asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if he will grant a licence to Suirway Bus and Coach Service, Knockroe, Passage East, County Waterford to operate a service from Dunmore East-Tramore-Waterford directly to Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Waterford-Dublin Transport Licence.
14.
Section 11(3) of the Road Transport Act, 1932, governs the consideration of applications for road passenger licences. The section requires me to have regard to whether the service in question is required in the public interest, having regard to the passenger road services and other forms of passenger transport available to the public on or in the neighbourhood of the route of the proposed service. The application in question was given detailed and sympathetic consideration but, due to the level of services on or near the proposed route, it was not possible to grant a licence.
However, the applicant was informed that I am prepared to consider extending existing licences held by him on the Passage East-Waterford and Dunmore East-Waterford routes to allow for the provision by him of feeder services to-from Waterford city on Sunday and weekday evenings. These feeder services would connect with existing CIE bus and train services to and from Dublin. No response has been made by the applicant.
I do not know whether the Minister is aware of this but this company were probably set up before the date of the enactment of the Act he mentioned, 1932, and they provide a very satisfactory local service. They now want to provide a service to Dublin but the Minister has not sanctioned this. Surely, this is going against the Minister's stated policy of some months ago when he said he would allow competition between State services and privately owned services? Surely, the Minister should allow an established company such as this one to operate a service from an area which at present has no direct service to Dublin?
In response to the Deputy's supplementary question, let me reiterate for the fourth or fifth time that my hands are tied by the provisions of the 1932 Road Transport Act. According to that Act I have to have regard "to whether the service in respect of which such application is made is required in the public interest having regard to the passenger road services and other forms of passenger transport available to the public on or in the neighbourhood of the routes of the proposed service." I cannot contravene that Act, I cannot break the law. I have already told the Deputy that we have completed a study and will be bringing legislation before the House. In regard to the company named by the Deputy, from the information which I have, let me say that what he has said is correct. It is an efficient company and has been providing a good local service over the years.
Would the Minister not agree that in the legislation he has referred to, provision is made for private companies such as this one to operate such services?
As I have already said, pending the final Government decision on the heads of the Bill I am not at liberty to say what is in it.
When does the Minister expect to introduce the legislation?
During 1988.