319. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Transport the way in which his Department is working to encourage the delivery of commercial bus services. [19780/26]

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 Department acknowledges the important role commercial operators play in responding to the demands of the sector and the vital service they deliver to their customers. The Department will continue to engage closely with commercial operators and representative groups, such as the Coach Tourism and Transport Council of Ireland (CTTC), to understand the ongoing and evolving needs of the sector.

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, including the licensing of commercial bus services.