Written answers

Thursday, 11 March 2021

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Covid-19 Pandemic

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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25. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) will receive a response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13669/21]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. I note that the person referred to has already received a reply to his query from Iarnród Éireann.

Continued operation of the public transport sector is important, and public transport has been designated among the essential services that have carried on during the COVID-19 crisis. A number of measures have been introduced across the system, guided by public health advice, to ensure the continued operation of services safely during the pandemic, including enhanced cleaning regimes and social-distancing measures across the network.

The Government is committed to ensuring that essential transport services, and passengers utilising these services, are protected and supported. The National Transport Authority (NTA) continues to be guided by public health advice regarding safety measures across the public transport system and is working closely with transport operators with regard to the implementation of specific measures.

The Government's "Living with Covid" Plan sets out capacity guidance for public transport at each of the 5 risk levels identified in the Plan. With the current Level 5 restrictions, public transport operators are restricted to using only 25% of the passenger-carrying capacity on their vehicles. Importantly, the Plan's Level 5 guidance on working from home where possible and on the closure of social, leisure and other facilities has significantly reduced the demand for public transport. There is continued strong messaging that public transport capacity remains restricted and, therefore, should only be used for essential travel, with only those who have to travel at peak times doing so. For the duration of current Level 5 restrictions, public transport services are for essential workers and essential journeys only. The advice is aimed at ensuring public transport is safeguarded for those who need it most and in particular frontline workers.

Both my Department and the NTA are closely monitoring public transport demand and will continue to be guided by public health advice. While no significant capacity issues have been reported by operators since the move to level 5, the NTA and operators are continuing to monitor passenger loadings, and where necessary additional services will be provided if possible on certain routes at certain times of the day.

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