John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

134. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason so many buses, in particular the S4, S6 and S8, are regularly cancelled last minute or just don't show up at bus stops; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4005/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 this case Go Ahead.

In light of the NTA’s responsibility in this area, I am meeting the NTA this week and will be discussing this issue with them. We are seeing more people using public transport and we are improving our fleet across the country but commuters need certainty around these services.

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

135. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to ensure that bus service providers are complying with their relevant service level obligations; if any evaluation of the new routes has yet taken place, in particular in respect of the S4 and S6 routes; and if a bus company (details supplied) is currently complying with its obligations under the service level agreements in place in respect of these routes. [4026/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 this case Go Ahead.

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 am meeting the NTA this week and will be discussing this issue with them. We are seeing more people using public transport and we are improving our fleet across the country but commuters need certainty around these services.