Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that Cobh will have an adequate community bus service after June 2007 when a private operator will cease to operate there; if he will allocate the necessary funds to Bus Éireann to ensure that an internal bus service is provided in Cobh to cater for residents there; and if he will make a statement on public transport provision in Cobh. [7055/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Decisions by private bus operators relating to the provision and operation of bus services are day-to-day operational matters for bus operators. Any bus operator may apply to my Department under the Road Transport Act 1932 for a licence to operate public bus services.

It is a matter for Bus Éireann to decide, having regard to its statutory mandate and within the resources available to it, whether to undertake the provision of bus services in any particular area, including Cobh. My Department provides funding to Bus Éireann annually towards the cost of providing socially necessary but non-commercial transport services. This funding has increased from €6.9 million in 1997 to €31.595 million in 2007.