Michael Ring
Question:129 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Transport the plans he has to allow competition in the provision of city and inter-city bus services. [18305/02]
Written Answers. - Public Transport Policy.
The Government consultation paper, A New Institutional and Regulatory Framework for Public Transport was published in September 2000. This paper set out the Government's proposals for institutional and regulatory reform of the public transport system. One of the key proposals in this paper was the establishment of an independent market regulatory function for public transport and the gradual opening up to competitive tendering of all bus services in the greater Dublin area. I am currently engaged in a round of meetings with the social partners and other interested parties. I will consider their views and consult further with the Public Transport Partnership Forum prior to finalising my proposals for Government on regulatory reform in the greater Dublin area. With regard to market regulation of provincial city and inter-city services, I have recently received a consultants' report which was commissioned by my Department on the regulation of bus services outside the greater Dublin area. I will launch a public consultation on this report shortly. I will finalise my proposals for reform of the regulatory regime in the bus markets outside Dublin once that consultation is complete.
Question No. 130 answered with Question No. 80.