Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 361: To ask the Minister for Transport when it is intended that routes in the Dublin Bus network will be put to out tender; and when this approach was first adopted as a target for Government policy. [19630/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government contains commitments to replace the Road Transport Act 1932 with modernised legislation to allow, inter alia, for new services in the bus market, and to introduce new services both to some new housing developments and to existing poorly served communities. In addition, I have given a public commitment to modernising the regulatory framework governing public transport, not just in Dublin, but nationally.

In particular, 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 advancing the regulatory agenda, discussions have taken place with the key stakeholders. These discussions form part of a process of engagement that will facilitate and inform the determination of the appropriate structure for the new framework and supporting legislation. This process is also being informed by the work of the team of experts which was appointed to finalise the remit, structures and human resource requirements of the proposed Dublin Transport Authority. I have now received the report of the team. A draft Memorandum for Government is currently the subject of consultations with other Minister's and will be submitted to Government in the near future. I will finalise my consideration of how best to proceed with public transport reform in the context of the institutional structures recommended by the team. I would hope to be in a position to publish legislation on the matter in the current year.