Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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214. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the additional PSO funded Bus Éireann services that will be provided by location in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61863/22]

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; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.

In addition, since 2010, the award of Public Service Obligation (PSO) funding falls under the independent statutory remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA). The allocations to the transport operators for the provision of public transport services are decided by the NTA in exercise of its statutory mandate and in accordance with the various contract arrangements that it has in place with PSO service providers.

This Government is firmly committed to enhancing and expanding our public transport services provision across the country. To support this objective, in Budget 2022, I secured c. €538m of funding for PSO and Local Link services provided by State operators and under contract by the NTA this year. The recently agreed Budget 2023 further helps to support this aim, with a €563million funding package secured to support the PSO services next year.

In light of the Authority's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question in relation to the additional PSO funded Bus Éireann services that will be provided by location in 2023, to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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215. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of passengers that have used Bus Éireann route 109X in each direction in 2021 and to-date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61864/22]

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; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.

The issue raised by the deputy in relation to the number of passengers that have used Bus Éireann Route 109X in each direction in 2021 and to-date in 2022 is an operational matter for Bus Éireann. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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216. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Dublin Bus plans to have a 51X Bus departing UCD Belfield going towards Dunawley at 6.20 p.m. on Monday to Friday during term periods only. [61887/22]

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; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.

In light of the Authority's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question in relation to the 51X Bus, to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.