputy is making regarding the tábhacht or the importance of the services to which he is referring.

These are services commercially delivered by Bus Éireann and not delivered by way of the PSO funding made available to Bus Éireann by the State. As I outlined in my initial response, one of the challenges to which Bus Éireann is currently responding as the road network improves is the provision of services along the route to enable people within new communities access to villages, larger areas, Dublin city centre and Dublin Airport.

The National Transport Authority is near completion of its analysis of the options for replacement of the services referred to. The response will vary depending on the route chosen.

In regard to the Deputy's point about the worry this issue and the withdrawal of other services is causing people, I am conscious of that and considering how best to respond.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Ba mhaith liom athrú meoin a fheiceáil maidir leis an gceist seo. Ní dóigh liom go dtarlóidh sé sin. Tá imní ann ó thaobh na ciorruithe siar a tharla ar fud na tíre, go háirithe nuair a dúnadh stáisiúin Gharda agus mar sin de. Anois tá daoine faoi bhrú mar nach bhfuil a fhios acu conas is féidir leo taisteal go dtí na príomhbhailte. Is dualgas an Stáit é, airgead a chur ar fáil le haghaidh na bealaí seo. Is cuma mura dhéanann siad brabús. Tá siad an-tábhachtach le haghaidh cosmhuintir na mbailte seo.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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In regard to the Deputy's reference to the importance of money in the context of delivery of these services, that is the challenge. Bus Éireann has withdrawn these services because there is no adequate commercial rationale to it delivering them. In the absence of these services, changes will have to be made to existing subvented services. The Deputy will be aware that subvented services are services funded by the taxpayer. Another option is the putting in place of other services that would be delivered via the National Transport Authority, which will cost the State money to deliver. The National Transport Authority is currently engaging on this issue.

In regard to the Deputy's point about the impact of this on rural communities, I fully appreciate and understand that. The approach of Sinn Féin is to continually make big, uncosted promises, as it is again doing in relation to rural transport. Sinn Féin made many commitments at the weekend in relation to services which it proposes to maintain or deliver, including the filling of many potholes. However, what it did not say is from where this money will come. With the funding available to me, I am responding to the level of social need that I accept exists.