Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 206: To ask the Minister for Transport the mechanism that will be used to introduce the second hundred buses identified as immediately required in the 2006 Dublin Bus network review; if the issuing of licences for new routes under the 1932 Act is forming part of the first 200; the way the second 200 identified in the network review will be delivered; when they will be delivered; the person by whom they will be delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3374/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently in place two regimes governing the approval of bus services, one for private operators and one for Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann and I am currently considering their replacement with one regime, in the context of replacing of the Road Transport Act 1932. As I indicated in my statement of 28 September last, the precise arrangements for the awarding of franchises to private operators in the Dublin market will be dealt with in this context. In the meantime, the licensing provisions of the Road Transport Act 1932 and the Transport Act 1955 will continue to be applied.

At present, my Department is supporting both Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann in the acquisition of additional buses and replacement buses for the GDA. In the current year, Dublin Bus will be putting into service around 200 new buses, of which 100 will be additional buses allocated towards providing additional services. Many of these new buses have additional carrying capacity compared with the buses they are replacing. Bus Eireann is in the process of ordering 160 new buses for delivery and entry into service from summer 2007 on. I understand that Bus Éireann intend to assign 75 of these buses to the Leinster/East region. Some private operators will also be expanding services.