Introduction
Ireland has announced a new public transport contract award with the National Transport Authority (NTA) confirming the award of a Public Service Obligation (PSO) contract for public bus services in Limerick City, Route 310. The services contract, with an estimated value of €10.97 million, has been awarded to Bus Éireann, Ireland’s national bus operator. The contract was signed on 24 July 2025 and published as a Contract Award Notice in December 2025.
Contract Details
The awarded contract covers the operation of scheduled public bus services on Route 310 in Limerick City, delivered under Ireland’s Public Service Obligation framework. The procurement falls under multiple CPV codes, including 60000000, 60100000, 60112000, 63500000, and 63710000, encompassing transport services, road transport, and passenger transport operations.
The contract has an estimated value of €10,969,940 and is classified as a services contract. It follows an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) process that was initially advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) in July 2023. The procurement process included pre-qualification, interim submissions, tender clarifications, and final tender evaluations, with notification of the competition outcome issued in April 2025.
Entities Involved
The procuring authority is the National Transport Authority (NTA), headquartered at Haymarket House, Smithfield, Dublin. The NTA is responsible for planning and funding public transport services across Ireland.
The successful operator, Bus Éireann, is based in Dublin and operates an extensive national and regional bus network. Details of other tenderers were not disclosed in the Contract Award Notice.
Strategic and Community Significance
This government transport contract award supports the continued delivery of reliable and accessible public transport services in Limerick City. Route 310 plays an important role in urban mobility, connecting residential areas with key employment, education, and service hubs.
The contract aligns with Ireland’s wider transport policy objectives, including improved public transport reliability, reduced private car dependency, and progress toward climate and sustainability targets. Continued PSO funding ensures service continuity on routes that are socially and economically important but may not be commercially viable without public support.
Background on the Winning Operator
Bus Éireann, a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ), is Ireland’s national bus company and a long-standing provider of PSO-supported services. The operator has extensive experience delivering urban, regional, and school transport services under contract to the NTA, making it a key partner in Ireland’s public transport network.
Technical and Financial Overview
While detailed operational specifications were not published, the contract scope includes scheduled passenger services, operational management, service reliability standards, and customer service requirements. The €10.97 million estimated value reflects a multi-year service delivery commitment and ongoing operational costs associated with urban bus transport.
Conclusion
The award of the Limerick City Route 310 PSO contract to Bus Éireann reinforces Ireland’s commitment to maintaining dependable public transport services at the city level. As the contract progresses, it is expected to support improved connectivity, social inclusion, and sustainable urban mobility in Limerick. The project also highlights the continued role of PSO contracts in shaping Ireland’s public transport landscape and future awarded tenders in the sector.
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