Committee for Regional Development

Transport Bill

Lisburn City Council
Response to the Transport Bill

COMMENTS ON THE DOE CONSULTATION PAPER ON THE FUTURE BUS OPERATION LICENSING IN NI

• On the need to improve road safety, the Council should support proposals to improve future bus operations licensing in NI in principle.
• There appear to be vagueness in the document on what driver licences the voluntary or community sector need to hold in order to operate within the preferred option 3.
• No mention is made of the MIDAS scheme which provides classroom and on the road training for drivers.
• The proposals will have DOE undertaking some elements and DRD undertaking other elements.
• Community or voluntary organisations could find major problems particularly if they have paid drivers as well as volunteer drivers.
• There is merit in DOE looking closer at the minibus licenses in the rest of the UK. If the rest of the UK operates by way of ‘exemption’ then NI should continue to operate the same way.
• Lisburn City Council currently does not permit alcohol on its minibuses.
• The proposal will require off road overnight parking which would restrict hire to groups.
• NI has a land boundary with another EU community which is not the case for the rest of the UK. Recognition needs to be given to the need for clear legislation on vehicle and driver licensing for cross border activity.
• DOE in relation to driver licensing should provide a clear definition of (Not for Hire and Reward).
• The present proposal allows for a 3 tier licensing regime, but there is merit in having a 4 th tier to reflect the community/voluntary sector operation such as Lagan Valley Rural Transport.