Written answers
Thursday, 13 April 2017
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
National Transport Authority Remit
Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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359. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has oversight on the operations of the NTA in regard to itsr licensing of private bus operators and the enforcing and policing of the conditions of such licences. [18992/17]
Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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360. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a company (details supplied) operated for 44 weeks in breach of its licence and without the proper authority to provide passenger services; and if he will ensure such breaches are dealt with by the relevant authorities. [18993/17]
Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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361. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review the operations of the NTA with regard to the regulation and enforcement of regulations on private operators in passenger bus services to ensure full compliance with health, safety and conditions of their licences. [18994/17]
Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to answer Questions 359 to 361, inclusive, together. The National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the regulation of the bus market in Ireland. Responsibility for the licensing of public bus passenger services transferred from my Department to the NTA in 2010 under the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act, 2009. Accordingly, my Department does not have a role in day-to-day bus licensing operations However, as the Deputy may be aware, the NTA submitted a review of the operation of Part 2 of the Public Transport Regulation Act, 2009 to my Department in late 2016. Part 2 of the Act relates to the operation of the bus licensing regime. The findings of the NTA's review are currently being considered by my Department. The NTA's review is primarily concerned with procedural and compliance issues related to the licencing system and includes recommendations for certain legislative changes that would enable the NTA to deal more efficiently with its bus licensing functions, including enforcement issues.
In relation to the matter raised by the Deputy regarding potential breaches of licence conditions by a specified bus operator, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
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