Unions slam plan to privatise 10% of bus services

Trade unions have denounced plans by the National Transport Authority which would allow private bus operators to tender for 10% of services currently operated by Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus.

The NTA’s proposals, which would see the awarding of some city routes in Dublin and Waterford, as well as commuter routes in parts of Leinster, to private operators, have also been criticised by the Competition Authority.

It has also emerged that the NTA has dropped proposals to open some city services in Cork City to competitive tendering.