Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 147: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the progress of the National Transport Authority's review of the public service obligation bus contracts system. [31912/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy's question relates to the review by the National Transport Authority (NTA) of the Public Service Obligation bus contracts. The issue raised is a matter for the NTA and I have referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for attention.

As the Deputy is aware, the NTA is responsible for, among other things, securing the provision of public bus services. In accordance with the relevant legislation, direct award contracts for bus services for the discharge of public service obligations were awarded by the NTA to Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann for an initial period of 5 years, from 1st December 2009.New contracts for the provision of these bus services are required to commence from 1st December 2014.

A consultation process as required by the legislation, has commenced and the purpose of this public consultation is to seek the views of the public and interested parties, including users of the public bus services, on the approach to be adopted in relation to these new contracts. A public consultation document and questionnaire is available to download from the NTA's website.