Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I was always happy to make the point, and I will continue to do so. Before the general election somebody told me I would make a good Opposition spokesperson. However I did not want to join the Opposition because I would have to complain about everything. I am happy to represent my community in a constructive way and try to achieve for it.

The Bill provides for an amendment of the Local Government Act 1998 to allow for payments from the local government fund to the Minister for Transport in respect of non-national roads and Minister's expenses in maintaining the NVDF records, administering motor vehicle tax and issuing driver licences. These expenses are being met from the fund and the legislation provides for the administration of these expenses following the transfer of functions. The Bill provides a statutory basis for the Minister for Transport to make regulations on the NVDF functions being transferred to him. The Bill vests in the Minister for Transport all ministerial consent provisions in respect of railway orders where the works involved are likely to affect public roads.

Earlier I mentioned the non-national roads issue. Following the 2002 general election most of the Department administration and ministerial functions on roads, road traffic and road safety were transferred from the then Department of the Environment and Local Government to the then Department of Public Enterprise, now the Department of Transport. There is no longer any rationale for having two Ministers and Departments dealing with aspects of the public road network. The Government decided responsibility for the non-national road investment programme should be vested in the Minister for Transport, and the Bill provides for the administration of these expenses following the transfer of functions. It provides for a statutory basis for the Minister for Transport to make regulations on the NVDF functions being transferred to him. The Bill vests in the Minister for Transport all ministerial consent provisions in respect of railway orders where the works are likely to affect public roads.

I am not afraid to say that I have the same problems and frustrations as many Deputies in dealing with agencies where functions of the Department, particularly the Department of Transport have been hived off.

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