Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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200. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated annual cost of subsiding free public transport travel for all in full-time and part-time education in Ireland, including all those in primary, secondary and tertiary education. [39766/21]

Eamon 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.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the regulation of fares in relation to public passenger transport services, and for securing the provision of those services by way of public transport services contracts in respect of services that are socially necessary but commercially unviable. The funding of those services comprises both the fares paid by passengers and the public service obligation (PSO) payments from the Exchequer. The main purpose of the PSO payment is to meet the gap between income from fares and the cost of operating services.

The provision of public transport services is heavily dependent on passenger fare revenue as it normally contributes about 65% of the operational cost. The remaining 35% of cost is covered by the PSO grant and the Department of Social Protection grant under the Free Travel Scheme. In Budget 2020, and prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, a total of €304 million was provided for PSO and Local Link rural regular services. Due to the impact of Covid-19, which resulted in the collapse of fare revenue from public transport, a further €370 million was allocated to enable the continued operation of public transport services in 2020. My primary focus was, and continues to be, ensuring that public transport services continue to operate during this pandemic and I secured almost €659m for PSO services in 2021, of which €30m is to support the licensed bus sector.

Any assessment of a proposed change to public transport fare structures would be a matter for the NTA to consider in the first instance. I have, therefore, forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.