Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for Transport when he expects to establish the new Dublin Transport Authority; the powers the authority will have to issue directions to CIÉ companies in relation to the public transport services they provide and the procurement measures they follow. [41703/06]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will extend the 1 December 2006 deadline for submissions on the proposed Dublin Transport Authority as requested by one of the transport unions, the NBRU. [41674/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Transport the way he proposes to ensure that the proposed Dublin Transport Authority is fully accountable. [41664/06]

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Transport the way he will absorb the Dublin Transportation Office within the new Dublin Transport Authority; the arrangements that will be made for existing staff within the Dublin Transportation Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41705/06]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for Transport the measures that will be in place to ensure that land use planning will be co-ordinated with future transport plans which will be set by the Dublin Transport Authority; and the sanctions that will be available to the new authority if local authority development plans, local area plans or individual planning applications run contrary to transport planning objectives. [41709/06]

Gerard Murphy (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Transport when the chairperson and board of the Dublin Transport Authority will be appointed; if he intends that they will operate in shadow format pending the passage of enabling legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41742/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Transport the location from which the expertise required to perform the work undertaken by the Dublin Transportation Office will be acquired to validate the many extensive and complex transport projects planned over the next ten years. [41785/06]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Transport if the legislation to formally establish the Dublin Transport Authority will be introduced before the Christmas 2006 recess; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41743/06]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will reconsider the recommendation to completely disband the Dublin Transportation Office in view of its vast experience, expertise and unique skills in traffic forecasting and planning. [41784/06]

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Transport the role which the proposed Dublin Transport Authority will have in relation to land usage in the greater Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41775/06]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has held discussions with both the DTO and the Railway Procurement Agency in relation to their future status and function once the Dublin Transport Authority is established; the issues which emerged from such discussions; the actions his Department intends to pursue to overcome the concerns of both bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41747/06]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason he is considering disbanding the Rail Procurement Agency and including its role within the proposed Dublin Transport Authority; the reason he has not taken a similar position with regard to the National Roads Authority; and the terms and conditions that will apply for RPA staff who transfer to the new authority. [41704/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 61, 62, 67, 76, 80, 93, 100, 116, 132, 135 and 140 together.

I published the report of the Dublin Transport Authority Establishment Team on the 9th of November. I sought the views of interested parties on the proposed structure, functions and powers of the Authority before I finalised the legislation to establish the Authority on a statutory basis. Officials in my Department have held meetings with a wide range of interested parties. A number of written submissions have also been made to my Department. I have indicated to all interested parties that it is not my intention that all consultation will come to an end in early December. However, I am anxious to finalise the drafting of legislation and in this context I am seeking to identify the core objectives and concerns of interested parties in relation to a Dublin Transport Authority. There will continue to be opportunities to address matters of detailed concern, as is normal practice, following the publication of legislation.

I now intend to take the opportunity to reflect on the views expressed and concerns raised during the consultation process before finalising my legislative proposals. These include the issues raised in the Deputies' Questions. It would be premature and unfair to those who participated in the consultation process to comment on issues or concerns raised by them during the process. It remains my intention to publish legislation at the earliest opportunity, having regard to matters raised during consultations, and to enact the legislation in the lifetime of the current Dáil.

Regarding the accountability of the Authority, a number of recommendations have been made in the report of the Establishment Team in this regard. Their recommendations include making the Authority accountable to the Oireachtas and the establishment of an Advisory Council representing a diverse range of interests. I am confident that these and other measures under consideration will provide an effective accountability framework for the new Authority.

As I have stated previously, the Team's report made a number of recommendations on the integration of transport and land use planning. The Government accepted the objective of the proposals made by the Team, which was to ensure a coherent approach to land use and transport planning in the Greater Dublin Area. However, it was concerned that the proposals contained in the report would unnecessarily dilute the democratic accountability of the planning process. The Government has, therefore, decided to adopt an alternative approach to meeting the objective of the Team on the lines jointly recommended by my colleague Dick Roche T.D., the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and myself. Details of the proposed arrangements are available within the statement I issued when publishing the Team's report on the 9th of November.

I am actively examining the appointment of an interim chairperson and the establishment of an interim Authority. The interim Authority will be mandated to progress the putting in place of necessary organisational arrangements, such as the recruitment of a senior management team, prior to the enactment of legislation. It is not envisaged that the interim Authority will seek to discharge substantive functions pending the enactment of legislation to provide statutory authority for its work.