Vol. 532 No. 1
100 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the number of applications for bus licences for new routes which are before her Department; the licences she has granted in 2000; and when she will decide on the licence applications now under consideration. [6419/01]
There are currently 102 applications for road passenger licences under consideration by my Department, only 12 of which are for entirely new routes with no existing bus service. The remaining applications are for routes, which are partly or wholly serviced by existing operators.
In 2000, 597 licences were issued for a variety of routes and types of services, of which 136 were licences for new routes and the balance, renewals of existing licences. Additional resources have now been recruited and every effort will be made this year to speed up the processing of applications and to increase the number of licences issued in order to improve the availability and range of services available to the public. A number of applications has been received in relation to the licensing round for the greater Dublin area, which closed on 16 February, and it is intended that all of these applications will be processed by the end of April 2001.
101 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Public Enterprise when the application for a licence by Bus Éireann to operate the Western Distributors Road and the related housing estates, including Knocknacarra, will be determined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6470/01]
On 5 January 2001, Bus Éireann applied to commence a new route, which would service the Western Distributor Road. A private operator has also applied to provide a service along the Western Distributor Road. In order to be in a position to assess the merits of each application, additional information was sought by officials of my Department. That information was received only recently from Bus Éireann and a decision will be taken shortly.
