Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Transport the key proposals contained in the legislation to create a public transport commission; the functions of this body; the way in which this body will interact with the proposed Dublin transport authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3345/06]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Transport the members of the establishment team tasked with the delivery of Transport 21; if he has received the report of this group; the recommendations contained therein; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3343/06]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason no funding was provided in the 2006 Estimates for the proposed Dublin transportation authority. [3107/06]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress being made with regard to the establishment of the Dublin transport authority; if this authority will be fully operational during 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3339/06]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress which has been made in regard to the establishment of a Dublin transport authority; his views on whether this authority will be established during 2006; if he will oversee the delivery of Transport 21; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3568/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 122, 151, 174, 183 and 264 together.

At the launch of Transport 21 on 1 November, 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 appointed a team last November to finalise the remit, structures and human resource requirements of the proposed authority. The chairperson of the team is Professor Margaret O'Mahony of Trinity College. The other members are John Lumsden and Pat Mangan, assistant secretaries at my Department, and Colin Hunt who is my special adviser.

I asked the team, when considering the remit of the authority, to have regard to the importance of timely and effective implementation of the Transport 21 investment programme in the greater Dublin area, delivering an integrated transport system and of ensuring effective inter-agency co-operation and co-ordination. I also asked the team to make recommendations on interim arrangements to be put in place, pending enactment of legislation to establish the new authority.

I expect to receive the team's report in the near future and I intend to bring proposals to the Government for decision as soon as I have had an opportunity to consider the report. The funding requirements and timetable for establishment of the proposed authority will be considered by the Government at that time. The Government will also consider the interim arrangements to be implemented at that stage with a view to maintaining momentum pending enactment of the necessary legislation. In the meantime I do not propose to pre-empt the outcome of the team's deliberations and any future Government decisions.

It had been my intention that the proposed public transport commission would allocate Exchequer subvention through public service contracts for public transport bus and rail services, license commercial bus services and regulate fares on all bus and rail services, including Luas. Clearly, it is important that proposals for modernising the regulatory framework governing public transport should be coherent with the institutional arrangements for transport in the greater Dublin area. Accordingly, I have already indicated that I will review how best to proceed in respect of the 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.

With regard to the delivery of Transport 21, I have already established a dedicated division in my Department to oversee the implementation of all aspects of Transport 21. In addition, I will shortly establish a high-level monitoring group to be chaired by my Department and comprising representatives of relevant Departments and the State agencies with responsibility for implementing the projects in Transport 21.