Committee to discuss bus privatisation proposal

A proposal to privatise 10% of the country's public bus system will come under scrutiny today at the Oireachtas Transport Committee.

The National Transport Authority has put forward a plan that would allow private operators to compete for routes currently operated by Bus Eireann and Dublin Bus.

Unions are opposed to the idea - saying it will impact on their members pay and job security - and as well as the quality and reliability of the bus network.

Chairman of the Transport Committee, Fine Gael's John O'Mahoney, says the focus must be on providing the best possible bus service.

"The bottom line here is that the consumers need good and efficient bus services," Deputy O'Mahony said.

"And there's a suggestion here of seeing how that can be delivered (utilising) if you like, competitive tendering between public and private (operators)."