Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 298: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason for the delay in granting an extension licence to Dublin Bus for the 161 route allowing for a new terminus in Dundrum. [4242/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that my Department received a notification from Dublin Bus on 30th May, 2006, in respect of an extension to the existing Route 161 service. On receipt of the notification, Dublin Bus was informed that the Department was giving consideration to prior applications from a private bus operator for licences for bus services that incorporated operations on the same route as that proposed for the extension to their 161 service. Dublin Bus was informed on 26th October, 2006 that the licences had issued and the notification would be examined taking into consideration the licensed services in question.

Where a notification for a new service or an alteration to an existing service is received from Dublin Bus or Bus Éireann and that proposal is deemed to be in competition with an existing licensed service, the Department will apply section 25 of the Road Transport Act, 1958 to the consideration of that notification. Where that section is applied, the consent of the Minister for Transport is required before the new or altered service can be introduced.

Dublin Bus has been kept informed of developments in relation to the newly licensed services and further consultation with the Company is planned so that a final determination can be made in respect of their submission.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 299: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to whether all Dublin Bus buses servicing hospitals in the Dublin region are wheelchair accessible; if not, if he will ensure that this is the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4250/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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This is an operational matter for Dublin Bus. However, I understand from Dublin Bus that it is the company's policy since 2000 to purchase only wheelchair accessible vehicles. Currently 58% of the fleet is accessible and Dublin Bus plans to have all of the fleet wheelchair accessible by 2012. I also understand from Dublin Bus that all of Dublin's major public hospitals are served by at least one route on which all of its vehicles are fully accessible.

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 300: To ask the Minister for Transport if there were recent irregularities or recent changes to a Bus Éireann timetable (details supplied) or route changes whereby the timetabled buses do not arrive at Balbriggan to pick up passengers Drogheda bound; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4258/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of public bus services by Bus Éireann on specific routes is a day-to-day operational matter for the Company. However, the initiation or alteration of a bus service by Bus Éireann 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.

All services on the 101 route between Dublin and Drogheda approved by my Department are scheduled to stop at Balbriggan (Bank of Ireland). My Department has not received any recent notification from Bus Éireann to alter the 101 service.