Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for her questions, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport.

From the outset, I would like to clarify that the Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport, but neither the Minister nor his officials is involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services. The statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally rests with the National Transport Authority, NTA. The NTA works with the public transport operators, who deliver the services and have responsibility for day-to-day operational matters. That said, I would like to reassure the Senator that the Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options, and public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal.

To support this objective, under budget 2024, a funding package of €613 million has been secured for the provision of public service obligation and Local Link services - an increase from €563 million in 2023. As the House will be aware, this package includes funding for the continuation of the 20% fare reduction on PSO services, the extension of the young adult card on both PSO and commercial bus services to include 24 and 25-year-olds, and the continuation of the 90-minute fare until the end of 2024. I can confirm that funding has also been secured to support the continued roll-out of new and enhanced bus and rail services this year.

As the Senator will be aware, the Government is committed to improving public transport – both bus and rail - and is backing up that commitment with significant investments across the network. This includes the continued roll-out of the BusConnects programme.

In 2017, NTA launched BusConnects. BusConnects Dublin is a transformative programme of investment in the existing bus system which provides better bus services to more people. The programme brings together all areas of bus investment identified in the greater Dublin area transport strategy, including enhanced and new bus infrastructure, investment in fleet and service enhancements such as higher frequency and new routes serving a wider catchment. All 11 phases of the BusConnects programme will be subject to additional Government funding.

As the House will be aware, the most recent phase of the BusConnects network redesign in Dublin, phase 5b, commenced on 26 of November 2023 and involved the introduction of the new southern orbital, radial and local routes. This latest phase of BusConnects represents an increase in service levels of 80% for the area, which makes it one of the most significant changes under the network redesign to date.

As outlined earlier, funding has been provided for BusConnects in 2024, and I understand that it is currently anticipated that the next phase of the network redesign, phase 6a, which includes E spine and associated services, will commence later this year, and that the planned O route will also commence service by year end. I am advised that a more precise launch date will be known closer to the time when the NTA has completed detailed checks on operational readiness with the operators.

The planned continued roll-out of BusConnects Dublin will involve the creation of new bus routes and improved bus frequencies to help transform the public transport network to meet anticipated growth and future demand in the region.

As the House will be aware, the PSO budget is negotiated each year with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform as part of the annual Estimate and budget processes. The 2024 PSO package of €613 million includes funding for new and enhanced public transport services, part of which was allocated to the continued roll-out of BusConnects Dublin.

It is not currently intended to seek further funding for BusConnects Dublin services during 2024 and any future funding allocations for the BusConnects programme will be negotiated with the Department for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform as part of future budgetary processes, and in line with Government policy.