asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he has received many protests against the discontinuance of the bus service between Roscrea and Limerick by C.I.E., and if he will state the reason for the company's refusal to resume the service and their inability to operate the service without financial loss in view of the fact that a local bus owner is in a position to run a service if permitted; further, if he is prepared to reconsider the latter's application for a licence to operate the service or alternatively request C.I.E. to resume theirs.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Roscrea-Limerick Bus Service.
I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave in Dáil Éireann on the 11th November, 1953, to a question on this subject by Deputy Mrs. Ryan.
Does the Minister consider that in a case such as this, where C.I.E. have decided that they cannot operate a service without serious loss and when we have a local applicant who has applied to the Minister for Industry and Commerce for a licence to operate a private bus, that that licence should be granted so that the general public may have a service? Could the Minister, in connection with the letter which was sent from his Department in September last, give the reasons why the application for a licence to operate a private bus was not favourably considered?
It is the general policy of this State to give the operation of omnibus services to C.I.E.
C.I.E. cannot operate the service. They will not operate the service and we have a local bus owner who is prepared to operate a service even more cheaply than C.I.E. and more efficiently. Why cannot the Minister grant a licence and agree to let private buses go on trial? Would the Minister be prepared to do that?
My information as to the facts is different.