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.

Siptu, which represents workers at the two CIÉ bus companies, yesterday expressed concern about the lack of public debate on the issue.

One of the union’s regional organisers, Owen Reidy, told the Oireachtas Transport Committee there had been a very narrow consultation process, despite the fact the proposed changes could have grave consequences for public transport services.

He told TDs and senators the process was flawed and expressed fears that plans to privatise 10% of bus routes operated by Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus represented “the thin edge of the wedge.”

“It is potentially a very dangerous experiment,” said Mr Reidy. He voiced his belief the NTA was confusing “value for money” with “cheapness”.

Mr Reidy reminded committee members a 2009 report found the level of government subsidy to CIÉ companies was relatively low by European standards and that subventions to the two bus firms had continued to fall on an annual basis ever since.

He claimed staff at both companies had agreed to restructuring in order to achieve large-scale savings.

Mr Reidy said Siptu would make no apologies for fighting to protect the jobs and working conditions of existing Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus staff.

The National Bus and Rail Union, which represents 2,500 bus employees, claimed the NTA’s proposals represented “the folly of an ideologically based agenda”.

NBRU general secretary Dermot O’Leary warned that up to 430 existing jobs in the two bus companies were under threat from the NTA’s plans, which have been supported by Transport Minister Leo Varadkar.

Mr O’Leary claimed the measures also represented an attack on the social fabric of rural Ireland.

The unions also highlighted how some private bus firms already refused to recognise free bus passes.

Mr O’Leary said bus workers were not afraid of competition but wanted recognition for their work and service over many years.

Meanwhile, the Competition Authority has said it is not obvious from the consultation process how the routes identified for possible privatisation were selected.

The competition watchdog expressed concern about the lack of information provided by the NTA for its decision to withdraw Dublin coastal commuter services from proposed competitive tendering and to replace them with subsidised routes operated by Bus Éireann on the commuter corridor to the west of Dublin covering Kildare, Offaly, Laois and Westmeath.

The Competition Authority also complained that there appeared to be no information available to potential tenderers about the current level of subsidy on such routes.

All five city bus routes in Waterford, as well as the service to Tramore, will be awarded to private operators from 2016 as well as Bus Éireann routes serving Kildare, Tullamore, Newbridge, Portlaoise, and Athy.