asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health (a) whether his notice has been called to, or if he has received, complaints from the Dun Laoghaire Urban Council regarding the absence of control of the omnibus traffic on the Dublin to Dun Laoghaire and Dalkey routes, and abuses arising therefrom, and, if so, what steps he proposes to take in the matter; (b) if he can state the number of companies running buses, and the number of buses plying for hire on the Dublin, Dun Laoghaire, and Dalkey routes; what principle, if any, is acted upon in authorising the running of omnibuses for public hire; and if he will say whether there is any limit to the number of omnibuses that may ply for public hire along any particular route.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - OMNIBUS TRAFFIC CONTROL.
Representations concerning the matter referred to in the first part of the question have been received from the Dun Laoghaire Urban District Council. No complaints of the nature mentioned in the second part have been received by the Department. The number of companies running buses and the number of buses plying for hire as on 31st March, 1928, were 11 and 24 respectively. The Commissioner of the Gárda Síochána is the Licensing Authority for the Metropolitan Area in regard to the running of omnibuses for public hire and, in authorising the running of such vehicles, the Commissioner has regard to the suitability of the vehicle, proprietor, driver, conductor (if any), and, from the traffic point of view, the route itself. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
Does the Minister propose to give unlimited facilities for an indefinite period to the bus companies to carry on this cut-throat competition without regard to the existing transport facilities or its effect on the other sections of the transport industry?
It depends on what the Deputy calls "facilities." There are certain facilities which I could not prevent them taking.
Is the Minister aware that in the case of Dun Laoghaire there are 101 train single journeys, 196 bus single journeys and 200 different tram journeys to Dalkey, and will these facts be taken into consideration when granting licences to the bus companies?
Will the Minister consider the advisability of approaching the bus companies to extend their services from Dalkey to Killiney? Killiney has a smaller train service than Dalkey, but the bus companies do not send a single bus there.