Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 268: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason an application for a licence by a company (details supplied) to operate a coach service between Galway and Dublin via the new motorways and onwards to Dublin Airport via the port tunnel has not been adjudicated upon since it was lodged in June 2006; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that if this licence is not granted 30 jobs will be lost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5760/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Road Transport Act 1932 provides the legislative basis for entry to the public transport market by private bus operators. In accordance with this legislation, private operators are licensed to operate coach and bus services within the State. Bus services provided by Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus are not subject to the provisions of the 1932 Act. However, both Companies are required by Ministerial direction under the Transport Act 1958 to notify my Department of proposed new services or proposed changes to existing services and require my consent where a service competes with an existing authorised service by another operator.

The company in question applied for a bus passenger licence in 2006 for an express service connecting Galway City and Dublin Airport/City. The Dublin to Galway corridor features the operation of a range of bus services provided by a number of interests, including a company that has an association with the company referred to by the Deputy. A process of rationalisation of licences held by that company was completed in December 2008 with the grant of a single licence to replace three prior existing licences.

Applications for licences under the 1932 Act and submissions from Bus Éireann are generally considered on a first come first served basis. Prior to the receipt of the application in question, my Department was already in receipt of a submission from Bus Éireann for a proposal to operate additional services on this route. While certain of the services proposed by Bus Éireann have been noted, my Department has been engaged on an ongoing basis with that company in relation to the remaining services to which their submission relates. It is envisaged that a final determination will be made in relation to those services within the next two weeks. The position in relation to the application from the company to which the question relates was discussed at a meeting held between its representatives and officials of my Department on 16th February 2009. Significant progress was made at that meeting which will facilitate the determination of that application immediately following the finalisation of the prior submission from Bus Éireann.