Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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49. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if proposals to privatise Bus Éireann routes in Waterford city will be reconsidered and preferably halted in view of the current economic climate and uncertainty in Waterford city, and in view of the fact that there are fears this move, which singles out Waterford, may lead to a downgrading of bus services, workers' pay and conditions, and eventually further job losses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27100/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The direct award contracts for the provision of 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). There are no plans to revisit the decision of the NTA to tender the PSO bus services in Waterford.  

The purpose of public transport is not to provide employment to any particular group of people but to provide a good public transport service to the public. The principal concern when looking at the future of bus services in Waterford is to provide a better service to those people who currently use those services, and more importantly, getting those people who don’t, to use those bus services. As at present, the fares, timetables and service standards will be set by the NTA. The tendering of these services will therefore not lead to a downgrading of services to bus users. The purpose of the tendering is to secure a better service for the same cost. It will be good for Waterford, its residents and may yet become an example for other places to follow. It is open to Bus Éireann to compete in this tender.

In the case of Bus Éireann not being successful in the competitive process, staff would be protected under the European Communities (Protection of Employees on Transfer of Undertakings) Regulations 2003 (the “Transfer Regulations” or “TUPE”). Minister of State Alan Kelly and I met with the unions representing Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann workers in November to discuss this matter. Arising from that we asked the NTA to put a structured engagement with unions in place and the NTA met with the NBRU and SIPTU unions in January and March this year.