Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

This proposed amendment seeks to clarify the provision of section 28(1)(f) of the Bill. This section provides for the amendment of section 48 of the Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 which relates to the making of public transport services contracts so as to introduce a new subsection (12). This provides that the authority must advise any local authority in whose functional area the proposed transport service will operate that there is such a proposal and invite the local authority to submit written views on the proposal.

In view of the fact that the initial direct-award contracts with Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann will be made by the authority as soon as the Bill is enacted - probably before 3 December - and the relevant provisions, both in this Bill and the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, are commenced, it will not be possible to comply with the new subsection (12) in respect of these contracts. The amendment seeks to confirm this by excluding the initial contracts with the CIE companies from the requirements of the section. As the deadline for signing the contracts is 2 December, at the latest, there would not be time to consult local authorities. However, the provisions will apply to all future contracts.