Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Transport when his Department first received a request from Bus Éireann for authorisation to operate an hourly service on the Rosslare, Gorey, Dublin Road; when a decision will be made in relation to this request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16759/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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A notification was received by my Department from Bus Éireann on 18 June 2004 for services between Dublin, Gorey, Arklow and Rosslare Harbour with a proposal to provide an hourly bus service between Dublin and Rosslare Harbour as well as a high frequency 30-minute service between Arklow and Dublin.

Bus Licensing Section of my Department informed Bus Éireann in writing on the 24 June 2004 that the notification was deferred due to two prior applications for passenger road licences from other operators for services on this route and that these applications fall to be considered first.

As one of these prior applications has now been finalised, Bus Éireann were contacted in writing on 7 April 2006 giving permission for the initiation of some of the proposed services on the route where the Department is satisfied that there are no competing licensed bus services. Bus Éireann was also informed that the initiation of some of the remaining proposed services in competition with the bus service that has been licensed, would require an application by them under Section 25 of the Transport Act 1958. Such an application is awaited.

The balance of the proposed Bus Éireann services may affect the consideration of the second application for licensed bus services by a private operator and a decision on Bus Éireann's proposal will be made when the consideration of that second application is finalised.