Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 February 2014
237. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the privatisation of bus routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7116/14]
View answerThe direct award contracts for the provision of Public Service Obligation (PSO) bus market services held by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann expire later this year. The awarding of subsequent contracts is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA). On the 5th of December last, in accordance with the provisions of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the NTA announced that about 10% of publicly subvented (PSO) bus services will be tendered out with the new services commencing in the summer of 2016.
The objective of Government is to ensure a system of public transport throughout the country that is as efficient and as widespread as possible. It must be recognised that the tendering decisions announced by the NTA are relatively modest and there will be a long-lead in before they take effect. Furthermore, it is open to the two incumbent companies (Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann) to compete for any tendered routes.
