Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Transport his Department's view on the use by public transport of the Port Tunnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9697/08]

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, as a means of obtaining faster journey times for commuters.

The provision of public bus services on specific routes to serve particular areas is an operational matter for the companies themselves.

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.

Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann are not subject to licensing in accordance with the provisions of the 1932 Road Transport Act, as amended. However, the initiation or alteration of a bus service by either Company is subject to compliance with the necessary regulatory requirement of giving 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.