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PLANS TO PUT out to tender several routes operated by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann have been put on hold.
Siptu and the NBRU met with the National Transport Authority earlier today to discuss the proposals.
The move could affect more than 20 bus routes in Dublin.
It has been defended by Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe, who said that a “far bigger bus market” will be needed in future.
The process, due to take place on December 1, has now been pushed back to allow further talks.
Speaking after the meeting, Siptu organiser Owen Reidy said the union will now seek an ‘urgent’ meeting with the Minister for Transport on the issue.
“The union has participated in seven LRC meetings on this matter to date and has received a lot of financial and other information from the NTA and both bus companies,” he said.
Unfortunately, the implications of what we have learned are extremely serious for our members
Reidy claims that it could expose both bus companies to up to €43 million in legacy costs.
NBRU general secretary Dermot O’Leary said:
“Although we remain implacably opposed to the privatisation of public bus transport services, we feel obligated, on behalf of the workers and the taxpayer, to bring clarity to all issues at stake.”
They include our determination to explain the fact that the London Model, which the NTA intend to replicate, will place an extra financial burden on the exchequer and precipitate a race to the bottom in workers terms and conditions.
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I think the trade unions, especially SIPTU, should take over the running of the country cause they have the answer to everything. No one would be poor or hungry any more.
Serious or sarcasm?
Latter of course!!
Anyone who thinks privitisation is better than it is now,your living on cloud cuckoo land,older buses,less frequency,more expensive,private companies want big profits so your fare now on dublin bus or bus eireann will undoubtably rise on a private network.
In Donegal private coaches dominate and that’s even with bus eireann competition, john mc gingley are constantly updating there fleet and recently purchased a brand new modern fleet and there’s Feda Donnell and Collins Coaches too. These buses serve rural towns that bus eireann wouldn’t and needless to say are considerably cheaper then Business Eireann
Oh no we won’t privatise Irish Water
swords express
Speaking as a resident from a town served very poorly by Bus Eireann, the sooner that routes are privatised, the better.
Here here
Do you somehow think a non subsidized private bus service is going to run a better service in your town. They won’t run empty buses.
@ Joe – spot on. If there is no money in it, it won’t happen.
That’s the problem. People shout for privatisation without understanding it. Busses work by busy routes subsidising quiet ones. If you sell the busy routes who is going to pay for the quiet ones?
Are we implying here that the Portrane to Swords Bus Service that’s up for tender is a busy line?
That it is in some way subsidising the 15 for example?
There are a few points here. None of the tendered routes I’ve seen (and am open to correction on) are peak or busy services. They’re all outer commuter lines with not much demand.
If someone is tendering for them then they’ll know what they’re getting into and do their research on whether it’s a tenable route, simple as. If it’s not profitable they’ll bail out and we’ll, at worst, go back to DB servicing the area.
Private bus companies weighing in on regional services has only been good for consumers. Think the M7 express or Aircoach. Where is the race to the bottom there? €10 to Limerick in comfort and with Wifi. Same to the airport.
The M7 Express goes every 30 mins, 7 days a week, Bus Eireann goes 5 times a day, for more money.
In fairness that’s a busy route but privatisation of a public sector transport service can only be good for the city.
This is just typical unions spouting crap because they know any private contractor can and will do a better job and it will just cascade down the line to the premier routes (39, 15, etc) and then they’ll all be lining up to drive the private buses.
“Race to the bottom” = normal private sector wages.
Few private operators would provide the pension benefits of the Dublin Bus driver etc.
As you say-a race to the bottom.
However we cannot afford to pay all public service employee pensions in the future.
That is the real elephant in the room.
What pension you pay into it all your life and get f all
Also dublin bus drivers dont get Christmas bonuses not like most cival servants and private companies
Genuine question here as I am unsure, if say you get a public service pension, are you entited to the state pension from social welfare? I would assume the answer is no?
Pension is normally Half your final salary indexed linked for life and nice lump sum on retirement for minimal enough contributions relative to the market rates
So half yes? Could you explain it in laymans terms?
Bet you don’t even know how much a dublin bus driver gets paid
The pension at moment is 127 euro a week so not half our wage need to get facts right before you make comment
If we copy the London model it will cost the tax payer millions , the London model is a total failure and has not worked.
I live outside Ireland but I am fascinated with the frequency of buses which service Dublin 15.
I cannot complain the almost every 5 minute bus arrival but I often wonder how much it is all costing-besides our having the highest fares in any European city.
I was in Valencia recently and the public bus service there is good-but not as good as Dublin.
The fares there are lower.
I do not know how much they are paid in relation to Dublin bus drivers.
I suspect a little less..
In Valencia city that’s the EMT bus which are not bad but they do get packed. They are publicly owned privately managed and have had their share of scandal, e.g local politicians giving friends jobs as managers, but step outside Valencia city and you have the Metro Bus which is private and absolute crap, old buses, timetable all over the place and grumpy drivers
Why would it be put out to tender ? Is DOB not interested in travel.
People opposed to privatization say it will lead to reduced service and price hikes, going on Dublin Bus’ record of continually reducing services and price hikes, it doesn’t seem like we have much to lose.
“They include our determination to explain the fact that the London Model, which the NTA intend to replicate, will place an extra financial burden on the exchequer and precipitate a race to the bottom in workers terms and conditions.”
Romanian drivers replacing the Nigerian ones.?
Where will it all end.
At the current rate of price hikes in public transport,I can see a surge in the sale of bicycles.
Bus eireann and dublin bus are going to tender for these services so we all know they will be awarded the contract. It is like an post winning every tender so why are they worrying?
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