Transport Committee considers future delivery of national bus routes

17 October 2012  

The Committee met separately with representatives from:

• the National Transport Authority, whose functions include securing the provision of bus services across the State
• Bus Éireann, and
• The Coach Tourism and Transport Council of Ireland, who represent private operators.

The meeting centred on developments in relation to Bus Éireann’s national bus routes and the impact that the renewal of Public Service Obligation Contracts may have on public and private bus services.

Committee Chairman Tom Hayes TD says: “Today’s meeting was a valuable opportunity to engage with the main players involved in providing bus services country-wide. Committee Members expressed some concern that there are towns and villages across the country that lack adequate public transport services. The decreasing pool of state funding for public transport is hindering the delivery of some rural services in particular. The Committee believes that a review of all rural transport services, including school transport and transport provided by the HSE, might uncover potential efficiencies leading to enhanced services and possible economies.

“Public Service Obligation (PSO) contracts, administered by the NTA, provide funding for socially necessary but financially unviable public transport services in Ireland. The current PSO services contracts with Bus Éireann are due to lapse in December 2014 and the NTA are currently considering how best to award the funding post 2014.  The representatives of private operators called for a full, open and fair tendering of all PSO bus services. Meanwhile, the Bus Éireann CEO Martin Nolan, pointing to his company’s reputation over 25 years of service, said that it was in a strong position to continue delivering bus services nationwide. 

“The Committee heard that the Authority is currently assessing whether any public service bus contract post 2014 will be delivered by direct award or competitive tendering. We take on board the view that the Authority’s primary objective is to ensure any new contract at a minimum maintains the arrangements currently in place, represents value for money to the exchequer and will be monitored strongly for quality. The Authority also has a key role to play in ensuring all future services are focussed on the overall common good,  ensuring timetables and ticketing are appropriately integrated.”

ENDS
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Committee Membership

Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
 Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
 Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
 Tom Fleming, Independent
 Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
 Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
 Colm Keaveney, Labour
 Seán Kenny, Labour
 Mattie McGrath, Independent
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
 Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
 John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
 Ann Phelan, Labour
 Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
 
Senators
 Terry Brennan
 Sean D. Barrett
 Eamonn Coghlan
 Paschal Mooney
 Ned O’Sullivan
 John Whelan