Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

I move amendment No. 23:

In page 9, to delete lines 4 to 6.

This amendment seeks the deletion of paragraph (iv), which makes an exception from the provision that account shall be taken of "the contribution the proposed public bus passenger service would have in achieving an increase in the availability of public transport services for the public".

This is very vague. A very effective service run by a company, whether in receipt of a subvention or not, could be damaged by a competitor who claims that an increase in availability is called for on the route. The amendment is related to amendment No. 22, which focused on demand and the difficulty of measuring it. This provision could be used as a device to grant licences where there is no additional demand or where demand is already catered for, either by a public service operator with a PSO or another operator. The provision could be counter-productive. I would like to hear the Minister's views on my proposal. This view has been expressed to me from the transport industry.

Amendment No. 24 is related. It would insert a paragraph making a further exception, having regard to "the vehicular capacity of the routes of the proposed services". People involved in traffic management suggested this amendment to me. There is already congestion some on bus routes, such as the quality bus network in Dublin and the green routes in Cork city, caused by buses, taxis, bicycles and so on. If the new national transport authority were to procure a bus route on a particular high quality route it would require the ability to reject licence applications which would affect the reliability of services on that route. By adding a service, one should not damages an existing very good service. Competition should not be the primary aim. Routes which have sustainable services with good frequency should not be clogged up by the addition of competitive services, as happened when deregulation was introduced in cities such as Glasgow 20 years ago.

The example of Leeds was cited to me. In that city, when a high quality bus rapid transit route is being procured the ability of private operators to apply for licences to run buses on that route is restricted in order to maintain the reliability of the core service. We have not seen such difficulties yet. However, this could become a major problem in the future when the Bill is enacted. I ask the Minister to look at this matter one last time.

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