Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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664. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the barriers that exist under EU directives and national legislation respectively to taking the same approach to rural bus services as are taken to Dublin Bus services whereby the loss making and profit making services are taken as one integrated service, whereas outside of Dublin under Bus Éireann the commercial services are separate from the PSO services; his plans to change this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6073/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​Under section 50 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has the statutory power to determine if a public service obligation is to be applied in respect of any public passenger transport service. If the NTA makes such a determination then it must enter into a public services contract with the relevant operator and that contract must comply with EU Regulation 1370/2007.

Contrary to what the Deputy asserts, not all Dublin Bus services actually form part of its public services contract (or PSO) services. For example, its commercial services to the airport and other commercial activities such as tourist related services which are operated in competition with other operators, do not form part of its public services contract.