John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 296: To ask the Minister for Transport the breakdown by region of the €300 million spent through CIE on investment in public transport infrastructure; his plans to fund the change of carriages on the rail network in the south east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7857/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The allocation of funding in respect of national roads improvement projects to local authorities is a matter for the National Roads Authority under section 19(f) of the Roads Act 1993.

I understand from the National Roads Authority that funding allocations to the regions over the period 2001-04 are as follows:

National Roads

Public Transport Infrastructure

Capital investment in public transport over the period 2000-04 amounted to more than €1.9 billion. The breakdown is as follows:

South-East Rail Network.

The carriages on the Waterford line will be replaced in 2007-08 when the 120 intercity railcars, recently ordered, are introduced to service. The rolling stock on the Rosslare line has recently been replaced with more modern equipment. The funding for rolling stock replacement will come via the Exchequer as part of the national development plan.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 297: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will review the 1932 Act which controls the granting of licences to private bus operators on routes from the country and to Dublin Airport; if he will take immediate action to create more flexibility in the system and to issue licences to companies that have applied in a further effort to improve bus services to the regions and provide a joined up transport network; the number of applications or expressions of interest being dealt with by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7858/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Road Transport Act, 1932 provides the statutory basis for regulating the bus market in Ireland. This Act is totally outdated and is in need of reform. It is a commitment of this Government to replace the Act with a more modern regulatory framework which achieves a more open, effective and competitive regime and discussions are ongoing with CIE in that regard and it is intended to engage with the CIE unions and the social partners in the near future. Until such time as the necessary reform is achieved, my Department is bound by the provisions of the Act.

My Department currently has on hand 206 applications for new road passenger licences or amendments to existing licences. Applications under the 1932 Act are generally dealt with on a first come, first served basis. However, pressing or exceptional circumstances can be taken into account in determining the order in which applications are dealt with.

My Department regularly reviews ways to improve customer service to its clients particularly in the bus licensing area. In 2004, the bus licensing division put in place procedures to standardize the date of renewal of annual licenses. As a result of this process operators can now renew all their annual licenses on one of two dates in the year rather than having to apply for renewal of licenses at numerous times throughout the year. This initiative should facilitate operators as well as allowing the Department to use resources more efficiently.

Other measures that are in place include preference being given to all time bound applications and amendments received. These for example would typically include school or college services. In addition, the Department is engaged in a project to upgrade IT systems in the bus licensing area to increase efficiency and the speed with which applications are processed.

It is hoped that the combined effect of these measures will be a significantly improved customer service to both the State bus companies and private operators.