Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

The Department understands from the licence holder that the service has been introduced and the frequency shall be increased in the coming months.

On 16 July 2007, the Department was made aware that the operator concerned had commenced the operation of an unlicensed bus passenger service between Dalkey and Dublin Airport. The Department immediately contacted the company and advised that failure to cease the operation of a service in respect of which a licence had not been issued under the Road Transport Act 1932 is an offence under section 7 of that Act. It is also a prerequisite to the issuing of a licence that, in accordance with road traffic legislation and safety, the applicant provides the Department with Garda approvals for all proposed bus stops along the route. No bus stop approvals have been received by the Department for any of the stops being utilised on the service in question. As the unauthorised service continued to operate, the Department advised the company that the matter was being passed to the Garda Síochána for its investigation. This matter is currently the subject of an ongoing Garda investigation. I assure the Deputy that I will raise the matter of transport in Dún Laoghaire with the Minister.

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