Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason he revisited a draft Dublin Transport Authority Bill; the summary of the changes he ordered; when he expects to publish this Bill; when he expects to introduce it into Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3480/08]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will report on legislation to establish the new Dublin Transport Authority; the geographical area the proposed DTA will have responsibility for; the functions it will have; if it will have network ownership, route licensing and price setting roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3401/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 135 together.

The Agreed Programme for Government includes a commitment to expediting the establishment of a statutory Dublin Transport Authority.

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; and

ensuring effective traffic management.

This is in line with the recommendations made in the report of the Dublin Transport Authority Establishment Team.

I intend that the new Authority will have overall responsibility for surface transport in the Greater Dublin Area subject to direction by Government in respect of significant policy issues. The Greater Dublin Area comprises the city of Dublin and the administrative counties of South Dublin, Fingal, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow.

I am currently completing a review of the existing legislative proposals looking particularly at:

strengthening the provisions of the Bill generally to ensure that the DTA is as effective as possible;

improving the arrangements for co-ordination of land use and transport; and

ensuring that the provisions governing the procurement of public transport services and public service obligations take full account of the recently agreed EU Public Service Obligation Regulation and EU law generally.

Preparation of the necessary legislation is in its final stages and concentrating on the above issues. I will bring a Memorandum to Government when this important work is completed. However, my overriding priority remains to establish a statutory Authority that will be effective.