527. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport whether the National Transport Authority maintains records on instances where passengers are refused boarding on public bus services due to the unavailability of wheelchair or pram spaces or the bus being at passanger capacity; whether such data has been collected for Galway city services for the last 12 months of city services, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62931/26]

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.

Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 and the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009, the Oireachtas assigned statutory responsibility to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for promoting the development of an integrated, accessible public transport network and public transport infrastructure. The NTA in turn works with the relevant public transport operators, for example Bus Éireann, who have responsibility for day-to-day operational issues..

In light of the NTA's over-arching statutory responsibilities for accessible public transport, including its records on accessible public transport, 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.