Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The Government for the past ten years, as Deputy Kenny has said, has continued both to put in more buses — we have 1,100 more buses on the road — and we have continued on certain routes to allow additional licences for private operators. We are committed to seeing the further expansion and enhancement of public bus services. We want to see a top class service delivered to all citizens. As I said when talking about infrastructural issues during Question Time last Wednesday, we are wholeheartedly committed to getting best value for the travelling public and the taxpayer from significant subsidies being invested by the Exchequer in public bus services operated by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann. In order to achieve this we have set out a number of priorities in the programme for government, which contains a commitment to expedite the establishment of the Dublin transport authority. Hopefully that legislation will be before us very soon. It will have the necessary powers to ensure the delivery of an integrated public transport system that was envisioned under Transport 21. These powers of the DTA will not be limited. They will help with a lot of the difficulties that managers have cited concerning corridors and infrastructural projects. That Bill will be before the House in the next few weeks.

The programme for Government also includes a commitment to improve bus services under Transport 21 by reforming the bus licensing provisions of the Transport Act 1932, and to facilitate the optimum provision of services by providing a level playing field for all market participants, both public and private. That is the Government's policy. Proposals for a new bus licensing regime will follow in subsequent legislative proposals. In the meantime, it will be business as usual for all private operators who wish to apply for a licence. There is no change under the present system whereby, as the Deputy said, there is more competition and many services have been enhanced. That position will continue.

In terms of the subvented bus market, which is supported by Exchequer moneys, the Dublin transport authority Bill will set out mechanisms for awarding contracts for this subvention taking into full account the new regime introduced under EU law, which comprises the new regulations of last October. They will become mandatory from the end of December 2009. In addition, the Department will shortly undertake a study of how Dublin Bus organises network planning capacity.

In conclusion, there is no change in the system that has been operating for the last ten years but there is a commitment to reform the legislative position under the Transport Act 1932 to ensure the provision of a level playing field for all market participants, both public and private, which is not there at present. Proposals for the new licensing regime will follow in subsequent legislative proposals. Deputy Kenny thought we were rowing back from what is currently there but we are not doing so.

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