Darragh O'Brien (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 295: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine the progress with the granting of a licence to Dublin Bus to enable it to collect and drop off passengers in Holywell/Gorse Hill area of Kinsealy and Swords along the very successful 142 bus route from Portmarnock/Malahide via the port tunnel into Dublin city. [23497/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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On the 18th May 2007 Dublin Bus notified my Department of its proposal to introduce a new service from Portmarnock to Palmerston Park, Rathmines via the Port Tunnel. On the 21st May, 2007 Dublin Bus was advised by my Department that it could proceed with the introduction of the service. However, a decision had to be deferred on the provision of services on the section of the route from the Swords/Malahide Road Roundabout down as far as Feltrim Hall. It was considered that the introduction of the service on this part of the route would give rise to competition with a proposed service for which a licence had been sought by a private operator.

My Department has informed Dublin Bus that it has no issues in relation to the company operating within the Holywell Estate. However, I understand that there are problems in relation to transport access within the Estate itself and that Fingal County Council is in consultation with the Estate developer in relation to the matter.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 296: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine the progress of delivering new bus services to and from Swords; and the progress with the granting of a licence to expand the 41X bus service to Dublin city via the port tunnel. [23498/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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On the 22nd March, 2007, Dublin Bus notified my Department of its proposal to re-route four of its existing Route 41X services from Swords via the Port Tunnel. At that time, my Department advised the Company that the proposal was in conflict with a prior application from a private operator for a high frequency bus service from Swords via the Port Tunnel to the City Centre. Therefore, in accordance with normal Departmental procedures, Dublin Bus was advised that a decision on its proposal was being deferred until the prior application was finalised.

Consideration of the prior application has been completed and my Department has recently issued a licence to the private operator concerned in accordance with the Road Transport Act, 1932. It is a condition of all licences that the services authorised must be in operation in their entirety within four months from the date of issue of the licence. My Department is now considering the Dublin Bus proposals for the Route 41X taking into consideration the newly licensed service.