Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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236. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ensure that the public service obligation for Dublin Airport to Kerry Airport is renewed in November when the current PSO expires in view of the fact that this renewal of PSO is crucial for the economic future of County Kerry with regard to tourism, business and all economic activity in the county Kerry and the general south west region. [7091/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The current Public Service Obligation (PSO) Air Services Scheme, which includes the Kerry - Dublin route, ends in November this year. The policy on regional airports post-2014 is currently being developed in my Department. This policy will reflect the recommendations arising out of the recently published IWA Knock Study Group, which are being incorporated into the draft National Aviation Policy. This future policy will also have to comply with the revised EU Guidelines on State Aid once they are finalised. No decisions have been made in respect of future PSO supports for the Kerry - Dublin or any other route at this stage.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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237. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the privatisation of bus routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7116/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The direct award contracts for the provision of Public Service Obligation (PSO) bus market services held by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann expire later this year. The awarding of subsequent contracts is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA).  On the 5th of December last, in accordance with the provisions of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the NTA announced that about 10% of publicly subvented (PSO) bus services will be tendered out with the new services commencing in the summer of 2016.

The objective of Government is to ensure a system of public transport throughout the country that is as efficient and as widespread as possible.  It must be recognised that the tendering decisions announced by the NTA are relatively modest and there will be a long-lead in before they take effect. Furthermore, it is open to the two incumbent companies (Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann) to compete for any tendered routes.