Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way he monitors and invigilates the performance of the senior management and board of Bus Éireann: if the board and senior management is benchmarked against the performance of international companies such as for example Arriva and Stagecoach in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1483/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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CIÉ and its subsidiaries, including Bus Éireann, account for the discharge of their functions in their annual reports and accounts which are placed before the Oireachtas, annual reports by the Chairman of CIÉ certifying compliance with Code of Practice requirements, regular appearances before Oireachtas Committees, and annual audit of accounts by independent auditors.

CIÉ is currently going through a business planning and change process with a view to strengthening the financial sustainability of Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann.  My Department has concluded a memorandum of understanding with CIÉ, which will encourage the reporting on the achievement of key financial sustainability targets in 2013 and among other things the benchmarking of operations, where feasible. My Department will be supported by the NewEra Unit of the  National Treasury Management Agency in overseeing the regular reporting by CIÉ of its financial performance in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding.

In addition both I and Minister of State, Deputy Kelly have regular meetings with the Chairmen and senior management of CIÉ and its subsidiaries and  there is also ongoing contact between my officials and the CIÉ and its operating companies, about which we are briefed regularly.

Management are not benchmarked against the performance of Arriva or Stagecoach in the UK by my Department but the Deputy's suggestion will be taken on board.