Written answers
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
Department of Transport
Departmental Bodies
10:00 pm
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Transport the extent to which he has devolved policy matters to bodies under the aegis of his Department such as the National Roads Authority or other similar bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40351/08]
Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The following table lists the bodies and organisations under the aegis of my Department and their responsibilities. Since my appointment as Minister for Transport, I have not devolved any additional responsibilities to any of these bodies and organisations.
| Body | Functions |
| Dublin Airport Authority | Dublin Airport Authority is responsible for the management and development of Dublin Airport and for Shannon and Cork airports pending the completion of the restructuring of the company as provided for in the State Airports Act 2004. |
| Irish Aviation Authority | The Irish Aviation Authority carries out a range of operational and regulatory functions and services relating to the safety and technical aspects of civil aviation. |
| Commission for Aviation Regulation | The principal function of the Commission for Aviation Regulation is to regulate airport charges at Dublin Airport and to regulate aviation terminal services charges at Irish airports, which have an annual throughput in excess of one million passengers. The Commission also has responsibility for discharging Ireland's responsibilities under EU legislation on slot allocation, the licensing of air carriers, the regulation of the groundhandling market and the enforcement of air passenger rights. Additionally, the Commission is the competent authority for the licensing of travel agents and tour operators. |
| C.I.E. Group | Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) is charged with the provision of bus and rail public transport for passengers as well as rail freight transport within the State and the operation of Rosslare Europort and CIÉ Tours. CIÉ has three wholly owned subsidiary limited liability companies: Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Eireann. |
| Bus Átha Cliath | Bus Átha Cliath provides bus services in Dublin city and county and contiguous areas. |
| Bus Éireann | Bus Éireann provides bus services throughout Ireland with the exception of Dublin City. Bus Éireann is also responsible for the operation and administration of the national school transport scheme on behalf of the Department of Education and Science. |
| Iarnród Éireann | Iarnród Éireann manages, maintains and develops the rail network infrastructure. It provides a railway service and a road freight service. |
| Railway Safety Commission | The Railway Safety Commission, established on 1 January 2006 under the Railway Safety Act 2005, has responsibility for regulating the safety of railway systems carrying fare-paying passengers and commercial freight and of other railways where they interface with public roads. The Commission also has responsibility for safety approval of new and modified passenger carrying cable railways, cable cars and drag lifts. The Railway Incident Investigation Unit, which is a functionally independent unit of the Commission, has responsibility for investigating accidents on railway systems and for making recommendations in that regard. |
| Railway Procurement Agency | The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) is responsible for the procurement of such light rail and metro infrastructure as may be determined from time to time by the Minister. It is also responsible for the delivery of integrated ticketing systems as may be determined by the Minister. The Agency may also exploit commercial opportunities arising from its functions. |
| National Roads Authority | The National Roads Authority has overall responsibility for the planning and supervision of works for the construction and maintenance of national roads, including the management of the national roads programme and for the allocation of grants to specific projects on the national roads network. |
| Dublin Transportation Office | The Dublin Transportation Office (DTO) was established to coordinate the implementation by relevant agencies of an agreed integrated transport strategy for the Greater Dublin Area, the Dublin Transportation Initiative. The DTO is also responsible for carrying out ongoing strategic transportation planning work, including the regular updating of the transport strategy. It also administers a traffic management grants scheme on behalf of the Department. |
| Road Safety Authority | The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is responsible for promotion of road safety including, driver testing and licensing, registration of driving instructors, driver vocational training, compulsory basic training for motorcyclists, accident and road safety research, vehicle standards and road haulage enforcement functions. The RSA is also responsible for promoting public awareness of road safety and measures, including the advancement of education, relating to the promotion of the safe use of roads. |
| Medical Bureau of Road Safety | The Medical Bureau of Road Safety's principal functions are to carry out analyses, for their drug or alcohol content, of specimens of blood and urine, provided for the Gardaí by people suspected of drink or drugs driving offences. The Bureau issues certificates in respect of the results of these analyses, which may be used as evidence in prosecutions for offences. The Bureau also participates in the Evidential Breath Testing Programme, providing Evidential Breath Testing instruments and training to Gardai. |
| Commission for Taxi Regulation | The Commission for Taxi Regulation was established under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 and is responsible for the development and maintenance of the regulatory framework for the control and operation of small public service vehicles (taxis, hackneys and limousines) and their drivers. |
| Marine Casualty Investigation Board | The Function of the Marine Casualty Investigation Board is to carry out investigations into marine casualties that take place in Irish waters or involve Irish Registered vessels. |
| Port Companies: | The port companies are State-owned companies established under the Harbours Act 1996. The Act provides that the principal objects of the companies include the provision of such facilities, services and lands in their harbours for ships, goods and passengers, as it considers necessary. The companies are required to take all proper measures for the management, control, operation and development of their harbour. |
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