Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 291: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will give further details on the awarding of a licence for a route between Galway city centre and Knocknacarra; to whom this award has been given; if the offer has been accepted and his views on the way this will impact on those persons who currently provide a service for this route [39665/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The position regrding an application for a passenger road service in the Galway City area remains the same as stated in my reply to the Deputy's previous question, No. 321, on the matter as follows.

My Department is obliged to process any application received for an annual passenger license submitted under the 1932 Act. In considering the grant or refusal of an application, under Section 11(3)(a), I must have regard to whether the service in respect of which such application is made is required in the public interest having regard to the passenger road services available to the public on or in the neighbourhood of the route of the proposed service.

With regard to an application for a passenger road service in the Galway City area, a decision has been made taking into account all existing road passenger services on or in the neighbourhood of the proposed service. The applicant has been informed of my Department's decision and had been given time to accept or reject this decision. If the applicant rejects the decision, they have to be afforded the opportunity to lodge an appeal.

The details of the applicant and the application remain confidential until such time as the process has been completed.