Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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620. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a public transport network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2848/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The issue raised is a matter for the independent Transport Regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA). The responsibility for the licensing of public bus passenger services was transferred under Statutory Instrument No. 566 of 2010 from my Department to the NTA with effect from 1st December 2010.  

The NTA published, in November 2010, new Guidelines for the licensing of public bus services which set out the basis for a reformed licensing system for commercial bus passenger services in the State. The Guidelines identify commercial bus passenger services as a key part of public transport services in the State.  These Guidelines are available on the NTA’s website and include details of the objectives and factors taken into account in considering an application for a licence. As the NTA has indicated, these are commercial services and it is open to the operator of such services to withdraw or curtail services.  

The NTA is also responsible for those public transport services which comprise the Public Service Obligation (PSO) network.  While PSO funding in 2015 has been maintained at the same level as in 2014, I understand that the NTA has indicated that funding would not be available in respect of the services referred to by the Deputy. However, I understand the NTA will consider services to the towns now bypassed by the M9 in the context of tendering for the provision of services funded by the Rural Transport Programme (RTP).

I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA and asked it to respond to the Deputy when it has completed its consideration of inclusion of the areas referred to in the tendering for RTP.