Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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192. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on increasing the subvention to the CIÉ group; his views that an increase is needed to improve public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33258/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​As I discussed with the Deputy at a recent meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport I believe that increased subvention funding can assist in the delivery of improved public transport services

Budget 2017 has allocated an additional €31 million to public transport services (PSO and rural transport) when compared with this year's allocation.

It is a statutory function of the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the Dublin Transport Act 2008 to decide upon the exact allocation to each operator. The NTA is currently engaged in discussions with the relevant operators as regards their allocation and the services that are to be provided in return for that allocation.

I expect next year's additional money will provide for much needed improvements to services such as:

- Rolling out 10 minute DART services;

- Extending Kildare Line commuter rail services through the Phoenix Park Tunnel and into the heart of Dublin's city centre;

- Providing for additional services across the bus network;

- Maintaining progress with the bus market opening competitions; and

- Improved rural transport bus services.

It is clear is that the increased funding I have made available for public transport next year will help the NTA and the operators to deliver improvements in our public transport services.