Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 219: To ask the Minister for Transport the amount of public service obligation funding that is allocated to Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Eireann for 2010; the percentage funding that is given to private operators north of Letterkenny, north of Dungloe, and on the Inishowen Peninsula, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21514/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The allocation of the Public Service Obligation (PSO) provision for 2010 has been agreed between the National Transport Authority (NTA) and the CIÉ operating companies as follows:- Iarnród Éireann, €155.43 million Bus Átha Cliath, €75.90 million Bus Éireann, €44.69 million

CIÉ has a statutory mandate under various Transport Acts to provide PSO services passenger services. The NTA governs the funding of these PSO services through the Public Service Contracts which are in place between Iarnród Eireann, Bus Eireann and Dublin Bus. These contracts set strict standards for operational performance and customer service and contain penalties for non-performance. Currently no Exchequer funding is provided to private operators but it is expected that the NTA would tender any new routes requiring additional public subsidy over and above that provided for within existing PSO contracts.