Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Transport the terms of reference, functions and purpose of the Integrated Ticketing Project Board and the Marine Casualty Investigation Board; if these agencies are still operational; the reason these functions cannot be carried out by his Department; the benefits to the Irish taxpayer gained from the work of these agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35084/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The independent reviews of the Integrated Ticketing project, undertaken in early 2006, strongly recommended continuing with the Integrated Ticketing project, on the basis of enhanced governance arrangements being put in place, including the establishment of an Integrated Ticketing Project Board with responsibility for delivering the project within an agreed specification, timeline and budget pending the establishment of the Dublin Transport Authority. This Board comprises representatives from the RPA, Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, Irish Rail, private bus operators, the Department of Transport and the Department of Social and Family Affairs, as appropriate.

I am satisfied as to the continuing need for the Board arising from the recommendations in the reviews, which have been undertaken.

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) was established on 5 June, 2002 under Section 7(1) of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) Act, 2000. The terms of reference, function and purpose of the MCIB is to carry out investigations into marine casualties that take place in Irish waters or involve Irish registered vessels. The main purpose of the Board's investigations is to establish the cause or causes of a marine casualty with a view to making recommendations to the Minister for Transport for the avoidance of similar marine casualties in the future. It shall not be the purpose of an investigation to attribute blame or fault.

The MCIB is an independent statutory body with its own funding provided for by the Oireachtas under Section 19 of the Act. Under the legislation, the MCIB is independent of the Minister and the Department of Transport in the performance of its functions and, in general, shall be independent of any other person or body whose interests could conflict with the functions of the board.