Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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73. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update and timeline on the roll-out of the proposed B and E spines as part of the BusConnects service improvements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44069/23]

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. There have been significant developments in relation to bus transport since this Government came into office, with last year's publication of a new Sustainable Mobility Policy and its five-year action plan providing strong policy support to the continued expansion and enhancement of bus services. I am also delighted to say that this strong policy support has been backed up by increased levels of Exchequer funding, which is supporting the roll-out of initiatives such as BusConnects.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including BusConnects. To date, the NTA has commenced 5 phases of network redesign and submitted 12 planning applications to ABP across the 16 Core Bus Corridors.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, and your specific query in relation to the B and E Core Bus Corridors, I have referred the Deputy's questions in relation to the areas raised to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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74. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware that the Aircoach services have not resumed to a full service since Covid 19 restrictions were lifted, and that this is having a negative impact on service users; if he will request a report on the matter from the NTA to ensure they are operating to the terms of their service licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44070/23]

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; 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 of those services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.

Further, the bus services referred to by the Deputy, in this case Aircoach, are commercial bus services and as such responsibility for the operation of those services is a matter for the company.

As the NTA is also the licensing authority for the commercial bus sector, I have also forwarded the Deputy's question, to the Authority for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.