The Road Transport Act, 1932 provides the statutory basis for regulating the provision of public bus services by private bus operators in Ireland. Operators are issued annual passenger licences in accordance with the provisions of the Act for the services that they provide on a regular basis. The Act also provides for the issuing of occasional licences for once off occasions such as major sporting events, concerts etc. There are between 600 and 650 passenger licences currently in operation.
In the case of occasional passenger licence applications for a once-off event e.g. hurling final, these applications are processed immediately provided that all the appropriate documentation is in order.
It is difficult to say with certainty the length of time it takes to process an annual passenger licence application. Applications are generally dealt with on a first come, first served basis. However, pressing or exceptional circumstances can be taken into account in determining the order in which applications are dealt with as for example in the case of ‘time bound' applications e.g. services for school or college services or tours that are required to start by a certain date.
The processing time for applications can vary for a number of reasons, such as the complexity of the application, the number of prior applications on hand, lack of prompt responses from relevant third parties contacted for their observations on the proposed service, and where relevant information is not provided by the applicant, such as a valid Road Passenger Transport Operators Licence, current Vehicle Insurance Certificates, Public Service Vehicle Licences or approvals for proposed bus stops from the Garda. In addition, in some circumstances, while the preliminary work may have been completed on a particular application, a final decision cannot be made until other relevant applications received prior to it have been finalised.
The continuing increase in the number of licence applications from private operators and notifications of proposed new or amended bus services from Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus received in my Department has also impacted in the determination of licence applications generally.
My Department regularly reviews ways in which to improve the administration of the 1932 Act in so far as resources permit. Recent innovations include the standardisation of renewal dates for licence applications and the provision of guidance notes on the various licensing processes. In addition, the Department is engaged in a project to upgrade IT systems in the bus licensing area to increase efficiency and the speed with which applications are processed.
It has long been recognised that the Road Transport Act 1932, as amended, is in need of significant reform so that the legislative provisions better reflect the realities of modern transport services. The reform programme for the public transport market that I am pursuing will address these needs. My proposals include provision for independent regulation, and the introduction of a new legislative basis for the award of bus route licences that will be applied in respect of all operators. In the meantime, my Department will continue to promote improvements in the administration of the bus licensing service based on the principles of due process and fair procedures.