Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 21 May 2003

Vol. 567 No. 2

Written Answers. - Public Transport.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

114 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Transport the number of requests he has received from Dublin Bus to provide new routes and services in the past 12 months; the numbers that were approved by his Department; the reasons for refusal in all other cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13670/03]

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

167 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the number of requests he has received from Bus Éireann to provide new routes and services in the past 12 months; the numbers that were approved by his Department; the reasons for refusal in all other cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13671/03]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 167 together.

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 424 of 25 February 2003, which sets out the requirements in relation to notifications by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann of proposed new or amended services. The table below sets out the number of notifications for proposed new or amended services and the current status of those notifications, for both Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, in the 12 month period up to 19 May 2003. Where my Department had no comments on the proposed new services or proposed service changes, the relevant company was advised that the proposals had been noted by my Department. Where the introduction or alteration of the proposed services would result in conflict with a prior application from a private operator, then my Department deferred a decision on the notification until the licence application had been processed.

In cases where the proposed service changes were judged likely to compete with an existing licensed service, the relevant company was given the option to proceed with the proposed service subject to compliance with conditions on pick up and/or set down of passengers to avoid direct competition with a licensed service. The option of initiation or alteration of a service without restriction, to compete with an existing licensed passenger road service, remains available to the companies by formally seeking my consent under section 25 of the Transport Act 1958.

Proposals for New or Amended Services

	Noted	Noted(with restriction)	Deferred	Pending	Total
Dublin Bus	55	0	5	1 currently being processed,1 returned as incomplete	62
Bus Éireann	58	5	3	27 awaiting processing, 1 awaiting cross-Border authorisation	94
Total	113	5	8	30	156

Question No. 115 answered with Question No. 103.

Question No. 116 answered with Question No. 89.