Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 January 2026
127. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport for an update on meetings he has held with Bus Éireann and the NTA on the ongoing bus crisis in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2787/26]
View answerAs 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. As Minister for Transport, I continue to engage with the NTA on an ongoing basis in relation to maintaining high operational standards on all forms of public transport.
The individual operators are responsible for the management and operation of services on a day-to-day basis. In this case, 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.
I can assure you that my Department is committed to providing investment in our public transport network and that I am supportive of the Governments goals in delivering an accessible, affordable and reliable public transport network throughout the country, including in Cork city. Key to delivering on this commitment is the requirement for a well-resourced public transport workforce, and my Department are actively engaging with the operators and relevant stakeholders to establish a pathway in that regard as well.
In addition to regular meetings between the Company and officials from my Department, I have met with the Bus Éireann leadership four times since I have taken office, at which a wide range of topics including PSO services were discussed. Further, I am aware that the NTA formally meets Bus Éireann on a regular basis to review performance, associated customer feedback and driver recovery plans.
