Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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261. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will resolve a matter concerning the free travel pass (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7571/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Transport, I am responsible for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in day-to-day operational matters of public transport operators, including those related to the operation of commercial bus services, their fare structures, or the acceptance of free travel passes. Further, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has no direct involvement with the Free Travel Scheme (FTS) on commercial services either.

Non-refundable deposits are not required across Public Service Obligation (PSO) funded bus services. While all PSO transport services, including Local Link services, are part of the FTS, some commercial bus operators are also part of the Scheme. Commercial bus companies that have opted into the FTS are reimbursed directly by the Department of Social Protection for carrying Free Travel passengers.

Bus Éireann operates both Public Service Obligation (PSO) services funded by the State subvention and Expressway intercity services which operate on a commercial basis and do not receive any State subvention. It is not possible for any passenger to prebook and guarantee a seat on a particular PSO service, which all operate on a walk up, first-come first-served basis.

I am aware that a number of the commercial bus services, such as Expressway and Dublin Coach which participate in the FTS require such booking deposits in order for passengers to reserve seats on their services. However, these routes are operated on a commercial basis and as such decisions regarding fares and booking fees are an operational matter for the companies themselves.