John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of licences that have been issued to private bus companies to operate bus services in the greater Dublin area; the number of these services that are operational; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that licences being held for extended periods without the provision of a service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4042/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Road Transport Act, 1932, as amended, provides the statutory basis for regulating the provision of public bus services by private bus operators. In accordance with the legislation, private bus operators apply to my Department for licences to operate scheduled bus passenger services within the State.

There are currently 54 licences issued to private bus operators authorising bus passenger services within the Dublin area. These include commuter type services, Airport services, LUAS feeder services, tours, night link, and school services. The details of all current licences issued to private operators are available to view on my Department's website.

All licences issued in accordance with the Road Transport Act, 1932 have standard conditions associated with them and compliance with those conditions is the responsibility of the service operator in each instance. A condition of all licences includes the requirement whereby the service must be in operation in its entirety within 4 months from the date of issue of the licence. In exceptional cases, the four month deadline may be extended subject to the prior written approval of my Department. It is also a condition of all licences that the licensee adheres to the approved timetable as listed on the licence.

My Department is not aware of any licences being held by private operators that are not being operated save in circumstances where the period of introduction has not yet expired or where the operator has applied to my Department and has been granted an extension to that period in accordance with the provisions of the Road Transport Act 1932, as amended.

All licences with the exception of Occasional licences that are issued for a particular event must be renewed each year. In order for the Department to renew a licence, the licensee must provide evidence to the effect that the service in being operated in accordance with the conditions attached to the licence including the authorised timetable. Evidence to support this must be in the form of a current published timetable, website timetable or letter from An Garda Síochána confirming that the service being operated is in accordance with the licence. Where evidence of operation is not available, the Department informs the operator that the application for renewal cannot be processed and the licence is considered lapsed. In addition to checks made at renewal stage, Departmental officers carry out periodic monitoring spot checks throughout the year to ensure compliance by operators to their licensed services.