Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 159: To ask the Minister for Transport when Dublin Bus will be given permission by his Department to run buses through the Port Tunnel; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the failure to sanction Dublin Bus use of the tunnel is causing significant extra delays for customers using buses from Swords to the city centre particularly those using 41X; when he proposes to permit Dublin Bus to use the tunnel in the same way as he is permitting private bus providers to use the tunnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2868/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department supports the use of the Port Tunnel by any bus operator, whether it is Dublin Bus, Bus Eireann or a private operator.

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 to the City Centre via the Port Tunnel. Therefore, in accordance with legislative procedures, Dublin Bus was advised that a decision on its proposal was being deferred until the prior application was finalised. Applications from private bus operators and notifications from the State Companies are dealt with on a first come basis and Dublin Bus is aware of these procedures.

The prior application was finalised and my Department issued a licence on the 3rd October, 2007 to the private operator concerned.

The Department is currently considering the Dublin Bus proposal taking into consideration the introduction of the newly licensed service and the matter has been the subject of ongoing contact with Dublin Bus.

An issue such as that which has arisen in relation to the Route 41X only occurs where my Department considers that the proposal conflicts with a prior application.

My Department has previously approved Dublin Bus to operate the Route 33X (Skerries — City Centre) and Route 142 (Portmarnock- Malahide- City Centre — Rathmines) service via the Port Tunnel. My Department has no other outstanding proposals from Dublin Bus for services that would utilise the Port Tunnel.