Written answers

Thursday, 24 November 2005

Department of Transport

Proposed Legislation

5:00 pm

Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for Transport his proposals on bus licensing reform; the way in which these discussions with interested parties have progressed during 2005; and when he will be introducing primary legislation in this regard. [35898/05]

Photo of John PerryJohn Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will report on the progress made to date in 2005 in relation to the establishment of a public transport commission; the deadline for when such a commission will be fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36008/05]

Photo of John PerryJohn Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Transport if officials from his Department have met private sector bus operators in relation to the introduction of competition in the Dublin bus market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36007/05]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 66 and 97 together.

I am committed to the delivery of a high quality, effective public transport system in which buses will continue to play a central role. At the launch of Transport 21, I said that I was convinced that we need a new approach to transport in the greater Dublin area, delivered through a single authority with the power to ensure joined-up thinking and delivery across all transport modes. In pursuit of that objective, I have appointed a team chaired by Professor Margaret O'Mahony to finalise the remit, structures and human resource requirements of the proposed authority. When considering the remit of the authority, I have asked the team to have regard to the importance of timely and effective implementation of the Transport 21 investment programme in the greater Dublin area, of delivering an integrated transport system and of ensuring effective inter-agency co-operation and co-ordination.

As regards modernising the regulatory framework governing public transport, officials in my Department have held extensive discussions with representatives of Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus and the private bus sector, along with other stakeholders during 2005. In the light of my proposals for a Dublin transport authority, there is also a need to ensure that proposals in that regard are coherent with the institutional arrangements being made for the implementation of Transport 21, particularly in the greater Dublin area. I will review how best to proceed with public transport reform and the proposal for a public transport commission after Professor O'Mahony's team has reported and the Government has made decisions on the proposed transport authority for the greater Dublin area.

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