Clare’s Independent TD has hit out at the National Transport Authority for what he’s labelled the “draconian” way in which they have deal with Clare Accessible Transport.
Scariff Deputy Michael McNamara has raised the controversy in the Dáil, accusing the NTA of using the COVID-19 pandemic as a “cloak” to deliver bad news.
The Clare Bus operator lost its contract to provide the local link bus services last month; with the NTA saying that it’s statement at that time, that this was due to difficulties in concluding contract negotiations, still stands.
An interim operator was appointed, but in the Dáil chambers, Deputy McNamara says Acting Transport Minister Shane Ross has not responded to his correspondence on the matter.
Deputy McNamara didn’t mince his words in terms of his view of the NTA’s handling of the situation.
NTA Statement
(Dated March 27th)
Local Link public transport services in Clare are to be run by a new operator from this week, but there is no interruption or disruption in services arising from this change, according to the National Transport Authority and Local Link Limerick/Clare.
This change has come about as a result of the fact that previous operator Clare Bus did not sign contracts that were offered to them arising from a competitive tender at the end of last year, when the company was the successful tenderer for 12 routes in the county.
The fact that they did not sign the contracts by the deadline set by the Authority meant that for the sake of customers across the county, National Transport Authority and Local Link Limerick/Clare were left with no option but to put alternative measures in place.
Under those measures, three of the routes that were to have been operated by Clare Bus have been awarded to tenderers who placed second in last year’s procurement process. Those contracts will be awarded for one year, in line with the provisions of that procurement process.
The other nine routes will be run on an interim basis by a Clare-based operator, who is qualified to provide these services. Those contracts have been awarded by NTA under the relevant legislative powers, and are of three-month duration.
A new public competition for the operation of those nine routes will get under way very shortly.
