Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 485: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has received an application for a licence for a bus service (detailed supplied); the consideration given to the application; if he will comment on reports that he has ordered the cessation of the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12278/08]

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.

On the 20th February, 2007, my Department received an application from the operator referred to by the Deputy for a licence to operate bus passenger services between Dalkey and Dublin Airport. At that time the applicant was advised that due to the presence of a prior application from another private operator for services on a similar route, the consideration of his subsequent application would have to be held in abeyance until the prior application had been determined.

On the 16th July, 2007 my Department was made aware that the operator concerned had commenced the operation of an unlicensed bus passenger service between Dalkey and Dublin Airport.

The operation of a passenger road service without a licence issued by my Department is a criminal offence and the enforcement of such activity is a matter in the first instance for the Garda Síochána.

My Department immediately wrote to the Company advising it that the operation of such a service was in breach of section 7 of the Road Transport Act 1932. The Company was also advised that failure to cease the operation of the service would result in the file being forwarded to An Garda Síochána for appropriate action.

The unauthorised service continued to operate and on the 15th August, 2007, my Department wrote to the operator and advised that the matter was being passed to An Garda Síochána for its investigation. I understand from the licence holder that the new services will be introduced within weeks.