The Road Transport Act 1932 as amended, provides for the licensing of passenger bus services for private bus operators. My Department does not currently have any application for a licence from a private operator to operate services on the Tullow to Dublin route. The details of all licences issued in accordance with the Road Transport Act 1932, as amended, are available on my Department's website.
Bus Éireann, however, is not subject to licensing in accordance with the Road Transport Act, 1932. I can confirm that my Department received a notification from Bus Eireann for a service from Tullow to Dublin in April 2006. My Department concluded that in this instance the proposed service would give rise to competition with an existing licensed service operated by a private operator for services between Hacketstown and Carlow via Tullow.
Therefore, my Department informed Bus Éireann that should they wish to pursue the introduction of this proposed service the Company would be required to submit an application under Section 25 of the Road Transport Act, 1958. To date no such application has been lodged with my Department. Bus Eireann currently operates a service between Waterford and Dublin via Tullow. In January 2007 my Department noted the introduction of one new service on this route.