Written answers

Thursday, 19 July 2012

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Public Service Obligation Services

5:00 pm

Photo of Joanna TuffyJoanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 827: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding proposals regarding the tendering of public service obligation services; if he will provide details of the amount of tenders he intends to issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36347/12]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The issue raised by the Deputy is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Under EU law and the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, as amended, existing public service obligation (PSO) bus and rail services can be procured by the National Transport Authority through direct award contracts and any other new subvented services must be procured by way of open tendering. At the expiry of the current 5 year direct award contracts for the provision of PSO services with Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann the NTA have discretion to renew, modify or terminate the direct award provision of bus services following a consultation process with interested parties under which the NTA is obliged to justify its approach.

A public consultation on 2014 Bus Public Service Contracts, as required by the legislation, commenced on 14th June and concluded on 11th July, 2012. The NTA is considering whether to undertake one or more procurement competitions for the award of part or all of these contracts, or it may decide to directly award part or all of these contracts to the existing contracted parties.

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 will be consulting with my Ministerial colleagues on the future options for procurement of PSO bus services.

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