Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Transport when the planned efficiency review of Dublin buses is due to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26290/08]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Transport when he will give the go-ahead for the purchase of 100 further new buses by Dublin Bus in line with their application to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26291/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 183 together.

A cost and efficiency review of both Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann has commenced and it expected that a final report will be received in the Autumn. The funding of further new buses will be considered in the light of the outcome of this review and the available funding.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will review the decision to prohibit the extension of the 37 bus route from its temporary and unsafe terminus in Carpenterstown to the planned new terminus at the Blanchardstown town centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26292/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has not refused Dublin Bus any proposed changes to its Route 37 bus service.

Where proposed services by the Company are deemed to be in competition with services that are the subject of a licence held by a private bus operator issued under the Road Transport Act, 1932, Dublin Bus is required to obtain my consent under section 25 of the Transport Act 1958 before the Company can introduce such services.

My Department received a proposal from Dublin Bus on 1st May, 2008 for changes to its Route 37, the proposal made no reference to safety issues at the existing terminus. Following an initial examination, which included consultation with Dublin Bus, my Department deemed that the proposal would give rise to competition with an existing licensed service.

Accordingly, my Department advised Dublin Bus on 9th June, 2008 that an application in accordance with Section 25 of the Transport Act, 1958 was required should the Company wish to pursue the introduction of the change. Alternatively, Dublin Bus was also advised that it could review its proposals in order to avoid competition with the licensed operator. No revised proposal has been received in my Department.

The safety and location of bus stops is a matter for the Garda Síochána and controls on the parking of buses generally are applied under the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2007. It is the responsibility of Dublin Bus to obtain approval from the Garda Síochána under Section 85 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 for all stops on existing routes or stops along proposed routes, including the terminal points.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will outline, date and itemise the status of all applications received by his Department with respect to new bus routes, both from public and from private operators from the beginning of 2007 to date in 2008. [26293/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Road Transport Act 1932 provides the statutory basis for regulating the provision of public bus services by private bus operators. The Act provides for the grant of annual continuous licences, annual seasonal licenses and occasional licences.

Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus are not subject to licensing in accordance with the provisions of the Road Transport Act 1932. 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.

Generally applications from private operators and notifications from the State Companies are dealt with on a first come first served basis.

Where it is necessary for an application or notification to be held pending the outcome of a prior case, the applicant is advised accordingly.

Details in relation to the status of individual cases which are currently being considered by my Department are subject to commercial confidentiality.

Between 1st January, 2007 and 30th June 2008:

a total of 340 licence applications were received from private bus operators for new bus routes during the period 1st January, 2007 until 30th June, 2008. A total of 348 licences were issued for new routes during that time;

191 notifications were received from Bus Eireann of which 41 were for new routes. A total of 290 notifications were finalised during the same period of which 58 were for new routes;

79 notifications were received from Dublin Bus of which 16 were for new routes. A total of 82 notifications were finalised during the same period, of which 9 were for new routes.

The details of all current licences issued to private operators are available to view on my Department's website. Details of all services in operation by Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus are available on the respective Company websites and are listed in the Companies' published timetables.