Written answers

Tuesday, 22 March 2005

Department of Transport

Public Transport

8:00 pm

Photo of Michael NoonanMichael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 324: To ask the Minister for Transport the role played by his Department when Bus Éireann decides to extend a local bus service to a new route; if Bus Éireann is required to notify his Department if it decides to amend or reschedule such routes; if his Department is required to approve the changes proposed before the new routes are established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8782/05]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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By direction under section 26 of the Transport (Reorganisation of CIE) Act 1986, Bus Éireann is required to notify my Department of proposed new services, or proposed changes to existing services, at least four weeks prior to their introduction. The purpose of this procedure is to give effect to the requirements of section 25 of the Transport Act 1958. That provision is concerned with whether a proposed service by Bus Éireann would compete with an existing service by a private operator, licensed in accordance with the Road Transport Act 1932. The system of notification was introduced in 2001 on legal advice in order to ensure proper procedures in the context of implementing section 25 of the 1958 Act.

Where there is no competition from services provided by a licensed private operator, Bus Éireann is advised that the Department has noted its proposed service change and the company is free to proceed. Where a proposal would compete with an existing licensed private operator, Bus Éireann is so advised and the company then has the option, under section 25 of the Transport Act 1958, to seek my consent to initiate or alter a service to compete with the licensed passenger road service. Where Bus Éireann seeks such consent, my decision would be based on the specific circumstances and merits of the case. Where a proposal conflicts with a prior application from a private operator to licence a service under the Road Transport Act 1932, Bus Éireann, when informed of this by my Department, is required to defer the introduction of the proposed service until the prior application from the private operator concerned is decided upon.

Once the prior application for licensed services is processed, Bus Éireann is advised that the Department has noted the proposal and that it is free to proceed, or, where appropriate, it will be asked to review its proposals in the light of any licence that may have been issued to the private operator for the route in question.

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