Vol. 509 No. 6
431 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will amend regulations to allow a pilot scheme be tested whereby car pools containing four passengers could use bus lanes and quality bus corridors; if he will introduce regulations which would permit reserved parking in central areas for cars used in a car pool; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21522/99]
The primary purpose of bus lanes and quality bus corridors is to improve the operation of public transport services. Accordingly full access to bus lanes is at present limited to buses, with taxis and pedal cycles being permitted access to "with flow" bus lanes.
In relation to the Dublin situation, my Department has been advised by the Dublin Transportation Office against any dispensation at this time which would allow multiple occupancy private cars to use bus lanes. It may however be appropriate to consider such an arrangement when the overall QBC network is operating at optimal efficiency and when the benefits of utilising any residual lane capacity can be properly assessed.
