Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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577. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are proposals to privatise Dublin Bus routes 18, 76 and 76a; the criteria that was used for this decision; if he will consider reversing this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39699/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The objective of Government is to ensure a system of public transport throughout the country that is as efficient and as widespread as possible.  In relation to the award of Public Service Obligation (PSO) contracts for the bus market in Dublin, this falls under the remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA).  The NTA is currently considering how best publicly subvented bus services will be provided in the future. The direct award contract for the provision of PSO bus market services held by Dublin Bus expires late next year.  The awarding of the licenses for the services thereafter is a matter for the NTA, and not for Government, but I have kept the Cabinet updated on the process.  

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.  Under the legislation, if the NTA proposes to enter into direct award contracts, the relevant section states that  “it may only do so 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".  If it is not so satisfied, it must provide for some level of competitive tendering.  This is not a decision for the Government or for me. 

The NTA is conducting its work in accordance with the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 and a statutory consultation in relation to the matter commenced on 11th September and will conclude on 11th October. The NTA expects to announce its decision on how it intends to proceed before the end of the year.

It should be noted that it will be open to Dublin Bus to bid for any routes or bundles of routes that are tendered. I envisage that tendering will enable the selection of the most competent tendererer who can provide the public with the best service at the least cost to the taxpayer.