Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 71 provides for the NTA to grant a public service contract for the provision of public transport services by direct award to transport operators other than State transport companies. This is with a view to the granting of such contracts by way of direct award for the provision of transport services under the rural transport programme. It is necessary and is linked with a conversation that we held previously. A number of operators under the rural transport scheme provide services using their own vehicles rather than on a contracted basis. Amendment No. 71 ensures that there is legal certainly for the basis on which these payments are made. This is necessary to provide a secure legal framework for the existing arrangements under the rural transport programme and does not change the status quo for direct award contracts with the State transport companies.

Specifically, the proposed new Part amends the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 to extend the definition of "public passenger transport service" to include ancillary transport services, those being, passenger transport services of general economic interest provided to the public on a non-discriminatory and continuous basis that are neither rail passenger services nor public bus services, and for "public transport operator" to include a person providing public passenger bus services in accordance with a licence under the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009.

The amendments to sections 48 and 52 of the 2008 Act relate to the direct award of contracts for public transport services to include transport services other than those already provided for by the State bus and rail companies in accordance with EU Regulation (EC) No. 1370/2007.

Amendment No. 72 provides for a new section 44A to be inserted in the 2008 Act. This new section will empower the authority to invest in bus infrastructure and cycling facilities in the State and to engage in concessions, joint ventures or public-private partnerships for this purpose. This is to facilitate new bus routes that may be provided under directly awarded public service contracts, for example, rural transport passenger services, as well as to facilitate other transport provision such as cycling facilities. The section also amends sections 57, 62, 66 and 73 of the 2008 Act to make adjustments that are consequential on the new section 44A in terms of giving new powers to the NTA outside the greater Dublin area.