Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Both the National Transport Authority (NTA) and my Department have been engaging directly with commercial bus operators to help inform policy decisions in relation to the public transport sector as we continue to deal with the impact of Covid-19.

From the Department's engagement with industry representatives, and indeed from the NTA's regular engagement with them throughout the crisis, we understand the very difficult business environment that the commercial operators have been facing. Indeed, across Government we are acutely aware that the Covid-19 situation presents huge challenges for many business sectors.

It is critical for the public transport sector to be functioning so that it can carry the passengers that we need to return to work and to other activities as they re-open. Many of these commercial operators provide essential transport services for people who need to get to work and are vital to ensure economic recovery.

For that reason, on 25 June the Government approved temporary funding supports, in accordance with EU and national legislation, for the licensed bus sector. These supports are aimed at ensuring the continued operation of essential licensed bus services for a period of up to six months. The package is restricted to operators where a clear public interest justification supports such intervention and is targeted at compensating the gap between specified costs and the revenues generated on the services. The NTA, as the public transport licensing agency, is responsible for administering funding support through the establishment of contracts between the NTA and the relevant operators.

The above support for licensed bus services is additional to the wider programme of Government supports for impacted businesses which include, new schemes of wage subsidies, rates waivers, re-start grants, lending facilities, equity injection, and business advisory supports for example - all of which will help to improve cash flow amongst SMEs.

With the commencement of Phase 3 of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business on 29 June 2020, changes to the existing public transport social distancing restrictions were agreed, allowing a move from 2 metres social distancing to utilising 50% of the passenger-carrying capacity of bus and rail fleet. This will help to underpin public transport services provided by both public and commercial licensed operators during these unprecedented times, with a view to safeguarding public transport for the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business.

I am also aware of how badly impacted the coach tourism sector has been by the crisis, due to the lack of international tourists and a fall in demand for local coach services. Accordingly, I have asked Fáilte Ireland to develop a Business Continuity Scheme to help these businesses through this very difficult period. Fáilte Ireland are now engaging with the sector to develop this scheme which has been allocated €10m in funding.