Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 195: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress made in putting in place alternative forms of support for public transport services to replace the excise duty relief which will end on 31 October 2008; the alternatives currently under consideration; when he expects to announce the details of the alternative scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24271/08]

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 205: To ask the Minister for Transport the action being taken to address the issue of the alternative programme to replace the excise duty refund to public transport operators (details supplied). [24411/08]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 206: To ask the Minister for Transport the alternative mechanisms being put in place to replace the excise duty refund for public transport services which is being terminated on 31 October 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24435/08]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 207: To ask the Minister for Transport the alternative to the excise refund on diesel planned to help public transport providers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24436/08]

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Transport the measures in place or proposed to be put in place to replace the imminent abolition of the excise duty refund for public transport services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24680/08]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Transport if an alternative mechanism has been developed and confirmed as feasible to substitute for the loss in the excise duty refund for public transport services; if he has assessed the merits of a proposal put forward by the Coach Tourism and Transport Council, which develops a scheme promoting positive gains in CO2 emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24779/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 195, 205 to 207, inclusive, 209 and 210 together.

The EU Energy Tax Directive incorporated special derogations which allowed specific excise duty reliefs to be applied in a number of Member States below the EU minimum duty rate. In the case of public transport services under my responsibility, these derogations included reduced rates to apply to fuel used for scheduled bus services. Scheduled bus services comprise bus passenger services provided by Bus Atha Cliath, Bus Eireann, private operators in accordance with bus route licences under the 1932 Road Transport Act and holders of Authorisations pursuant to European Council Regulation 684/92 as amended. While these derogations expired on 31 December 2006, Ireland, along with other Member States, sought retention of its derogations beyond that date. However the European Commission, which is the deciding authority, has to date refused all such requests. The Finance Act 2008 provided the basis for the removal of these excise duty reliefs with effect from 1 November 2008.

My Department, in conjunction with the Department of Finance and other Departments, has been exploring whether alternative support mechanisms could be appropriate and could be done in a manner compatible with EU State Aid and other legal requirements. My Department has also met the Coach Tourism and Transport Council, as well as CIE, on this matter. My Department has also received a written submission from the Coach Tourism and Transport Council. While my Department is in discussion with the Department of Finance on these issues, it is necessary to stress that, despite claims being made otherwise, introducing an alternative suitable mechanism is not a straightforward matter in the current economic climate.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will change the hours of operation of the Ennis town bus service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24273/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The bus operator referred to by the Deputy was granted an Annual Passenger licence for the provision of passenger services in Ennis town, on 29th January 2008. An application to amend this licence was received by my Department on 19 June 2008, and is currently being processed.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Transport when a licence will issue to a company (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24274/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Bus Éireann currently operates a service between Limerick and Shannon Airport, which serves Bunratty and Sixmilebridge. Having regard to the provisions of Section 11 of the 1932 Act, my Department has refused an application from the bus operator referred to by the Deputy for a service from Sixmilebridge to Shannon Airport via Bunratty, because of the presence of the existing passenger services on the route. The application was refused on 30 July 2007. The operator was given 21 days to lodge an appeal against my Department's decision. As my Department received no appeal, the case was closed.