Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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213. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the State subsidy that was paid to Bus Átha Cliath in 2016; the area of the country that Bus Átha Cliath provides services in; the population of this area; the policies laid down by his Department to the National Transport Authority in order to determine the level of subsidy payable to this company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3720/17]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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214. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the State subsidy that was paid to Bus Éireann in 2016; the area of the country that Bus Éireann provides services in; the population of this area; the policies laid down by his Department to the National Transport Authority in order to determine the level of subsidy payable to this company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3721/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 214 together.

The Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 provides the statutory basis for the award of 'direct award public service contracts'. 'Direct award public service contracts' are contracts awarded to Bus Átha Cliath and Bus Éireann in line with section 52 of the Act in relation to their respective geographic areas as described in the Act and section 8 of the Transport (Re-Organisation of Córas Iompair Éireann) Act, 1986.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) is the statutory body with responsibility for the regulation, funding, monitoring and scope of such contracts and indeed all public transport services contracts. The NTA allocates funding to each operator in line with the contractual obligations entered into by both parties.

As the award and funding of the contracts falls under the independent statutory remit of the NTA I have referred the Deputy's' questions to the NTA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.