Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 January 2016
500. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide figures for the potential additional costs on the Exchequer if his Department were to transfer operation of the Luas to Coras Iompair Éireann at the end of the current contract with Transdev. [3030/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for securing the provision of public transport infrastructure and public passenger transport services in accordance with the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, as amended by the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009.
The NTA has assigned its function in relation to securing the provision of metro or light rail passenger services to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and TII is the relevant statutory authority for all construction, operational and maintenance issues relating to Luas.
Section 48 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 requires a competitive tendering procedure to be used in the award of any light rail public passenger transport services contract. It is therefore not legally permitted to transfer operation of the Luas to any operator following the expiration of a particular contract period. Any such contract can only be awarded following a competitive tendering procedure.
