Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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76. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the proposed tendering of the Bus Éireann Waterford city service. [22094/17]

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; Dublin Metropolitan, Dublin Commuter and Waterford.

It is my understanding that full tender documentation has been issued to pre-qualified bidders in the Waterford competition and the NTA expects to receive bids over the coming weeks and following tender assessment appoint a preferred bidder over the summer period.

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 all three competitions.