Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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292. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider an extension of the 20% fare discount to private operators to not only boost the numbers using buses but also to reduce the number of cars using the roads in the context of the upcoming budgetary discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37877/23]

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. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts.

I do believe that public transport fare initiatives have a role to play in combatting the rising cost of transport and in encouraging modal shift. However, it should be noted that unlike with PSO services, the National Transport Authority (NTA) do not set, monitor or regulate fares on services run by commercial operator, which are set by the individual operators.

While it is not currently intended to include the commercial operators as part of the 20% average fare initiative, it should be noted that the Young Adult Card which was initially introduced on PSO services on the 9th of May 2022 was extended to participating commercial bus operators on the 4th of September 2022.