Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies for their contributions, including Deputy Durkan in particular for his modest and short contribution.

As Deputies will be aware, the merger of the NRA and the RPA is being implemented under the Government's plans for public sector reform and, in particular, its programme for rationalisation and restructuring of State agencies. This is an ambitious reform programme and significant progress has been made to date. The Government expects that all measures identified under the restructuring programme will be delivered later this year, apart from a small number of measures with which the Government decided not to proceed. These have been well documented.

A successful implementation of the merger of the NRA and the RPA will deliver a new streamlined agency which will be lean and efficient. It will be also be a dynamic, flexible organisation, capable of responding to changed circumstances as they arise. The merged body will benefit from combining the technical expertise and experience already available in both bodies. Although we are dissolving the RPA, the core specialist, technical and professional skills developed by agency's management and staff over the years will continue to be available to support the development of transport infrastructure in Ireland into the future. The Bill also provides a timely opportunity to update existing provisions in the Roads Acts, having regard to current requirements with regard to the public road network and the functions of the NRA.

I will now deal with the issues raised during the debate on Second Stage. A number of Deputies raised human resource and industrial relations issues associated with the implementation of the merger. I wish to confirm that the draft legislation provides that all staff transferring from the RPA under the merger will not have less favourable terms and conditions of service relating to remuneration than they held in the RPA before its dissolution. This means that no RPA staff member transferring over to NRA will be any worse off as a result of this merger.

The amalgamation of two separate entities is never easy. In this instance, we are merging a commercial State body into a non-commercial body, and this brings with it a unique set of challenges and opportunities that need to be carefully managed. I would encourage all parties to engage constructively and openly with a view to reaching agreement on any outstanding issues or practical difficulties involved in the implementation process.

Deputy Dooley and others expressed concern that section 17, relating to the procurement functions of the NRA, may be designed to remove powers from local authorities. It is rather, as the Deputy suggested, an opportunity to operate shared services and reduce costs - for example, through bulk buying in the case of procurement of salt on behalf of road authorities for the treatment of regional and local roads. This should ensure greater certainty in terms of supply when it is procured at an early date and will provide better value for money when bought in bulk. This procurement provision is for the benefit, or on behalf of, road authorities. This will only arise where the Minister considers it more convenient, expeditious, effective or economical for the authority to arrange such procurement. It will not take away any existing powers from road authorities. It will simply facilitate road authorities by providing that goods and services may be procured at national level by one body - i.e., the NRA - on behalf of road authorities when requested to do so by the Minister.

Deputy Doyle asked about the level of savings and efficiencies from this merger. It is expected that there will be €3 million in savings over three years as a result. The Deputy also raised a query about section 22. The purpose of this provision is to enable the NRA to maintain as it sees fit national roads in respect of which it has taken over responsibility from the relevant road authority. To this end, a new power to make by-laws is being conferred upon the NRA. Examples in which NRA would need to make by-laws include the erection of signage and parking on the side of roads.

Deputy McNamara suggested a technical amendment to give the NRA responsibility for cleaning drains along the roads it maintains. We will certainly consider this amendment, the technical nature of which is welcome.

Deputies Broughan and Nulty raised a number of issues concerning the Bill. They were particularly concerned about the name. The naming of the Bill is a result of its being a change to the NRA. It comes from a long line of Roads Bills, hence the name on the Title of the Bill. The name of the agency - the transport infrastructure services agency - is a working title that is being considered by the Department at the moment. I want to assure both Deputies that road-based projects will not get priority over public transport projects. There have been a substantial number of announcements in the media recently concerning sustainable transport projects across all cities.

There have been a number of provisions dealing with sustainable transport in recent times and great success with bicycle schemes.

Deputy Mattie McGrath said there should be analysis of whether mergers are successful. For once I agree with the Deputy from my county; we should analyse whether mergers that have taken place have been successful. In a previous life I was part of the Bord Fáilte organisation that was merged with another organisation, CERT, which became Fáilte Ireland. Tourism Ireland was set up after a merger between that body and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. The analysis should consider whether this is the right thing to do and whether it has worked. It should happen with all mergers done by different Governments.

This is a unique situation in that I agree with Deputy Mattie McGrath on three points. Motorways have been set up without adequate service stations, facilities and rest areas. I regret that this was done and it should have been provided for in a better manner. As a father of young children, I know how difficult it is to travel on a motorway without these services.

Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked about a proposal to allow the NRA to engage in pre-planning consultation with An Bord Pleanála. There is merit to the proposal, which has arisen from discussions on the future of the Adare bypass. It has been noted that the promoters of the Luas can engage in pre-planning consultation with An Bord Pleanála but the relevant roads authority cannot do so in the case of a new road. This must be examined.

Deputy Terence Flanagan asked whether there would be one premises for the organisation. An implementation group is currently looking at different options and that is the desired outcome. It may not happen immediately. He also asked about accountability arrangements for the new body. The new body will be a non-commercial State body and will be bound by statutory arrangements for accountability to the Oireachtas. There are no plans to change it under the Bill, save for formalising the arrangement for the CEO to appear before the Committee of Public Accounts and other relevant committees.

I thank Deputy Buttimer for his comments about the recent announcement in Cork city. I have taken up the issues he raised in respect of Washington Street with the relevant local authorities. Deputy Stanton asked about the Bill and suggested another name for the authority. It is a welcome suggestion and might not be far from the Department's thinking. The name needs to say what the organisation will do. I also asked the Deputy to refer the Irish Rail issue and the local improvement scheme, LIS, to me.

A number of Deputies raised issues with regard to local authorities' budgets and the maintenance and improvement of local and regional roads. Last month my Department announced a total of €331.9 million to be provided to local authorities for maintenance and improvement of regional and local roads in 2014. We are also giving local authorities significantly increased flexibility this year. We have reduced the number of grant categories and increased the amount allocated under the discretionary grant heading, and we will facilitate the transfer of funds between key grant categories where local authorities need it. Local authorities can also re-prioritise their road strengthening programmes. This flexibility will help local authorities to tackle the damage done to roads by recent storms on top of the extra funding given as part of the allocation from the Government in recent weeks. Regarding the storm damage, the Government recently considered a report on the severe weather that affected Ireland from the middle of December. Given the exceptional nature of the damage, the Government has given €70 million in additional funding, with €16 million for roads. This will help local authorities in their endeavours and the increased flexibility my Department has given on how to spend the roads allocation will give them greater capacity to deal with it.

I recently announced that funding of €5 million would be provided towards repairing larnród Éireann's infrastructure and equipment which was damaged by the recent bad weather. Approximately €2.8 million will be allocated to repair the roof at Kent Station in Cork. Plunkett Station will receive over €1 million to clear up rock falls and protect against future similar occurrences. There will also be funding for remedial repair works at Pearse Station and other stations. In recent days, I announced €15.5 million in sustainable transport grants across the regional cities in Ireland. Almost €3 million will go towards additional work in realigning Kent Station and reconnecting it with Cork city.

Finally, if any Deputies intend to bring forward amendments to the Bill, as some have suggested, I ask that they give the Department's officials sight of the amendments at an early stage so that, where possible and where appropriate, the amendments can be considered on their merits and accepted rather than being rejected for technical reasons or because there was not sufficient time to consider them fully. I commend the Bill and thank all Deputies.

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