Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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200. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will cost a free public transport system as an option to encourage the uptake of public transport in Ireland in line with recommendation 22 in the report on reducing emissions in the transport sector by 51% by 2030 by the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63179/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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To help tackle our climate challenge, I am strongly committed to achieving substantial carbon abatement within the transport sector. Accounting for approximately one fifth of Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions, there can be no question, but that transport must feature strongly in contributing towards the national decarbonisation effort. As such, I welcomed the report from the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action on reducing emissions in the transport sector by 51% by 2030 and read the recommendations with great interest.  

However, as Minister for Transport, while I am responsible for the policy and overall funding of public transport, I am not responsible for its day-to-day operations nor decisions on fares. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has the 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 subvention payments from the Exchequer. The main purpose of the subvention payment is to meet the gap between income from fares and the cost of operating services.

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, 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.