High-level team attempts to avert another strike at Dublin Bus
The Government appointed the group — similar to the former National Implementation Body — to carry out “an urgent investigation of how the Labour Court recommendation in respect of cost reduction measures in Dublin Bus can be progressed”.
The body, which met for the first time yesterday, is made up Department of Transport secretary general Tom O’Mahony, Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation secretary general John Murphy, Ictu general secretary David Begg and Ibec chief executive Danny McCoy.
The drivers at Dublin Bus, which needs to find €11.7m in savings, have repeatedly rejected cost savings plans aimed at cutting staff costs by €4m.
The new group has been asked to look at what has lead to the rejections, how that situation can be resolved and recommend a timescale for implementation.
Meanwhile, one in 10 of all routes operated by Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus are set to be opened up to competition from 2016.
The National Transport Authority yesterday announced proposals which would allow private bus operators to tender for services operated by the two CIÉ companies, including city services in Cork and Waterford.
The move, which is likely to be opposed by trade unions representing CIÉ staff, has been approved by Transport Minister Leo Varadkar, who has supported an increasing role for private bus firms in the provision of public transport services.
The NTA also confirmed it would enter into another direct award contract to Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus to operate subsidised routes from Dec 2014 up to 2016.
The NTA said its objective in awarding any contract to operate public bus services was to ensure high quality and accessible services at best value for money to the exchequer, as well as improving customer experience of public transport.
The NTA said it considered the general economic interest would be best served in the next five years by Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus retaining “a substantial proportion” of services but not all their current routes.
NTA chief executive Gerry Murphy said it considered that the tendering of 10% of existing services would be of a scale to encourage competition.
It is envisaged that Bus Éireann services to be opened to competition from 2016 will include all city services in Waterford and some routes in Cork, as well as other services in the south-east and some Dublin commuter routes.
The NTA has begun a public consultation process on its proposals with a closing date for submissions of October 11.
