Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Transport the position in relation to the bus service from Dublin to Tullow, County Carlow through Baltinglass (details supplied); if approval will be given to increase this service, Dublin to Baltinglass and Baltinglass to Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3985/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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In response to previous Dáil Questions by the Deputy on 15 November 2007, No. 102 and 30 January 2008, No. 538, I indicated that Bus Éireann had notified my Department of a proposed bus service connecting Tullow and Dublin operating via Baltinglass. Following an initial examination of the Bus Eireann submission, it was concluded that the service would be in competition with an existing licensed service that operates between Hacketstown and Carlow via Baltinglass and Tullow. The area where the potential competition arises is between Tullow and Baltinglass.

Accordingly my Department informed Bus Éireann on 30th April 2007, 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, under which the consent of the Minister for Transport is required before the Company can introduce a new or amend an existing service that competes with a licensed service. To date no such application has been lodged with my Department.

My Department has no record of the receipt of a proposal from Bus Éireann in respect of a service with terminal points at Baltinglass and Dublin.