Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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191. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has plans to allow school groups, accompanied by a teacher, to use public transport without fares for expeditions; if he will consider the matter as a policy position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21494/23]

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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192. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to support school groups, accompanied by a teacher, to use public transport for expeditions; if he is aware of current operational difficulties in organising the payment of fares and-or collection of tickets for school groups using public transport in this way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21495/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 192 together.

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 the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts.

A number of fare initiatives were introduced in 2022, such as the 20% average fare reduction on PSO services and the Young Adult Card, and funding has been provided in 2023 for the continuation of these initiatives. Further, child fares are available across the PSO network.

The PSO programme represents a significant expenditure of taxpayers' money, and funding has increased in recent years to cater for additional services and growing capacity. Any assessment of a proposed change to public transport fare structures would be a matter for the NTA to consider in the first instance.

Therefore, in light of the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question in relation to maintaining reduced public transport fees further and the introduction of reduced fares on other modes of transport and routes across the public transport network, to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.