John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 453: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of requests he has received from Bus Éireann to provide new routes and services in the past 12 months; the number approved by his Department; the reason for refusal in all other cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23603/08]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 454: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of requests he has received from private bus operators to provide new routes and services in the past 12 months; the number approved by his Department; the reason for refusal in all other cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23604/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 453 and 454 together.

The Road Transport Act 1932 provides for the grant of annual continuous licences, annual seasonal licences and occasional licences to private bus operators.

The initiation or alteration of a bus service by Bus Eireann 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.

Between 1st June 2007 and 31st May 2008, 107 notifications were received from Bus Éireann and 141 cases were finalised by my Department. Details of all services in operation by Bus Éireann are available on that Company's website and are listed in the Company's scheduled timetable.

A total of 234 licence applications were received in my Department in the period between 1st June 2007 and 31st May 2008. 239 licences were issued during that period. The details of all current licences issued to private operators are available to view on my Department's website.