Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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249. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied ) regarding the privatisation of public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25453/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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​There are no plans to privatise Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann or Iarnród Éireann.  What is being carried out is a tender process, under the aegis of the National Transport Authority (NTA), in respect of a small segment of the overall number of publicly-subvented PSO bus routes.  The routes will continue to be provided through public subvention and under the supervision of the NTA.

In accordance with legislation, the NTA made its decision to tender a portion of PSO bus services currently operated by Dublin Bus and Bus and Bus Eireann after a review and assessment by the NTA that included a public consultation process.

Government's policy is for the NTA to procure bus services through a combination of direct award contracts and tendering in the best interests of quality, integrated public transport and to serve the needs of the travelling public.   

The NTA believes that some competition in awarding operating contracts will be good for the bus market and for the travelling public in encouraging transport operators to provide enhanced services.  Following the consultation phase, the NTA decided that 10% was sufficient to achieve this without fundamentally damaging the market as it stands or the existing network.  Routes were chosen on this basis and Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann can compete for the routes in this tender process.