Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans in relation to the reform of bus licensing to permit the establishment of feeder routes as link points to further reduce traffic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35038/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The provision and management of car parking facilities at railway stations, including the imposition of charges for the operation of such facilities, is an operational matter for Irish Rail and one in which I have no function.

It is a matter for local bus operators to apply to my Department to operate bus services to/from railway stations. The introduction of tax concession for parking at stations is not under consideration in the current budgetary environment. The position in relation to reform of bus licensing is that it is my intention that proposals for a new bus licensing regime will be contained in a Public Transport Regulation Bill which will deal with the replacement of the Road Transport Act 1932 and the provisions of the Transport Act 1958 that relate to the provision of bus services by the State bus companies. At this stage it is too early to be precise on the detail of the proposals except to confirm that the new licensing structure will apply in respect of all commercial bus services, including those provided by Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann, and will encompass provisions relating to the subvented bus market outside the Greater Dublin Area in a manner consistent with EU Regulation 1370/2007 on public service obligations.