Vol. 439 No. 1
26 Mr. Cullen asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the proposals, if any, he has to liberalise further the provision of road transport services in this country in order to reduce costs and make industry more competitive.
30 Mr. Cullen asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications when it is proposed to introduce legislation to deregulate and liberalise the provision of bus services in this country as promised by one of his predecessors; and his views on whether any purpose is served by the present high level of restrictions.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 30 together.
It is my intention to bring forward, in due course, for consideration by the Government draft proposals to replace the Road Transport Act, 1932. I have initiated a review within my Department of proposals in this area prepared by my predecessors. Those proposals were formulated on the basis that the legislation currently in place is in need of updating to provide for the development of the bus industry and to meet the requirements of the travelling public. The proposals envisage the extension of competition within the passenger road transport area on a regulated, orderly and phased basis.
This review is also being undertaken against the background of the Government's proposals under the National Development Plan for major investment on public transport infrastructure and services in Dublin and throughout the rest of the country. Proposals of a regulatory nature in any sector must, of course, take full account of the impact of planned investment in that sector. The investment proposals are under discussion at present with the EU Commission. Until these discussions have been concluded and I have completed my overall review of the situation, I cannot indicate the likely content of legislative proposals on the regulatory side.
