Dublin's public transport network will be boosted with the introduction by the Government this week of 10 further licences for private companies to operate on city bus routes.
The Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, sought approval for the proposal at yesterday's meeting of the Cabinet and is due to make an announcement later in the week. It is expected that approval will be sought for further licences soon.
At present one private company is licensed to operate in Dublin, running between the city and the airport. The new licences will allow private buses to operate on 10 routes not currently covered by Dublin Bus.
The interpretation of the 1932 Road Transport Act has traditionally preserved the monopoly role of Dublin Bus and precluded private operators from competing. The Act, which is currently under review, was interpreted to mean that other operators could not be licensed.
Ms O'Rourke and also Dublin Bus, intends to introduce legislation which would allow for the issuing of franchises which would be decided by a transport regulator.
In the meantime, the 1932 Act is being reinterpreted and private bus operators who applied and were turned down in the past are being granted licences on certain routes.
Last November the Government invited submissions on the reform of the 1932 legislation and 60 submissions were received. Department of Public Enterprise officials were to hold discussions with trade unions and other groups on how the legislation could be reformed.
Earlier in the year the Dublin Chamber of Commerce called on Ms O'Rourke to put private buses on the road as soon as possible and said that a public transport regulator would determine the appropriate service standards required of the public and private operators.
The chamber said that when private operators were allowed into the market there should be no cherry-picking of the best services.
It said that private operators were ready to provide the services.