Bus drivers’ union challenges tenders

A trade union representing bus drivers has launched a High Court challenge against decisions by the National Transport Authority to put certain routes operated by Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus out for private tender.

The National Bus and Rail Workers Union claims the authority’s decision to put almost 30 routes including some along Dublin’s commuter and outer metropolitan areas, and in Waterford city to tender breaches the exclusive rights to operate the routes guaranteed to Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann.

The union claims the rights were conferred under provisions of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008. The High Court heard yesterday the authority’s notices inviting tenders have been issued. The award of the contracts is due to be made in April next year.

The union says it has brought the action because of its concerns about the effects of privatisatising routes run by the state bus companies. It fears the decisions could lead to the demise of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann.

In proceedings brought by the union and one of its 3,000 members, Pauric Wall, who operates a route between Tullamore and Dublin via Edenderry for Bus Éireann, orders are sought quashing three decisions by the authority made on January 22 last to subject certain routes serviced by Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus to a tender process.

They also seek declarations from the court including that the authority acted outside of its powers.

Permission to bring the action was granted, on an ex parte basis, by Mr Justice Seamus Noonan. The case will come before the court again in June.