To ask the Minister for Transport if he will investigate and implement measures to make up for the shortfall in public transport capacity on the routes formerly covered by the Circle Line Bus Company in view of the fact that 11,000 commuters per week are being left without public transport provision from 27 June 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Reply:
On 19 June 2008, my Department was advised by the Circle Line Company that it was going into voluntary liquidation and that bus services it was providing to and from Celbridge and Lucan that were the subject of licences issued under the Road Transport Act, 1932, would cease to operate from Friday, 27 June 2008. I very much regret the loss of employment and the loss of the significant level of services to which the licences related.
The operator of the services that have now been withdrawn has made complaints to my Department in relation to alleged anti-competitive practices with regard to Dublin Bus services. These complaints have been the subject of ongoing communications between my Department, Dublin Bus and the company. Dublin Bus has advised my Department that it is conforming to its obligations with regard to its service authorisations.
I understand from Dublin Bus that there are approximately 217 services daily from the Lucan area to the city centre and that 39 of these also serve the Celbridge area. I am also informed that there are approximately 190 outbound services from the city centre serving the Lucan area throughout the day.
It is open to Dublin bus or any other operator to submit proposals to my Department in respect of new bus services from the areas in question. On the 27th June, 2008 Dublin Bus made an application seeking authorisation to provide a small number of morning services from Celbridge and Lucan, subsequently the application was revised by the Company and re-submitted to my Department on 30th June, 2008. That application is currently being given urgent consideration by my Department.
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