Written answers

Thursday, 18 October 2007

Department of Transport

Public Transport

5:00 pm

Photo of Pádraic McCormackPádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 9: To ask the Minister for Transport the role his Department has in the provision of bus services to utilise the port tunnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24403/07]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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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 a Ministerial requirement to give 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.

It is an operational matter for the private bus operators themselves to apply for a licence or in the case of Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann to notify my Department of their intention to provide public bus services which utilise the Port Tunnel. The Tunnel is currently being used by Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and a number of private operators, resulting in significant time savings for commuters. My Department is open to authorising additional services through the Tunnel, given the benefits it offers to commuters.

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