Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Three points have been raised and I will try not to confuse what is a simple issue. The Dublin transport authority Bill will be before the House shortly. The Bill is almost ready and will deal with a number of important things including responsibility for the allocation of Exchequer funds, which will give the DTA power to ensure the delivery of priority transport projects. It will have power to contract out services, which will allow for the integration of services and infrastructure, ensuring that bus services are effectively integrated with the metro on its completion. It will have responsibility to deliver public transport infrastructural projects through existing agencies but, should it consider it more efficient and expeditious to do so, it can deliver a project itself. It will have power of direction to ensure delivery of integrated ticketing, passenger information and fares. That Bill is almost ready and will be published shortly.

As regards Deputy Kenny's second point, both he and I have quoted from the programme for Government, which includes a commitment to improve services under Transport 21 by reforming the bus licensing provisions of the Transport Act 1932. The Act is over 75 years old and is generally considered not to be suitable. We stated we would reform that legislation to facilitate the optimum provision of services by providing a level playing field for all market participants, both public and private. That is what the Minister stated the other day and he did not state anything else.

Proposals for that 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 to the Department of Transport for a licence under the 1932 Act until it is amended. The Minister said it would be open to all market participants, both public and private. If any private operator can show and prove that it can improve and enhance the services Dublin Bus or Bus Éireann consider they can do in many instances, it will not be ruled out. Similarly, if the public sector has a view on how it can enhance the service, it should not be automatically ruled out just for the consideration of the private speculative market. That is not what happens at present, so Dublin Bus should be entitled to put its views forward. Those matters will be dealt with in the amendment to the 1932 Act. Up to now, as the Deputy said, people who have a suggestion for a licence are quite liberally dealt with; they can put their case to the Department and seek a licence. That system is working on many routes and has been extended on many routes over the last few years. That is all the Minister stated, so I do not see any issue in that regard.

See this speech in context