Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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80. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a detailed report with regard to the Bus Éireann dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14070/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I have spoken at length about the situation facing Bus Éireann, both on the floor of the House and in meetings of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport. The Company is currently losing money. These losses stem from its Expressway services. These are services operated by Bus Éireann on a commercial basis, often in competition with other bus operators. In 2015 almost 23 million people used a commercial bus service, with around 30% of that number using an Expressway commercial service.  No commercial bus operator receives taxpayer funding for commercial bus services. The issue Expressway faces therefore is not one of taxpayer funding, but rather a commercial one. I have repeatedly stated my view that different stakeholders have different roles to play in resolving this difficult issue.

First and foremost, the company and its employees' trade unions must agree upon a realistic framework that allows the Company address the commercial issues it faces and restores it to a financially sustainable position. These issues are internal to the Company and can only be resolved through internally focused discussions and agreement.

In relation to Public Service Obligation (PSO) services, I have highlighted how I have already increased taxpayer funding in 2017 by 11% compared to 2016. That means that the National Transport Authority (NTA) has almost €263million available to fund PSO services in 2017. That money can only be used to fund PSO services as provided by operators, such as Bus Éireann, under contract with the NTA.

In relation to the funding of the Free Travel Scheme, I have previously referred to the work underway by officials from both my Department and the Department of Social Protection in examining the funding levels associated with that Scheme and I expect that work to conclude very shortly.

I have assured rural Ireland that the NTA will step in and assist in cases where connectivity is threatened and we have seen the NTA respond where it has deemed necessary in relation to recently announced route changes.  

But let me reiterate that the issues within Bus Éireann must be resolved by Bus Éireann and I hope that the company can do so through constructive and realistic engagement with employees and trade unions.