Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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61. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is concerned at the impact of tendering processes underway with Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann routes could have on the conditions and livelihoods of transport workers. [22484/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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It is the responsibility of the National Transport Authority (NTA) to conduct the current public procurement process relating to the tendering out of 10% of the PSO bus network. NTA is undertaking this by way of three separate competitions.  It has now completed the pre-qualification phase of all three competitions and recently issued formal invitations to tender in respect of the Dublin Metropolitan competition.

Already, the NTA requires any transport operator who operates public transport services under existing contracts to act within the law, including relevant employment legislation.  Consistent with this approach, the NTA's present tendering process will similarly require any transport operator who is awarded a contract to comply with relevant employment legislation.

In relation to existing employees of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, the Deputy may be aware that, in May 2015, the Labour Relations Commission brokered an agreement between all relevant parties which includes a provision that no Dublin Bus or Bus Éireann employee will be required to move to any new operator unless of course he/she chooses to do so.

The tendering processes underway should allow us to capture potential benefits as regards value for money in terms of the use of taxpayers' money in securing the provision of public services, and I look forward to the NTA's successful progression of the three competitions.