Tom Morrissey (Progressive Democrats)

The Minister for Transport announced last week, after much debate and public comment, that he intends to publish legislation, which will come to this House in time, establishing the Dublin transportation authority. He mentioned during his announcement of the reform of Dublin Bus that the new authority will have the power to dispense the State subsidy that is given to Dublin Bus and to monitor all the routes used by private and public operators of transport services. He also announced that Dublin Bus will get 100 buses and Bus Éireann will get 160 buses. More importantly, he pointed out that the Dublin transportation authority, upon its establishment, will introduce 100 private sector buses to the Dublin bus transport market. I would like the House to debate the establishment of the new authority and to discuss the powers it will have. I ask the Leader to arrange for the legislation I mentioned to be brought to the House in this term.