Skip to main content
Normal View

Public Transport.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 June 2004

Tuesday, 1 June 2004

Questions (277)

Richard Bruton

Question:

296 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the number of notifications he has received from Dublin Bus concerning a proposed new service or proposed change to an existing service in the greater Dublin area since 10 January 2001; if he can confirm that Dublin Bus does not require the authority of his Department before making a decision to operate a new bus route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16548/04]

View answer

Written answers

Section 7 of the Road Transport Act 1932 prohibits the carrying on of a passenger road service without a licence. However, section 24 of the Transport Act 1958 provides that this does not apply to the State bus companies. Section 25 of the Transport Act 1958 then goes on to provide the State bus companies may not, without the consent of the Minister, initiate any passenger road service or alter any passenger road service for the time being operated by them so as to compete with a licensed passenger road service.

Since 10 January 2001, Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus are required by statutory ministerial direction to notify my Department of proposed new services or proposed changes to existing services at least four weeks prior to their introduction. Where a proposal conflicts with a prior application from a private operator to licence a service under the Road Transport Act 1932, Bus Éireann or Dublin Bus, when notified by my Department, is required to defer the introduction of the proposed service changes until the prior application from the private operator concerned is decided. Once the application for the licence has been processed, Bus Éireann or Dublin Bus will be advised that the Department has noted its proposal and it is free to proceed or, where appropriate, it will be asked to review its proposals in the light of any licence that may have been issued to the private operator for the route in question. In the majority of cases there is no conflict with an existing licensed service or with a prior licence application and in these circumstances the companies' proposals are noted within one month of receipt and they are then free to proceed. My Department has received 149 notifications from 10 January 2001 to date from Dublin Bus for amendments to existing services and for new services in the greater Dublin area. Of these, 40 notifications were received in 2001, 33 in 2002, 52 in 2003 and 24 in 2004 to date.

Top
Share