THE NATIONAL TRANSPORT Authority has released details of which bus routes could be privatised in Dublin.

The 23 Dublin Bus and five Bus Eireann routes carry around 10 million passengers a year, the NTA says. That is done on 88 Dublin Buses and 28 coaches.

None of the services terminates in Dublin city centre.

The government wants to open 10% of public bus routes up to private licences, but unions have warned of industrial action if that happens. Talks are ongoing at the Labour Relations Commission.

In December 2013, the NTA re‐awarded PSO contracts to Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann covering the period up to December 2019, and decided that 10% of the services in each contract would be put out to competitive tender, to commence operations in 2016.

The routes have been advertised to tender and the competition closes on 17 April.

The proposed Dublin Bus routes are:

17 Rialto to Blackrock
17a Blanchardstown Centre to Kilbarrack
18 Palmerstown(Old Lucan Road)to Sandymount
33a Swords to Balbriggan
33b Swords to Portrane
45a Dún Laoghaire(Rail Station)to Ballywaltrim
59 DúnLaoghaire to MackintoshPark
63 DúnLaoghaire to Kilternan
75 The Square Tallaght to Dun Laoghaire
76 Chapelizod to Tallaght (The Square)
76a Blanchardstown Centre to Tallaght (The Square)
102 Sutton station to Dublin Airport
104 Clontarf Road(Conquer Hill)to Santry (Shanard Road)
111 Loughlinstown Park to Dún Laoghaire
114 Ticknock to Blackrock Station
161 Dundrum Luas Station to Rockbrook
184 Bray Dart station to Newtownmountkennedy
185 Bray Dart station to Enniskerry
220 Ballymun to Ladyswell Road
236 Blanchardstown Centre to Damastown
238 Tyrrelstown to Ladyswell Road
239 Blanchardstown Centre to Liffey Valley Shopping Centre
270 Blanchardstown Centre to Dunboyne

The proposed Bus Éireann routes are:

120 Dublin–Edenderry–Tullamore
123 Dublin–Naas
124 Dublin–Naas–Portlaoise
126 Dublin–Naas
130 Dublin–Naas–Athy

Fares for the tendered services will continue to be regulated by the Authority, and will be set in a manner consistent will other regulated fares. The Leap Card will be accepted on board for services operating in areas currently covered by the Leap Card ticket.

Dublin Bus will be permitted to tender for the Dublin metropolitan area contract.

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