Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 16: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the efforts he has made to date to bring about a more diverse bus service provision; his plans to bring in competitive tendering in the bus licensing market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33466/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with the commitment in the Programme for Government to explore the benefit to the public transport passenger of more diverse bus service provision, I am examining the options available.

The Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 enabled the granting of contracts for public service obligation (PSO) services on a direct award basis to Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann in respect of existing services and on a public tender basis for new services.

The existing contracts with Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann were for 5 years and expire on 3 December 2014. The NTA must publish information regarding proposed tenders and direct award contracts, and the services and areas potentially covered by the award, in the Official Journal of the European Union at least 1 year in advance of an invitation to tender or direct award. In that event the NTA will be required to tender for the provision of subvented bus passenger services by 3 December 2013. It is within that timeframe that I am developing proposals and it is my intention to consult with my Ministerial colleagues on this subject in the near future.