Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House and apologise in advance if I am not present to hear his response because I have to attend a committee meeting. Sinn Féin supports this legislation. Merger of the agencies concerned is a reasonable and sensible proposal. It is important we have joined-up transport infrastructure that works in harmony to provide a service not only for commuters but for businesses and the public. The proposed merger will combine the knowledge, expertise and experience of many qualified people working in both bodies concerned. It is a sensible and positive move which will benefit the development and delivery of infrastructure projects into the future. Obviously, the devil will be in the detail and the plans will need to be proceeded with carefully. Stakeholders should be consulted and there should be minimal disruption caused to workers and existing projects. That said, Sinn Féin supports this legislation.

I wish to raise two issues with the Minister arising out of his opening statement. The Minister mentioned the strategic review undertaken by the Department and stated that current levels of capital investment for transport infrastructure are insufficient to meet required standards and that this in itself could lead to more costly renewals in the future. Does the Minister believe that, given current financial projections in terms of the movement of the economy, these standards will be met into the future or is there a danger that build-up in this regard will increase such that it will not be possible for them to be met in the short to medium term? In the Minister's view, how long, owing to current levels of investment in transport infrastructure, will it take to deal with these renewals?

The Minister also stated that priority for additional capital funding will be on maintenance and renewal of the national, regional and local road network. A number of weeks ago I raised in this House with the Minister the local improvement schemes issue. I again stress the importance of this scheme and highlight how reduced funding has reduced, if not diminished, the capacity of county councils to use their own funding for the scheme. I hope that any plans that are being made for future investment and funding will include consultation with stakeholders such as county councils on how funding should be targeted and on how the Department and county councils can work together, not least to maintain and renew the national, regional and local network but, perhaps, to discuss how schemes such as the local improvement scheme can be enhanced and resourced in a real way. I know every Department, section and division has its pot out seeking more money but roads infrastructure is critical. It is difficult to promote road safety while some roads and lanes are not in ideal condition and councils have reduced roads funding spent before they get it.

Senator Barrett spoke about the tendering of bus routes, on which issue I, too, would like to comment briefly. Private companies will soon be able to bid for access to some of our public service obligation routes. It would be remiss of me not to mention the fear that there will be a drive to the bottom by some private companies, many of which could be larger multinational companies, thus undermining public transport companies on two levels. First, this could result in revenue being taken away from Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus. While it is not certain that Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus will not retain some of the routes put out to tender, new companies might pay their workers less or invest less in services as a means of achieving savings, which might not materialise. We do not want the State or those availing of these services to be ripped off. Second, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann could as a result of this proposal be forced to cut back on less profitable services in order to save many of the routes that will be subject to bidding. The fear is that rural routes in particular will be cut, thereby impacting on rural infrastructure and limiting the ability of people in the areas concerned to access urban centres.

As I said, Sinn Féin supports this legislation and the sensible proposal it provides for.