Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chair. I thank the Senator for raising this Commencement matter. It was great it was selected. I wish her and all watching a happy International Women's Day.

I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important topic with Members on behalf of the Minister for Transport. The Department of Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding with regard to public transport rather than the day-to-day operation of public transport services nationally.The National Transport Authority, NTA, has the statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally by way of public transport service contracts and for the allocation of associated funding to the relevant transport operators.

I assure Senator O’Loughlin that the Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options. Public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. To support this objective, in budget 2023 the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, secured €563 million of funding for public service obligation, PSO, and Local Link services provided by State operators and under contract by the NTA. As Senators are aware, in recognising the importance of incentivising more young people to use public transport, the Minister last year secured €25 million in funding for the introduction of the young adult card, initially on PSO services and then later extended to participating commercial bus operators. Funding has again been secured under budget 2023 for the continuation of this incentive. Further, in October last, the scheme was also extended to include third level students aged 16 to 18 which means that all those aged between 16 and 23 are now able to avail of an average discount of 50% across all services. Mature students in full-time education are also included in the scheme, as are eligible visitors to Ireland within the young adult age cohort. It is important to note that the discount is in addition to the 20% average fare discount on PSO services that was introduced in May 2022 as part of a suite of Government measures to help combat the rising cost of living. The Minister also secured funding for the continuation of this discount under budget 2023.

In regard to improvement of the public transport network, I am pleased to advise that the Minister also secured funding under the budget for the roll-out of new services and service enhancements. This will include the introduction of further service improvements under the BusConnects and Connecting Ireland work programmes, in addition to new town services and enhancements to existing services. This is also in addition to the extensive programme of public transport works such as DART+, MetroLink, electrification of the urban fleet, smarter travel, green schools, active travel grants, CycleConnects and many others.

In regard to Senator O’Loughlin’s query on the possible extension of the short hop zone, budget 2023 is focused on delivering the maximum benefit for all passengers. Funding was therefore directed toward the fare initiatives that I outlined, rather than any narrow application to specific issues which can arise with some fares at the edges of the current short hop zone. However, these issues are acknowledged by the Minister for Transport.

The NTA undertook a review of national bus and rail fares in the latter part of 2022 setting out a new strategy for national fares. The strategy will see the introduction of a new methodology for the determination of fares, whereby fares will increase in line with distance travelled beyond the 90-minute fare boundary. It will also remedy disparities which currently exist outside the short hop zone. This will encompass services within a new commuter area 48.5 kilometres from Dublin city, which is likely to result in fare reductions for many passengers availing of commuter bus and rail services. I am advised that the strategy is being finalised and an implementation plan is being developed in partnership with public transport operators. I am further advised that the NTA intends to announce the plan as part of a determination of fares in quarter 2 of 2023, with initial adjustments to fares in quarter 3, commencing in the Dublin commuter area. This is, however, dependent upon the ability of operators to introduce revised fare structures using existing ticketing equipment and back-office systems.

I do not know whether that answered the exact question Senator O’Loughlin asked in regard to the rail network. The answer focused very much on bus transport. She might want to come back to me on that.