Vol. 572 No. 6
330 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the Bus Éireann arrangements in relation to bringing people from Cavan town to Dublin for work; if an effort has been made to sort out the trauma which his decision has caused to so many families; his views on whether that is very unfair to people who wish to live in rural Ireland and commute to Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23936/03]
On 8 January 2003, Bus Éireann formally applied for consent to operate services from Monday to Friday at the stop in Cavan at 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. The company had been directed to withdraw those services in December 2002 when Bus Éireann was found to be in breach of section 25 of the Transport Act 1958 which prohibits competition with a licensed private operator without ministerial consent. I agreed on 21 May 2003, after detailed consideration of the matter, to the following in respect of Bus Éireann's early morning services. First, consent was given for the reintroduction of the stop at Cavan at 7 a.m. on the Monday to Friday, Cavan to Dublin route. Secondly, consent was refused for the reintroduction of Bus Éireann services between Cavan and Virginia, Monday to Friday, departing Cavan at 6 a.m. However, that service continues as normal, serving all stops en route between Virginia and Dublin.
It is open to Bus Éireann, the existing private operator concerned, and any other bus operator to apply to my Department for approval to provide additional services to cater for any unmet demand on the route. No such applications have been received to date.
Question No. 331 taken with Question No. 320.
