Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason Bus Éireann must obtain approval from his Department for additional and improved bus services; and if he will confirm that Bus Éireann's application for additional services between Cork and Kinsale has been granted (details supplied). [26108/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Bus Éireann is exempt from the requirement to hold a licence under the Road Transport Act 1932, as amended. However, since January 2001 the Department has implemented notification and approval procedures in respect of the introduction of new or revised services by State bus companies. The procedures are designed to ensure that these exempted operators do not announce or introduce services which may serve to pre-empt the introduction of licensed services by private operators. The procedures are also designed to ensure fair treatment for exempted operators, enabling them to introduce new or revised services in an orderly and speedy fashion and providing a mechanism to enable them to comply with their obligations under section 25 of the Transport Act 1958.

I can confirm that in recent months my Department received three notifications for services on the route in question. The first of these notifications was successful and a reply issued to Bus Éireann on 16 September 2005. The remaining two notifications are under consideration. In accordance with standard procedures for processing the applications made by bus operators, details of any application received remain confidential until a decision is made.