Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Nov 1987

Vol. 375 No. 2

Written Answers. - Leixlip (Kildare) Bus Service.

13.

Mr. Durkan

asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if his action in granting a licence to a private bus operator to provide a bus service at Confey, Leixlip, County Kildare will in any way endanger the provision of a full schedule service by Bus Átha Cliath; the scope and schedule of the service he intends (a) Bus Átha Cliath to provide and (b) the private operator to provide; when it is envisaged that either or both the services will commence; the cost to commuters in each case; the exact number of scheduled runs to be provided by (a) and (b) above each day; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

24.

Mr. Durkan

asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if his attention has been drawn to the proposal by CIE to provide a scheduled bus service at Confey, Leixlip, County Kildare; when he became aware of such a proposal; if his decision to grant a licence to a private bus operator to operate a similar service preceded the decision of CIE to operate the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

37.

Proinsias De Rossa

asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the reason he granted a licence to private bus operators (details supplied) in County Kildare to operate a feeder service from River Forest to Leixlip, County Kildare, as CIE were willing and anxious to operate a full scheduled service from River Forest to Dublin City Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Tourism and Transport (Mr. Wilson)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 24 and 37 together.

I approved the grant for an occasional road passenger licence to O'Neill's Transport, Maynooth, for the provision of a feeder bus service from Captain's Hill to Leixlip and return, to connect with existing bus and train services to and from Dublin, in order to meet a long standing demand for public transport services in the Captain's Hill area which was not being met by any other operator. I understand that the new feeder bus service commenced on Monday, 9 November. A single fare of 30p is charged to adults, while school children, up to second level, pay 15p. The operation provides 14 services each way, Monday to Friday inclusive, between 6.55 a.m. and 11.30 p.m. On Saturdays, seven services each way operate between 7.45 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The proposal of Bus Atha Cliath to introduce a bus service in this area was communicated to me by letter dated 20 August 1987. The O'Neill application had been made at an earlier date and in accordance with existing statute and policy, which obliges me to take account of passenger services available to the public in the area, there were no grounds for refusing the licence.

Under Section 25 of the Transport Act, 1958, Bus Átha Cliath may not initiate any passenger road service so as to compete with a licensed passenger road service, without my consent. Bus Átha Cliath have applied for my consent to initiate a bus service to Captain's Hill and that application is under consideration.

The specific schedules for any Bus Átha Cliath service are matters for which the company have statutory responsibility. Maximum fare limits, approved by the Government from time to time, apply to all Bus Átha Cliath services.