Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Transport the process of selecting a chief executive for the Dublin Transport Authority; the progress to date; when he expects the Dublin Transport Authority to be fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5930/09]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Transport when he will appoint the new chief executive officer for the Dublin Transport Authority; the estimated date for the full operation of the DTA; the annual running costs of the organisation; when he plans to introduce the Public Transport Regulation Bill to transform the DTA into a national transport regulator; the impact this will have on transport planning for the greater Dublin Area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5805/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 106 together.

My Department is proceeding with preparations for the establishment of the Dublin Transport Authority (DTA) as soon as possible during 2009. A key part of those preparations is the recruitment of a Chief Executive Officer and the necessary recruitment process is now underway.

The Public Appointments Service initiated the recruitment process for the CEO on 23 January last and the closing date for receipt of applications is 19 February next. The timing of the appointment of a CEO will obviously depend on the outcome of this process.

My Department has had very productive discussions with the Department of Finance on the administrative budget and staff numbers for the DTA, on the basis of which it was agreed to proceed with the recruitment of the CEO. Final decisions on funding and staff numbers will be taken following consultation with the new CEO and the Authority.

The Government has recently approved the General Scheme of the Public Transport Regulation Bill which contains proposals for a new bus licensing regime which will replace the Road Transport Act 1932 and the provisions of the Transport Act 1958 that relate to the provision of bus services by the State bus companies. It is proposed that responsibility for bus route licensing and public transport services contracts nationwide will be assigned to the DTA under the Bill, which will also provide for the amalgamation of the Commission for Taxi Regulation into the DTA. The Bill will also provide for the renaming of the Dublin Transport Authority as the National Transport Authority given its proposed national focus in relation to commercial bus licensing, future bus and rail subvention and the regulation of small public service vehicles.

In the light of the recent Government approval of the General Scheme of the Public Transport Regulation Bill, the Bill will now be drafted and published as soon as possible.

Section 12 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 requires the DTA to prepare a long-term strategic planning framework for the integrated development of transport infrastructure and services in the Greater Dublin Area. The proposed Public Transport Regulation Bill does not contain any proposals to alter the provisions of that section.