Vol. 572 No. 3
67 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Transport the reason he has not given permission for the streamlining of the Bus Éireann service between Ballina and the Holyhead-Dún Laoghaire ferry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23429/03]
My Department gave permission to Bus Éireann on 3 October 2003 for all the changes which it sought to its bus services from Ballina and Sligo to Dublin, including changes to services connecting with ferries to the UK. Bus Éireann notified my Department in March 2003 that it wished to revise its schedules on the Expressway service between Ballina and Dublin. Bus Éireann sought nine changes to that service, one of which related to a connecting bus and ferry service to the UK departing from Busáras in Dublin. The company also requested, for operational reasons, that my Department consider the proposed service changes in conjunction with proposals for a further 15 service changes to the Expressway between Sligo and Dublin, one of which related to an onward connecting bus and ferry service to the UK.
Most notifications are cleared quickly by my Department, the exception being where there is a potential conflict with private bus operators. In this case, the following had to be taken into account when considering the Bus Éireann application: two prior applications for new licences from private operators; one prior application for a substantial amendment to an existing licence; and six existing licensed services.
I thank the Minister for his reply and the good news. The bottom line is that people have been waiting for eight months. Irish Ferries changed their times, and as a result people such as economic migrants returning home to Ireland from their well-deserved holidays had to wait for four hours. The Expressway bus would leave Ballina at 12.30 p.m. and arrive in Dublin at 4.15 p.m., but people would have to wait until 8.50 p.m. to get the connection to the boat. The bus was there to do that, and had done so up to March. The sailing would be at 9.45 p.m. that night, meaning terrible hardship, especially for people from the west of Ireland.
I very much welcome what the Minister had to say. However, I wonder why people had to wait so long for the change in bus times. I was at the Minister's office about the matter on 26 August 2003 and again last week. I greatly welcome what has happened now.
Can the Minister see any way around this problem, such as a change in the interpretation of the legislation? I realise that other people such as private operators are involved. However, eight months is a long time to wait, even for those complications to be sorted out. How is it that a major operator such as Bus Éireann has to get the Minister's permission to change a timetable?
I regret the delay that has occurred in respect of this matter. I acknowledge and admire the Deputy's persistence, which has helped to focus people in terms of having a decision made in time for announcement today. He identified a matter which is at the heart of the issue of bus regulation, namely, the fact that we are operating under legislation which has been in place since 1932. I propose that this legislation be abolished in 2004 and that new legislation, incorporating a regulatory scheme for the 21st century and representing an entirely new approach, be introduced. The 1932 Act is an anachronism and results in our being obliged to pore over every detail of applications of this type.
Why can the Minister not give speedy decisions?
I thank the Minister for his reply. I welcome the fact that new legislation will be introduced because the 1932 legislation is out of date.
On a slightly different topic – it does, however, also involve waiting – I wish to refer to a shortage of bus shelters. In Castlebar, buses do not stop outside the hospital and bus shelters are not provided in Foxford, Swinford, Charlestown, etc., which obliges people to wait in the rain. I am aware that Bus Éireann has a contracted service with providers, but the latter will not establish operations in an area where it is not profitable to do so as a result of a scarcity of advertising. Would the Minister consider providing Bus Éireann with funding in this regard or could a PSO be put in place in order that bus shelters might be provided? I do not believe Bus Éireann is being assisted by the fact that people are forced to endure the elements while waiting for public transport. The latter is a disincentive for people to use buses.
There is also more rainfall in the west.
I will draw the Deputy's comments and requests to the attention of the company, which already receives substantial resources from the taxpayer.
