A private bus firm is set to challenge the Irish government in a High Court legal bid, over the licensing of a route to a competitor.

The Swords Express, which carries commuters from Dublin city centre to Swords, said it fears for its business after the Department of Transport issued a license to Dublin Bus to compete along the same route.

Transport Minister Noel Dempsey previously said Dublin Bus had been engaged in "predatory behaviour" by adding extra services, which led it to compete with private operators.

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Soon after the Swords Express was granted permission to run its service through the new Port Tunnel, Dublin Bus began to offer a similar route.

The Swords Express expressed its concerns to the Department of Transport.

According to RTÉ, documents released under the Freedom of Information Act confirmed Dublin Bus' journeys were unauthorised.

Dublin Bus later successfully applied for a licence from the Department of Transport to officially use the route.

The Swords Express has now announced it will take legal action over this decision.

Dublin Bus has defended its operations saying its express services have always taken the fastest route available.

The firm altered its prior route when the Port Tunnel opened.

(PR/JM)