I propose to answer Questions 359 to 361, inclusive, together. The National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the regulation of the bus market in Ireland. Responsibility for the licensing of public bus passenger services transferred from my Department to the NTA in 2010 under the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act, 2009. Accordingly, my Department does not have a role in day-to-day bus licensing operations.
However, as the Deputy may be aware, the NTA submitted a review of the operation of Part 2 of the Public Transport Regulation Act, 2009 to my Department in late 2016. Part 2 of the Act relates to the operation of the bus licensing regime. The findings of the NTA's review are currently being considered by my Department. The NTA's review is primarily concerned with procedural and compliance issues related to the licencing system and includes recommendations for certain legislative changes that would enable the NTA to deal more efficiently with its bus licensing functions, including enforcement issues.
In relation to the matter raised by the Deputy regarding potential breaches of licence conditions by a specified bus operator, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.