Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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465. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has made a final decision on whether there will be a reduction of 20% and 50% for students and children to the fares that islanders pay for subsidised ferry and air services to the islands, similar to the fare reduction introduced on mainland bus and rail services; the reason for the delay in making this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33440/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The sustainability of the communities on our off shore islands is a core objective of the Government, as set out in its ‘Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, Our Rural Future’. The policy acknowledges the importance for island communities of access to reliable, safe and affordable connectivity services to and from the mainland. 

Contracts for connectivity services are procured by the Department of Rural and Community Development on the open market through the procurement process. This ensures that all providers are treated equally and that the selection process is fair and transparent for all.

The Department of Transport recently introduced a fare reduction scheme that sees an average of 20% reduction on PSO public transport services that are managed by the National Transport Authority (NTA).

Therefore the scheme covers public transport services operated by Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, Luas, Go-Ahead Ireland and TFI Local Link.

It is important to note that other subsidised transport services managed by the Department of Transport, such as the PSO air service to Donegal and Kerry, are not covered by the scheme.

Similarly, the subsidised transport services managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development to the off shore islands do not qualify for the scheme. 

Unlike the services managed by the NTA, offshore islands have a mix of subsidised and non-subsidised transport services.

While my Department is, of course, open to examining ways of ensuring that island transport services are affordable, it is concerned that the introduction of a fare reduction scheme for subsidised services could bring the existing contracts and procurement processes into disrepute.

All of the contracted air, ferry and cargo services managed by my Department are procured in an open and fair procedure. Providing a fare reduction scheme for chosen suppliers could have the potential to undermine those procedures and may also lead to reduced services to the islands, particularly with regard to non-subsidised services and other private operators who may be placed at a disadvantage.

 As the Deputy is aware, my Department has sought advice from the Attorney General in relation to the matter. Officials have been engaging in this regard since early March and there has been regular contact in order to progress the matter. I understand my Department has recently received a response from the Office of the Attorney General, which is currently being considered by my officials.