Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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259. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the members of the public transport stakeholder forum; and the number of times it has met since he promised to form the group after the bus strike in 2017. [6649/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As the Deputy is aware, following on from a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government and as further committed to in the latter part of 2017, work is under way in my Department on reviewing public transport policy “to ensure services are sustainable into the future and are meeting the needs of a modern economy”.

As part of this review, I am committed to convene and host a round-table policy discussion forum with a wide range of stakeholders from across the public transport and related sectors. The objective of this event is to facilitate an open and inclusive exchange of views from interested parties on the potential challenges and competing priorities likely to arise in the future across all aspects of public transport provision including economic, social and environmental considerations.  I expect that the discussions will inform and enrich the policy review work currently ongoing within my Department.

I am determined to hold this event at the earliest possible date.  However, at this stage the event has not been able to take place against a backdrop of recent and ongoing industrial dispute . As I have previously stated in 2017, as soon as industrial relations disputes are resolved my Department will confirm arrangements for the event.