asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state what regulations are in force controlling bus traffic in the Free State, and by whom such regulations are issued; and whether these and similar vehicles are inspected at regular intervals mechanically and certificates issued, thus ensuring that, as far as possible, all necessary precautions are taken for the prevention of accidents and for the proper protection of the travelling public.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Control of Bus Traffic.
Bus traffic is controlled under the Dublin Carriage Acts, 1853, 1854, 1855; the Dublin Traffic Act, 1875, and Regulations made thereunder by the Commissioner of the Gárda Síochána with the approval of the Circuit Judge, the Summary Jurisdiction (Ireland) Act, 1851; Dublin United Tramways (Omnibus Services) Act, 1925; the Railways (Road Motor Services) Act, 1927; Roads Act, 1920, and Regulations as to use and construction made by the Minister for Local Government and Public Health under the Motor Car Acts, 1896 and 1903, the most recent of which is that entitled the Motor Car (Public Service Vehicles) Order, 1928, which came into force on 1st January, 1929.
The carrying out of the Regulations is under the general supervision of the Gárda Síochána, who insist upon the production of a certificate of a motor engineer. In the Dublin area periodical inspections are made by Gárda Carriage Office Staff, but further legislation is required to make the Regulations more effective throughout the Saorstát. The whole matter is fully dealt with in pages 36 to 46 of the Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Control and Regulation of Road Traffic, copies of which have been circulated to members of the Oireachtas.
I take it that the Act will deal with all these features referred to in the second question.