Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of licences granted to public transport providers in the greater Dublin area to date in 2006; the areas for which the licences have been granted; the criteria used to determine the ability of the provider to deliver on the services underpinned on the licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36964/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Road Transport Act, 1932 provides the legislative basis for entry to the public transport market by private bus operators. In accordance with this legislation, private operators are licensed to operate coach and bus services within the State. Bus services provided by Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus are not subject to the provisions of the 1932 Act. However, both Companies are required by Ministerial direction under the Transport Act 1958 to notify my Department of proposed new services or proposed changes to existing services and require my consent where a service competes with an existing authorised service by another operator.

Under the provisions of the 1932 Act, my Department is required to apply a range of criteria in considering applications from private operators. These include a public interest test and issues such as frequency, capacity, adequacy or otherwise of existing bus services and availability of buses are also considered. Prior to a licence being issued, the applicant must forward to my Department the insurance and Public Service Vehicle Licence details in respect of each vehicle to be used on the proposed route.

The number of notifications from Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann for new routes or alterations to existing routes in the Greater Dublin Area approved to date in 2006, is shown in a table. Also shown is the number of passenger licences issued to date in 2006 to private bus operators for new routes or amendments to existing licensed routes.

My Department was unable at short notice to list the areas of all the routes concerned. However, this information will be forwarded to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.