Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The proposal to merge the National Roads Authority, NRA, and Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, is consistent with the Government's plans for public sector reform and, in particular, its programme for the rationalisation of State agencies. The amalgamation is being implemented through the dissolution of the RPA and the transfer of its functions and staff to the NRA. The merger will add one more body to the 43 State agencies already merged or amalgamated. It is expected that there will be over 100 fewer State agencies and public bodies before the term of the Government ends. This will lead to a more efficient public sector that can deliver real developments for the betterment of the country.

The merger of the NRA and RPA will create a new organisation that will be a leader in the planning, delivery and management of transport infrastructure, demonstrating the best and most efficient use of public resources. The need for restructuring of the institutional framework in the transport sector is recognised. However, through the merger, core technical and professional skills will be retained in the public sector to support the future development of transport infrastructure. The body comprising the merged NRA and RPA will remain a non-commercial State body and it will be given the operational title Transport Infrastructure Service, TIS, to reflect better its expanded functions. The new organisation will benefit from combining the technical expertise and experience available in both the NRA and-or the RPA.

Section 6 of the Bill provides the main function of the legislation, namely, to transfer the RPA to the NRA. The section also provides that any reference to the RPA that relates to a function transferred under the section is to be construed as a reference to the NRA.

Section 10 sets out provisions to ensure continuity after the transfer to the NRA is completed with regard to functions, assets and liabilities of the RPA. Anything related to the transfer of the functions of the RPA not completed on its dissolution can be carried on or completed by the NRA. Every instrument and document made by the RPA before dissolution will be made by the NRA. Any reference to the RPA in the memorandum and articles of any company will be construed as a reference to the NRA.

Section 13 is an important provision that provides for the transfer of the staff from the RPA to the NRA on the dissolution day. Staff will not have less favourable terms and conditions of service relating to remuneration than they enjoyed in the RPA before its dissolution. I welcome that.

Section 14 provides that a transferred person’s superannuation arrangements will continue in accordance with existing RPA pension schemes, as applied before the dissolution day. Subsection (2) is a technical provision to prevent circumstances where RPA staff could inadvertently become members of the single pension scheme introduced by the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012.

I hope the fact the legislation is referred to as the Roads Bill does not mean the NRA's functions will be prioritised over those of the RPA. Rail infrastructure is still underdeveloped, much more so than road infrastructure. I would like to see an amendment to the legislation that ensures a balance between the NRA and RPA components of the TIS to ensure road investment will not dominate over investment in railways. Simply put, we need to build more railway infrastructure, particularly in urban areas.

The recent storms affecting the entire country brought home to us the reality that climate change is happening. I am not dismissing at all the need to maintain our road network or invest in new roads but it does not make much sense to invest everything in the road network when there are other means of transport that people need and want, such as rail transport. In that light, I am very pleased the initiative has been taken to merge the two Luas lines in Dublin. I will be watching that project with interest. I hope progress is made on the DART underground interconnector when capital expenditure is reviewed. This large project would revolutionise public transport in Dublin and improve the road network around the city because it would relieve traffic congestion, reduce carbon emissions and address the question of climate change. I support the Bill.

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