Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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521. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the increase in public service obligation subvention needed to reduce average Iarnród Éireann ticket prices by a quarter, a half and to completely subsidise all public train usage. [9108/19]

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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522. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the increase in public service obligation subvention needed to reduce average Bus Éireann ticket prices by a quarter, a half and to completely subsidise all public bus usage. [9109/19]

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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523. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the increase in public service obligation subvention needed to reduce prices of all public transport covered by the public service obligation to average European Union prices. [9110/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 521 to 523, inclusive, together.

As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport in Ireland.

The award of Public Service Obligation (PSO) funding falls under the independent statutory remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA). The allocations to the transport companies are decided by the NTA in exercise of its statutory mandate and, in accordance with the various contract arrangements that it has in place with PSO service providers.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) also has the statutory responsibility for the regulation of fares in relation to public passenger transport services and decisions on fares are set out in the NTA Fare Determinations document which is published on the NTAs' website. The funding of PSO services comprises both the fares paid by passengers and the subvention payments from the Exchequer, the latter which amounts to €287m in 2019. The main purpose of the subvention payment is to meet the gap which exists between income from fares and the cost of operating services. To subsidise public transport services completely would require substantial additional funding by the taxpayer or from other sources.

I have referred the Deputy's questions to the NTA to respond directly in relation to some of the detail sought. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.