Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)

It is always a strange day when one witnesses the transfer of powers from one Department to another. One must always ask what is the rationale underpinning the change. The obvious reason for such a move is the creation of greater efficiency, reductions in cost or a benefit in terms of a better standard of service to citizens and local authorities. In most cases, the change is for the better. However, what we have seen recently, especially in the provisional drivers debacle, is a case of good ideas that are poorly implemented and delivered.

I have several concerns with the proposal in hand, not so much in what it sets out to achieve but in how it will be rolled out. Take the example of roads in my constituency of Cork South-Central, which reflects other constituencies around the country. Housing estate after housing estate has been built on non-national roads and, in many cases, boreens. This practice has been going on for decades. When people come out of housing estates that have been built in the past 18 months to three years, they drive on new roads that may have been taken in charge by the local authority that will accommodate cars on both sides yet when they exit the estate they are on a boreen. I hope the Bill will create some movement in this regard. In 2009 the local area plans and county and city development plans will be examined on the basis of commercial, residential and community development.

The question is whether moving this responsibility to the Department of Transport will create a more efficient planning model or further exacerbate the disjointed planning we have had to date, namely, the building of housing estates on country laneways. Quality bus corridors and park and ride facilities do not fit into this type of planning. The Department of Transport appears to be growing by the day, and problems are increasing by the day in terms of the provisional licences and the Shannon debacles. Does it need additional areas to come under its remit to be mismanaged? It is unfortunate the Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey, is not present as the transfer of funding is a matter for his Department and he should be present to answer questions.

What is the status of the transfer of the proceeds from the collection of motor vehicle tax from local authorities to the Minister for Transport? Likewise, what is the position regarding the collection of fees for driving licences which has been carried out by local authorities? Will the Minister for Transport take responsibility for the planning of what have become suburban roadways because housing estates have been built along them? Where do they fit into the greater scheme of things? It is necessary to clarify whether these roadways will be considered to be in suburban areas or if they will be classed as non-national roads. Where will the responsibility lie in regard to the expenditure of funds for the maintenance of these roads? Will local authorities who had responsibility for the planning of these roads, and who had accounted for them in their budgets, have to look for sanction from the Department of Transport? Who will set the priority and be responsible for the planning and layout of roads? I refer in particular to county and city development plans that are coming up for appraisal.

In recent years we have witnessed significant congestion resulting from poor planning with regard to road services. I remember when Transport 21 was announced; it was about 6.10 p.m. on a Monday. This may not be the most appropriate thing to say but occasionally I fall asleep during the "Six-one" news. Perhaps we all do that, although I should not say that as a public representative. I was not sure whether I had woken up or was having a nightmare when I saw the then Minister, Deputy Martin Cullen, talking about €36 billion.

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