THE EUROPEAN Commission is to investigate the Department of Transport’s handling of a route licence application for a bus service in South Dublin.
Fine Gael Senator Eugene Regan lodged a complaint about the department’s failure to award a public licence to the Patton Flyer, a bus service that operates from Dalkey to Dublin airport.
The route was established by company director Trevor Patton in 2006 and operates under private hire rules using an international road transport operators licence. The rules mean the company cannot erect bus stops, advertise in Dublin airport or on its vehicles or accept OAP bus passes.
Mr Patton said he originally applied for a route licence to the Department of Transport in June 2006. The department eventually offered the company a licence in January 2009, but for a reduced route with increased frequency.
The company could not accept the restricted route and in November the department awarded a licence to international bus company Aircoach, with the original, unrestricted route. They have not yet begun a service.
The department has said Mr Patton was operating illegally and that his application was not received until February 2007, after Aircoach’s application was received. But Mr Regan said the local operator was being “muscled out” despite the demand and popularity of the service he provided.
He said he lodged a formal complaint with the commission in an effort to resolve the matter. The complaint challenges Irish compliance with EU competition law in the awarding of bus licences.
A similar complaint made by the Senator in 2005 led to the reinstatement of the number 8 bus.
“For nearly four years the Patton Flyer has been attempting to secure a licence for what is a hugely popular and locally supported service. Instead of Mr Patton’s initiative being rewarded, his licencing application has been caught up in a bureaucratic nightmare,” Mr Regan said.
His complaint to the commission has been registered by the directorate general for energy and transport, he said. Mr Patton has made a separate complaint to the Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, in relation to the “administrative and policy failures” which delayed the awarding of the licence.
