Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 106: To ask the Minister for Transport when he will introduce legislation necessary to establish the Dublin Transport Authority; the reason there has been an ongoing delay with bringing forward this legislation; the timeframe for a fully operational DTA; if the functions of the DTA as proposed by the Dublin Transport Authority Establishment Team's report to him in March 2006 will still be the key responsibilities of the DTA; the functions of the Railway Procurement Agency, the Dublin Transportation Office or any other national, regional or local transport authority that will be transferred to the new DTA; if there will be an early announcement on the interconnector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33024/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Agreed Programme for Government includes a commitment to expediting the establishment of a statutory Dublin Transport Authority. The new Authority will have overall responsibility for surface transport in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) subject to direction by Government in respect of significant policy issues. Accordingly establishment of the new Authority will involve some alteration to existing institutional arrangements for the planning and delivery of surface transport in the GDA. The details will be set out in the planned legislation.

The principal functions of the proposed Authority are set out in the Programme for Government and will include: strategic transport planning; procurement of public transport infrastructure; procurement of public transport services; allocation of current and capital Exchequer funds for the provision of public transport infrastructure and services; regulation of public transport fares, routes, and service levels; delivery of integrated ticketing, integrated passenger information and integrated fares; better integration of transport and land use planning; ensuring effective traffic management. This is in line with the recommendations made in the report of the Dublin Transport Authority Establishment Team.

Preparation of the necessary legislation is well advanced and I will bring a Memorandum to Government in due course. My overriding priority is to establish as quickly as possible a statutory Authority that will be effective. The current position regarding the Interconnector is that Iarnród Éireann are proceeding with the detailed planning and design of the project with a view to submission of an application for a Railway Order to An Bord Pleanála in 2009.