With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 20, 21 and 22 together.
CIE informed me some time ago that because of the losses on the Hill of Howth bus services they were anxious to transfer the services to any operator who would be willing to operate them.
The transfer of the services in this manner would require the issue of a road passenger licence or licences by me under the Road Transport Act, 1932. I informed CIE that if they could find an experienced private operator who could be depended upon to provide a regular public service with an acceptable timetable and at acceptable charges I would not rule out the possibility that the service might be transferred to him. I made it clear to the board, however, that I would not in any circumstances visualise a position in which the residents of the Hill of Howth and the summer visitors would be deprived of a regular bus service and that in advance of any transfer I would expect from CIE an undertaking that they would immediately resume operations in the event that the private operator ceased to provide services or failed to comply with the conditions of any licence which I might grant to him.
So far as I am aware CIE do not at present contemplate the handing over of any other services, economic or uneconomic, to private enterprise.