305. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 268 of 26 February 2026 and further correspondence in relation to same, the way in which the National Transport Authority obtains value-for-money assurance in respect of bus shelter vandalism repairs given that it does not hold full cost information for such repairs; and what the national monitoring of vandalism trends consists of in the absence of a vandalism frequency target in the contract. [65451/26]

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the provision and management of bus stops and shelters nationally.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Pending a more detailed reply, I note the Programme for Government commits to ensuring that public transport operators provide safe and accessible access for all passengers, and to work with local authorities and national bodies to improve public transport options and infrastructure.

My Department is actively progressing the necessary steps to deliver on the commitment to establish a Transport Security Force, in conjunction with the National Transport Authority. Considerable progress has been made in recent months, and this work remains a top priority for all parties involved. This work centres on developing a well-considered and informed approach to identifying the most suitable model for the Transport Security Force. In this regard, a proposed model is currently under detailed consideration, with all key stakeholders fully engaged, including the NTA, operators, trade unions, passenger groups, An Garda Síochána, and the Department of Justice.

In addition, my Department and the NTA are actively advancing the legislative proposals required to deliver on the Government’s commitment to establish a Transport Security Force. The introduction of this Force will require the development of primary legislation, which can have a significant lead time, but it will be expedited, with a view to making progress on its foundations during 2026.