Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

The contracts relating to the public service obligation services provided by the CIÉ companies are a matter for the National Transport Authority. The contracts which have been concluded by the NTA with the three CIE companies cover, inter alia, the quantity and quality of services to be provided, payment of compensation for the provisions of these services, performance and reporting obligations, the right of the NTA to review, amend, and alter the contracts, and the step-in rights of the NTA.

The contracts include a range of performance obligations including, for example, with bus services the number of vehicles to be in service in peak and off-peak times, the passenger capacity to be provided, the number of services cancelled, scheduled kilometres operated, and requirements relating to customer service and information. The contracts relating to rail passenger services contain performance obligations relating to the frequency and capacity of services by route, punctuality, customer service and information. In addition, the contracts require that all three companies report on a range of operational and financial matters relating to the provision of services.

The contracts strengthen the position of the funding authority compared to the memoranda of understanding which previously set out the performance obligations. The NTA will be clearer about the reporting and monitoring arrangements to apply and the role of the NTA in approving changes to the services. The details of the PSO services to be provided in 2010 will, in accordance with the terms of the contract, be agreed between the NTA and the three CIE companies, having regard to the Exchequer subvention for CIE in 2010 and projected fare revenue.

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