Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 586: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the action he has taken to date to fulfil the commitment in the programme for Government to make substantial cuts to the number of State bodies and companies; the number of such bodies and companies under his remit; the number that have been reformed, merged or abolished since March of this year; the plan in place within his Department to fully deliver on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32859/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Since my appointment as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport on 9 March 2011, I have not established any State agencies, independent statutory bodies, State Boards or other bodies.

A full list of the agencies for which I have responsibility is outlined in my reply to Dáil Question 624 on 25 October 2011.

Dundalk Port Company was merged with Dublin Port Company on 12 July 2011. Tralee and Fenit Harbour Authority transferred to the control of Kerry County Council and the tenure of the Harbour Commissioners, accordingly, ceased with effect from 1 October 2011.

My Department, in conjunction with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, is actively pursuing a policy of transferring the Regional Harbours operating under the outdated provisions of the Harbours Act 1946 to local control. Agreement has recently been reached to transfer Baltimore Harbour and Kinsale Harbour to the control of Cork County Council from 1 January 2012. The current intention is that the two remaining harbours are transferred to a more appropriate governance framework over the course of the next year.

A ports policy review is at an advanced stage and it is hoped to publish a revised document in the coming months. Port company restructuring is among the issues being considered as part of the policy review.

With regard to other future developments, I am working on a proposal to rationalise agencies and offices under my Department's remit. This includes the merger of the NRA and RPA into a single body, and the merger of the Air Accident Investigation Unit, the Marine Casualty Investigation Board and the Railway Safety Commission.

The Government is also considering options for further radical streamlining of State bodies and I expect that the Government will be in a position shortly to announce its plans in this regard.