Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2008
313 Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Minister for Transport if he will investigate and implement measures to make up for the shortfall in public transport capacity on the routes formerly covered by a bus company (details supplied) in view of the fact that 11,000 commuters per week are being left without public transport provision from 27 June 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25690/08]
View answer315 Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Minister for Transport if he will investigate allegations of anti-competitive practices on the part of Dublin Bus, made by a private bus operator (details supplied) who has had to cease operating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25692/08]
View answer327 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport the action he will take regarding a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25940/08]
View answer329 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport if he has received correspondence from groups or individuals regarding cessation of transport (details supplied) through County Kildare; his plans to address this issue at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25959/08]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 313, 315, 327 and 329 together.
On 19 June 2008, my Department was advised by the Circle Line Company that it was going into voluntary liquidation and that bus services it was providing to and from Celbridge and Lucan that were the subject of licences issued under the Road Transport Act, 1932, would cease to operate from Friday, 27 June 2008. I very much regret the loss of employment and the loss of the significant level of services to which the licences related.
The operator of the services that have now been withdrawn has made complaints to my Department in relation to alleged anti-competitive practices with regard to Dublin Bus services. These complaints have been the subject of ongoing communications between my Department, Dublin Bus and the company. Dublin Bus has advised my Department that it is conforming to its obligations with regard to its service authorisations.
I understand from Dublin Bus that there are approximately 217 services daily from the Lucan area to the city centre and that 39 of these also serve the Celbridge area. I am also informed that there are approximately 190 outbound services from the city centre serving the Lucan area throughout the day.
It is open to Dublin bus or any other operator to submit proposals to my Department in respect of new bus services from the areas in question. On the 27th June, 2008 Dublin Bus made an application seeking authorisation to provide a small number of morning services from Celbridge and Lucan, subsequently the application was revised by the Company and re-submitted to my Department on 30th June, 2008. That application is currently being given urgent consideration by my Department.
314 Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Minister for Transport his plans to put new legislation in place to support the role of private bus operators in the Dublin transport market; the measures he will consider introducing; when they will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25691/08]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to expedite the establishment of a Dublin Transport Authority, which will have the necessary powers to ensure the delivery of the integrated public transport system envisioned under Transport 21. The Dublin Transport Authority Bill has been published and is currently before the Dáil.
The DTA Bill establishes a comprehensive framework which will give the new Dublin Transport Authority the power to procure public passenger transport services through the making of public service transport contracts. Section 48 of the Bill envisages that the DTA may enter into contracts following open tendering in respect of public bus passenger services, as well as metro and light rail services. It also provides that public bus and rail services can be secured by means of direct award contracts. However, section 52 provides that direct award contracts will only apply to the continued provision of the services currently being provided by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann.
Accordingly, the future growth in the market for subvented public bus services will be pursued by way of open tendering in accordance with the new EU Regulation 1370/2007 on public passenger transport services by rail and by road, which will become mandatory from December 2009. All contracts will be framed against the background of EU law and will set strict standards of operational performance and customer service and will contain penalties for non-performance.
The provisions of the Bill seek to maintain a balance between the need for transport services, including bus passenger transport services, that are the subject of a public service obligation and the licensing of private transport operators who provide commercial bus transport services and are licensed under the provisions of the Road Transport Act 1932.
The Programme for Government also includes a commitment to improving bus services under Transport 21 by reforming the bus licensing provisions of the Road Transport Act 1932, to facilitate the optimum provision of services by providing a level playing field for all market participants, both public and private.
It is my intention that proposals for a new bus licensing regime will follow in subsequent legislative proposals to be contained in the Public Transport Regulation Bill. At this stage it is too early to be precise on the detail of the proposals except to confirm that the new Bill will deal with the replacement of the Road Transport Act 1932 and the provisions of the Transport Act 1958 that relate to the provision of bus services by the State bus companies.
While it is not possible at this time to indicate a precise time as to when the legislative proposals on regulatory reform of the bus market will be published, applications for new bus licences and notifications from State bus operators will continue to be processed under the provisions of the Road Transport Act 1932, as amended, and the notification system with reference to the Transport Act 1958, as appropriate.
316 Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether competition between private operators and Dublin Bus is proving a successful model for providing improved public transport services for commuters in the Greater Dublin Area, in view of the recent termination of services by a private bus company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25693/08]
View answerEntry by bus operators to the Dublin market is currently governed by the Road Transport Act of 1932 for private operators and by the Transport Act of 1958 for Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to improving bus services under Transport 21 by reforming the bus licensing provisions of the Road Transport Act 1932, to facilitate the optimum provision of services by providing a level playing field for all market participants, both public and private.
It is my intention that proposals for a new bus licensing regime will be contained in the Public Transport Regulation Bill. At this stage it is too early to be precise on the detail of the proposals except to state the new bus licensing regime will be designed in a manner consistent with the new EU PSO Regulation. It is envisaged that the new licensing structure will apply in respect of all commercial bus services, including those provided by Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann, and that the powers to grant licences in the Greater Dublin Area will be given to the Dublin Transport Authority. The new Bill will also encompass provisions relating to the subvented bus market outside the Greater Dublin Area that are consistent with the EU PSO Regulation. In drafting proposals for reform for inclusion in the new Bill, I will aim to establish:
(1) a common licensing regime for commercial services, with clear criteria for the grant of licences,
(2) a contracting regime for bus services in respect of public service obligations which are open, transparent and flexible, and
(3) provisions for direct award services to Bus Eireann on the basis of open and transparent criteria in line with our EU obligations.
In the meantime applications for new bus licences and notifications from State bus operators will continue to be processed under the provisions of the Road Transport Act 1932, as amended, and the notification system with reference to the Transport Act 1958, as appropriate.
