Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have answered the Deputy's question already. The contract has been awarded. The Deputy asked about the NTA. The NTA has advised that the direct award arrangements with Clare Bus for the provision of bus services expired on 1 July 2019. I am sure the Deputy is aware of this. It has further advised that negotiations with Clare Bus on a new direct award contract were ongoing between July 2019 and October 2019, while bus services were maintained. The NTA considered that the price proposals submitted by Clare Bus did not represent the best possible value when compared with other direct award contracts for similar routes and took the decision to undertake a competitive tendering process to secure the delivery of the relevant bus services.

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