Brian Walsh (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the progress made following the National Transport Authority's review of public service obligation bus routes in 2012. [4668/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In respect of the future provision of bus services the Programme for Government contains a commitment “to establish a Cabinet Sub-Committee on Infrastructure to explore the benefits to the public transport passenger of a more diverse bus service provision”.  In line with this commitment the National Transport Authority (NTA) conducted a non - statutory public consultation in summer 2012. The report  on the public consultation process is available on the NTA's website. The NTA has also briefed the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the process in October 2012.

The public consultation submissions will be considered and taken into account  by the NTA  in coming forward with proposals. Where the NTA proposes to enter into a further direct award contract or contracts for bus services it is obliged to carry out a statutory consultation under section 52 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008. Furthermore, the NTA may only enter into a direct award contract “ where it is satisfied that the continued adequacy of the public bus passenger services to which the contracts relate can only be guaranteed in the general economic interest by entering into such direct award contracts."  Accordingly the matter will require further examination before any decisions are taken.