Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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31. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of subvention payment granted to Irish Rail, Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Luas in 2018, 2019 and 2020; if he or his predecessor granted supplementary funds to these companies in 2020; if these companies requested additional funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25835/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Since 2010, there has been no subvention paid directly by my Department for public transport services.The award of Public Service Obligation (PSO) contracts and the allocation of PSO funding to operators falls under the independent statutory remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA), which has direct responsibility for this area and, therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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32. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has conducted assessment and or evaluation of the levels of subvention public transport operators will require for the remainder of 2020, 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25836/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Deputy has asked about the 2020 Public Service Obligation (PSO) allocations to public transport operators. As is normal, the precise allocations to the companies are decided by the NTA in exercise of its statutory mandate and in accordance with the various contractual arrangements that it has in place with PSO service providers. The total PSO and Local Link budget originally allocated for 2020 was approximately €300 million and assumed at the very least a 2-3% increase in passenger revenue over the year. However, the Covid-19 health emergency has had a profound and swift shock to the public transport sector.

Public transport’s designation as an essential service throughout the pandemic means that, although fare revenues have collapsed, most of the cost of operations remains and must continue to be met in order to fulfil Government’s broader policy objectives. My Department began consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform from the beginning of April and, with their agreement, were able to draw down PSO funding ahead of what was profiled.

Estimates in early June suggested that continuing to fund the existing PSO system, including the cost of additional cleaning measures and adding extra services where possible,could require up to an additional €460m to year end, depending on the level of easement of social distancing measures as the phases of the Roadmap progressed.Government approval in June to enable considerable additional expenditure on PSO has provided much needed financial assurance that enables continuation of the normal and essential PSO services.

For future years, as the Deputy is aware the Exchequer allocation for PSO public transport services is subject to the annual Budgetary process. I am engaging regularly with Ministerial colleagues as Budget 2021 is prepared, and PSO subvention is one relevant area of expenditure which forms part of this engagement. Discussions on Budget 2022 will take place next year. I am sure the Deputy will agree that the PSO is a large expenditure area, and one which requires careful scrutiny to ensure the taxpayer receives value for money in respect of the services delivered given the considerable expenditure incurred.