The Minister for Transport has again given his support to controversial plans to put out to tender a number of routes traditionally operatedby Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann.

Speaking following a meeting with trade unions on Monday Paschal Donohoe said he was committed to backing a well-funded public transport system into the future and that he had pledged to avoid further reductions in State subvention.

He said he had recently secured €110 million for public transport as part of a supplementary estimate for the Department of Transport.

However Mr Donohoe said “ this level of support should be given in conjunction with an appropriate degree of competitive tension within the market, in the interests of quality and cost effective bus services for users”.

"This is why I am committed to the tendering of 10 per cent of bus routes. Furthermore, I believe that the Labour Relations Commission is the appropriate mechanism for the further discussion of specific issues relating to the implementation of this policy."

Unions have warned of inevitable industrial relations trouble in the two State-owned transport companies if the potential privatisation plan goes ahead.

Unions fear the tendering proposals could lead to the privatisation of routes which up to now have been run by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann and result in a deterioration of their members’ terms and conditions if they had to move to private operators.

Under the current plans, orbital routes in Dublin rather than city centre services, such as those between Blackrock and Rialto, and Chapelizod and the Square shopping centre in Tallaght , will be put out to tender.

Bus Éireann routes earmarked for tender include commuter services from Dublin to Tullamore, Portlaoise and Kildare, as well as a number of routes in Waterford city.

Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann will be permitted to tender to continue to operate the routes.