Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 544: To ask the Minister for Transport if there are currently, or have been in the past two years, any applications lodged with his Department for a bus licence to run a service between Dublin and Tullow, County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1650/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Road Transport Act 1932 as amended, provides for the licensing of passenger bus services for private bus operators. My Department does not currently have any application for a licence from a private operator to operate services on the Tullow to Dublin route. The details of all licences issued in accordance with the Road Transport Act 1932, as amended, are available on my Department's website.

Bus Éireann, however, is not subject to licensing in accordance with the Road Transport Act, 1932. I can confirm that my Department received a notification from Bus Eireann for a service from Tullow to Dublin in April 2006. My Department concluded that in this instance the proposed service would give rise to competition with an existing licensed service operated by a private operator for services between Hacketstown and Carlow via Tullow.

Therefore, my Department informed Bus Éireann that should they wish to pursue the introduction of this proposed service the Company would be required to submit an application under Section 25 of the Road Transport Act, 1958. To date no such application has been lodged with my Department. Bus Eireann currently operates a service between Waterford and Dublin via Tullow. In January 2007 my Department noted the introduction of one new service on this route.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 545: To ask the Minister for Transport the procedure necessary for Bus Éireann to establish a new route or change an existing one, in its network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1651/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Since 10 January 2001, Bus Éireann is required by Ministerial direction to notify my Department of any proposed new services or proposed changes to existing services at least four weeks prior to their introduction. Where there is no competition from services provided by a licensed private operator, Bus Éireann is advised that the Department has noted their proposed service change and the company is free to proceed.

Where my Department considers that a proposal has the potential to compete with a prior application from a private operator under the Road Transport Act, 1932, Bus Éireann is informed and the company is required to defer the proposed service until the prior application from the private operator concerned is decided upon. When the prior application is finalised and a licence has issued, my Department then reverts to consider Bus Éireann's proposals taking into consideration the newly licensed service. Details of all licences are available to the public, including Bus Eireann. Where the proposed new amended Bus Éireann service would compete with a licensed service, the company is informed and may then apply to seek my consent for the service under section 25 of the Transport Act 1958.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 546: To ask the Minister for Transport the number and proposed location for all bus licence applications that are lodged with his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1652/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The following table sets out the number of cases with my Department for consideration relating to applications for bus route licences under the Road Transport Act 1932 from private operators, applications for amendments to existing licences and notifications from Bus Eireann and Dublin Bus on 15th January 2008:

Information relating both to the identity of applicants and the services to which applications relate, including the locations of proposed services, are treated on a confidential basis so as to protect the commercial interests of the applicant pending the authorisation of the service.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 547: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has reviewed the emergency evacuation procedures in Busáras and other major public transport hubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1653/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by CIÉ that they have emergency evacuation procedures in place for their major public transport hubs. These procedures are designed in conjunction with the emergency services and An Garda Síochána.