Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 October 2018
578. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce legislation to provide the NTA with greater licensing powers to approve or reject route amendments by Bus Éireann and private operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43816/18]
View answerLicensing of commercial bus passenger services is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009. In licensing commercial bus services, it is important to note that the 2009 Act requires the NTA to seek to achieve, in the public interest, regulated competition in the provision of such services. Section 13 of this Act provides for the Authority to apply conditions to a licence in respect of the operation of the bus passenger service to which it relates.
My current proposals for amending the Public Transport Regulation Act, 2009 relate to school transport services provided by commercial operators and this is published as one of the heads in the General Scheme of the Railway Safety (Amendment) Bill 2018 and is available on the Department’s website.
