Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of State agencies identified for abolition or merger in his Department; the number of agencies which have been merged or abolished to date in his Department; the total net savings which have been made in respect of each State agency arising from its merger or abolition in his Department; the likely date for merger or abolition and the reason for the delay in respect of each State agency which has not already been merged with another State agency or abolished in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3012/11]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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To date nine bodies under the remit of my Department have been rationalised in order to improve their effectiveness. The Dublin Transportation Office was absorbed into the National Transport Authority on 1st December 2009. The Commission for Taxi Regulation was also subsumed into the Authority on 1st January 2011.

Eight Harbour Authorities established under the Harbours Act 1946, (Sligo, Annagassan, River Moy, Youghal, Kilrush, Wexford and Westport) have been transferred to local authority control and Dingle has been designated a Fishery Harbour Centre. There are five remaining Harbour Authorities under the Harbours Act 1946. 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. It will take some years for the full benefits of rationalisation to be achieved. The table lists the funding provided by the Department towards the general administrative expenses for the years 2008, 2009 and 2010.

General Administrative Expenses

* Abolished 1 December 2009

** Established 1 December 2009

*** Subsumed into the National Transport Authority 1 January 2011