Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Transport if he plans to reduce the number of quangos in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2267/11]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently 31 State Agencies under the remit of my Department, including five Harbour Authorities under the Harbours Act 1946. All of these perform a range of important transport functions. I am taking a number of measures to rationalise and improve the effectiveness of these agencies.

The Commission for Taxi Regulation was subsumed into the National Transport Authority on 1st January 2011. The Dublin Transportation Office had earlier been subsumed into the Authority in 2009. I am currently transferring responsibility for the Harbour Authorities to Local Authorities. A number have already been transferred. I expect that further transfers will take place in 2011. In line with the McCarthy Report proposals, I have decided to merge the National Roads Authority and the Railway Procurement Agency. This will be progressed during 2011.

It is also my intention to amalgamate the Commission for Aviation Regulation and the regulatory functions of the Irish Aviation Authority with the National Transport Authority. The net effect will be that the number of State Agencies under the remit of my Department will be reduced substantially and in a manner that will ensure the enhanced efficiency in the delivery of transport services.