Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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61. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to plans by the National Transport Authority, NTA or his Department to increase funding to Bus Éireann or to private operators of national bus routes in the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14220/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​As the Deputy will be aware, exchequer funding to bus operators is only provided to those who operate Public Service Obligation (PSO) services in accordance with public service contracts entered into with the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008. Currently the NTA has entered into public service contracts with Bus Átha Cliath and Bus Éireann, with very localised PSO services in certain areas also provided under contract by M&A Coaches Ltd. and Whartons Travel Limited. The Deputy will find the contracts available to view on the website of the NTA, 

In Budget 2017 I secured an 11% increase in the amount of taxpayer funding which will be made available to fund PSO services across both bus and rail. That increase builds on the increases made available in 2016 and means that almost €263million will be available to the NTA in 2017 to support PSO services.

As a provider of PSO services, Bus Éireann will benefit from the increase I secured in the Budget; however, the final allocation will of course be dependent on the Company's performance of its contractual obligations.

As I have repeatedly stated in recent weeks, last year the Company benefitted from a 21% increase in the amount of exchequer funding provided to it as compared with 2015; however, that funding can only be provided in respect of PSO services, it cannot be provided in respect of commercial services.