Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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44. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the cessation of the Bus Éireann express service from Galway to Limerick via Shannon Airport which has created a major connectivity gap (detail supplied); his views on the cessation of the service; if he will ensure that if licences are sought for provision of the service that they will be sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62156/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport, I am responsible for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in day-to-day operational matters.

While most public transport in Ireland comprises the bus and rail services funded through the National Transport Authority's (NTA) public service obligation (PSO) programme, there is part of the national public transport system that comprises non-subvented bus services, which are run on a commercial basis by bus and coach businesses of varying sizes throughout the country. Bus Éireann operates a substantial PSO business under contract with the NTA, providing subvented bus services outside Dublin, and in regional and rural locations throughout the country.

Bus Éireann also has a separate, commercially-run business, "Expressway", which operates a number of inter-regional bus routes in competition with other, private, commercial operators in the licensed bus market. In circumstances where a commercial operator ceases operating a specific route, the NTA undertakes an examination to determine whether, with the discontinuation of the commercial service, it is necessary for a replacement PSO service to be introduced to ensure no loss of connectivity to the travelling public. This process includes an assessment of the level of demand for public transport services in the affected area, an evaluation of whether existing PSO services can be reconfigured to meet any shortfall, or whether it is necessary to competitively tender for the provision of services.

Given the NTA's statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the Authority for reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.