Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 791: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the recent occurrence at a meeting of Galway City Council whereby the National Transport Authority represented Bus Éireann to outline the company's plans for services on newly constructed bus lanes in the city as opposed to the private bus company which took charge of its own presentation; and his views whether it is appropriate for the NTA to perform such a function in view of the fact that it is the statutory body tasked with granting licences to operate public transport services. [11443/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I am advised that in December 2011, Galway City Councillors requested the officials of Galway City Council to arrange presentations on bus services in Galway City. As the National Transport Authority (NTA) had recently undertaken and completed a review of the bus services in the city, the NTA and the City Council officials decided that it would be appropriate that the NTA would present the outcome of that review to the City Council.

A presentation was given by the NTA to the Council on 9th January 2012. It dealt with the network review that had been completed; the proposed changes to the PSO (Public Service Obligation) network operated by Bus Eireann arising from that review and provided an update on various other initiatives being undertaken by the NTA.

Under the legislation which established the NTA, the NTA are responsible for those public transport services which comprise the PSO network. In the case of Galway City, Bus Eireann operates a network of PSO routes under a contract with the NTA. Accordingly it is entirely appropriate that the NTA, as the procurer of those services, would discuss the network changes emanating from its review of the network. It is not open to private operators to operate PSO routes at present.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 793: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to extend real-time passenger information and integrated ticketing services to users of public transport in Galway; and, if so, if he will report on progress of same. [11450/12]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Responsibility to develop, procure, implement, operate and maintain the integrated ticketing scheme in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) became a function of the National Transport Authority (NTA) with effect from 30th September 2010 with the commencement of section 58 of the Dublin Transport Authority (DTA) Act 2008.

Furthermore in accordance with section 63(1) of the DTA Act 2008, the Authority has had extended to it the functions in relation to integrated ticketing schemes for all other areas of the State.

I understand from the NTA, however, that there are currently no plans to extend the Leap card integrated ticketing scheme to Galway or any other city or region outside the GDA. Having regard to the current financial difficulties the priority at present is the continued roll-out of the scheme in the GDA. During 2012 the NTA and participating transport operators will be actively involved in the introduction of a number of enhancements to the Leap card scheme in the GDA.

The NTA plans to extend the real-time passenger information system to Galway, and has been working with Galway City Council and Bus Éireann in this regard. Galway City Council is conducting preparatory work on locations and plans to start civil works as soon as possible. There will be approximately 20 signs in Galway as well as a website and app for all stops in the city. The signs should be in place by Autumn 2012. The Authority also plans to assist commercial bus operators access the system in the future.