Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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686. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of full-time service bus drivers in Bus Éireann. [50620/13]

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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687. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of managers of all grades there are in Bus Éireann; if he will provide a breakdown of numbers of manager per grade. [50621/13]

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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694. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a recommendation has not been put in place arising from the Labour Relations Commission of 16 May 2013 on proposals to resolve the dispute at Bus Éireann which included a joint initiative to maximise operational effectiveness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50628/13]

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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695. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will commit to working with Bus Éireann to implement the joint initiative to maximise operational effectiveness as proposed by the Labour Relations Commission. [50657/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 686, 687, 694 and 695 together.

The issues raised are matters for Bus Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the company for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive replies within ten working days.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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688. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he expects a reduction in driver staff levels if the proposed National Transport Authority plans of 10% of routes transferring to private operators goes ahead. [50622/13]

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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689. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he expects a reduction of management personnel if the National Transport Authority's proposed 10% reduction of Bus Éireann routes goes ahead. [50623/13]

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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690. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he expects any staff in Bus Éireann or Dublin Bus to be transferred under TUPE if the National Transport Authority's proposed 10% reduction of Bus Éireann routes goes ahead; and if they will be able to return to their former positions should contracts be withdrawn. [50624/13]

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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691. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views that as stakeholders in this process that the Bus Éireann drivers' views and concerns should be considered during any proposed process by the National Transport Authority either at present and into the future relating to the company. [50625/13]

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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692. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the National Transport Authority has not met with either the Bus Éireann drivers or their union representatives; and if he will use his position to arrange such a meeting at the earliest opportunity. [50626/13]

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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693. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether Bus Éireann has met all the targets and requirements, consistently achieving 95% to 98% of target levels, as set down by the National Transport Authority, in its quarterly reports. [50627/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 688 to 693, inclusive, together.  

The objective of Government is to ensure a system of public transport throughout the country that is as efficient and as widespread as possible and the National Transport Authority has a key role in realising this objective. The award of Public Service Obligation (PSO) contracts for the bus market falls under the independent statutory remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA), which has direct responsibility for this area. Currently, the NTA is considering how best publicly subvented bus services will be provided in the future.  

The direct award contracts for the provision of PSO bus market services held by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann expire late next year. The awarding of the licences for the services thereafter is a matter for the NTA  and not for Government, but I have kept the Cabinet updated on the process. Both Minister Kelly and I met with trade unions representing workers in Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann last week in relation to the proposals outlined by the NTA in the recent consultation process. 

It is recognised that there are a number of concerns in relation to potential tendering for PSO services.  These include the impact on industrial relations and cost savings measures within CIE at a general level and the specific implications of Transfer of Undertakings legislation  (TUPE)  and related issues.  However, it must be recognised that the proposals outlined in the consultation process are relatively modest and there will be a long-lead in before any tendering takes effect. Furthermore, it is of course open to the two incumbent companies to compete for any tendered routes, so it should not be assumed that there will be any reductions in staff numbers or that TUPE will even arise.

Subject to the decision of the NTA  following its consultation processes, these issues need to be addressed by it and the bus companies through constructive engagement with the unions in the course of the procurement process over the next two years. I undertook to the trade unions at our meeting that I would contact the NTA to seek to have such a structured engagement put in place.