Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 468: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Bus Éireann services to the town of Carrickmacross on the Dublin Letterkenny Derry routes have been cut back from nine stops each way per day to two and that as a consequence some passengers have been forced to disembark on the busy N2 Carrickmacross by-pass; if he will intervene to return these important services to Carrickmacross in the interest of safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38678/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The provision of any public bus services on a specific route by a private bus operator is subject to the 1932 Road Transport Act. In the case of the State bus companies, the initiation or alteration of a bus service is subject to compliance with the necessary regulatory requirement of giving advance notice to my Department and to compliance with the provisions of section 25 of the Transport Act 1958 concerning competition with licensed private operators.

My Department has processed a number of applications from Bus Éireann to facilitate a re-organisation of its services on the route in question. These applications provided for the re-routing of services between Letterkenny and Dublin at Carrickmacross and for an increase in services on the Monaghan Dublin route, which will continue to operate through Carrickmacross.

Decisions on the routing of Bus Éireann services are a matter for the determination of the company, subject to compliance with section 25 of the Transport Act 1958.