Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 December 2016
462. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the coach passenger industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38373/16]
View answerAs the Deputy has referred to, my predecessor approved proposals to reform the current licensing regime for Large Public Service Vehicles (LPSVs), which is presently administered by An Garda Síochána.
A key aim of the reform is to streamline the process for industry so as to eliminate the overlap and duplication that currently exists with regard to the various elements of the current LPSV licensing regime. As part of the overall reform package, my Department has been liaising with other stakeholders, including the Coach Tourism and Transport of Ireland, with a view to agreeing the most appropriate mechanism and institutional arrangements to effect this change, as well as other related reforms to the bus regulatory regime. A number of options are under consideration in this regard.
Regardless of which options are deemed to be the most appropriate, primary legislation will be required to underpin the new arrangements. Work is also underway to define the precise dimensions of the legislative changes required to provide both for the new regulatory regime for LPSVs and to revoke the existing legislative provisions governing such vehicles.
