Written answers

Tuesday, 20 February 2024

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Bus Services

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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170. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm that Go Ahead Ireland, which operates the 120 bus service from Edenderry to Dublin via Celbridge, is authorised by his Department and by the NTA to reduce capacity since around 29 January 2024 by 13 passengers through denying access to 13 seats to the rear of the coach used (details supplied). [7715/24]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon 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 NTA’s responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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171. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will inform this Deputy whether the arbitrary reduction of capacity to the 120 bus service, which is turning the already under-capacity service into an unusable one for commuters, is in accordance with the contractual obligations under which Go Ahead Ireland operates the service. [7716/24]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon 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 NTA’s responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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172. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the reduced capacity of the 120 bus service has been authorised by his Department and by the NTA; if so, if he will make a statement as to why it has been authorised, as it has caused a member of the public to be unable to board this bus on several occasions, along with a number of other people who were then significantly late for work as a result. [7717/24]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon 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 NTA’s responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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173. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport what sanctions will apply to Go Ahead Ireland if the company has been breaching its contractual obligations for the 120 bus service. [7718/24]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon 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.

The performance of all public transport operators is monitored by the NTA as part of the contractual arrangements in place between it and the operators. These contractual arrangements allow for not just the monitoring of performance by the NTA and the publication by it of annual performance reports, but importantly, the contracts also allow for the imposition of financial penalties where performance does not meet the required standard.

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

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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174. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport what action he will take to ensure that full capacity is immediately restored on the 120 Service operated by a company (details supplied). [7719/24]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon 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 NTA’s responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question/issue/s/request to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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175. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether his attention has been drawn to the current lack of bus services on Sherkin Island; what actions his Department are taking to restore access to public transport on the island; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7739/24]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon 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 statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. The NTA also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including TFI Local Link services and the roll-out of services under the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan.

In light of the NTA's responsibilities for public transport services in County Cork, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you.

Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

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