Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 813 and 814 together.

Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann are exempt from the requirement to hold a licence under the Road Transport Act 1932, as amended. However, since 10 January 2001, both companies are required by ministerial direction to notify my Department of any proposed new services or proposed changes to existing services at least four weeks prior to their introduction.

My Department was unable at short notice to collate all the information concerning notifications requested by the Deputy in relation to Bus Éireann. Information relating to Bus Éireann over the last five years will be forwarded directly to the Deputy shortly. The information requested relating to Dublin Bus over the last three years has been forwarded to the Deputy.

An explanation of the various categories follows. Where there is no competition from services provided by a licensed private operator, the State bus company is advised that the Department has noted their proposed service change and the company is free to proceed. In some cases proposals are made for services on new routes where housing and infrastructural development is still in the planning phases. Where such applications are considered premature, they are cancelled and returned to the applicant. Where a proposal conflicts with a prior application from a private operator under the Road Transport Act 1932, the State bus company is informed of this by my Department. The State company is required to defer the proposed service until the prior application from the private operator concerned is decided upon. At that stage a decision is taken by my Department as to whether the service proposed by the State company can proceed.

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

Where a proposal would compete with an existing licensed private operator, the relevant State bus company 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 a licensed passenger road service. Where the State bus company seeks such consent, my decision would be based on the specific circumstances and merits of the case.