Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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15. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on progress with the Swiftway bus service; and his views on keeping the service as a Dublin Bus operation beyond the next renewal of contracts. [36792/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The National Transport Authority (NTA)  is responsible for the contracting of public passenger transport services as set out in the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008.  The current public service contract between Dublin Bus and the NTA extends until December of this year.  The NTA intends to enter into a subsequent contract with Dublin Bus for the period up to December 2019.  The NTA has advised that Dublin Bus will undertake the operation of any of the three proposed Bus Rapid Transit services that become operational during the period of that subsequent public service contract.

  I have made no decision as regards the development of any BRT routes and have not received any proposal in that regard as yet from the NTA.

I will  however consider the BRT Swords /Airport proposal  as well as other competing projects for the Dublin region having regard to the outcome of studies underway by the NTA on the major public transport projects proposed in recent years for Dublin and in the context of priorities and funding available under the next capital plan.