Public Transport

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 June 2014

Thursday, 26 June 2014

Questions (219)

John Halligan

Question:

219. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the recent widespread opposition to proposals to privatise Bus Éireann, if the National Transport Authority has begun a consultation process with the trade unions, as the Minister previously indicated it would; his views that the current Government policy of tendering out 10% of Bus Éireann has disproportionately targeted Waterford where 100% of the city's services are being hived off to the private sector at the expense of the travelling public and staff; his views that by targeting Waterford city there is a real risk due to economies of scale of the entire Bus Éireann operation at Waterford being lost, resulting in yet more job losses which the city could not sustain and a depleted service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27417/14]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The direct award contracts for the provision of 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). There are no plans to revisit the decision of the NTA to tender the PSO bus services in Waterford.

The purpose of public transport is not to provide employment to any particular group of people but to provide a good public transport service to the public. The principal concern when looking at the future of bus services in Waterford is to provide a better service to those people who currently use those services, and more importantly, getting those people who don’t, to use those bus services. As at present, the fares, timetables and service standards will be set by the NTA. The tendering of these services will therefore not lead to a downgrading of services to bus users. The purpose of the tendering is to secure a better service for the same cost. It will be good for Waterford, its residents and may yet become an example for other places to follow. It is open to Bus Éireann to compete in this tender.

In the case of Bus Éireann not being successful in the competitive process, staff would be protected under the European Communities (Protection of Employees on Transfer of Undertakings) Regulations 2003 (the “Transfer Regulations” or “TUPE”). Minister of State Alan Kelly and I met with the unions representing Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann workers in November to discuss this matter. Arising from that we asked the NTA to put a structured engagement with unions in place and the NTA met with the NBRU and SIPTU unions in January and March this year.