Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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552. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the recommendation of the Mahon tribunal that there be an independent appointments board to appoint members of National Transport Authority to improve transparency in the planning process which has yet to be implemented and is not in the process of being implemented. [22995/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As we are all aware, the Mahon Tribunal was established, as its formal title states, to enquire into certain planning matters and payments. The Final Report of the Tribunal made a total of 64 recommendations relating to its inquiry into those planning matters and payments and included among those 64 was a recommendation that appointments to the Board of the National Transport Authority (NTA) be made by an independent authority rather than the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

The Deputy is as aware as I am that the remit of the NTA extends far beyond its important role in ensuring better integration of transport and land-use planning in the Greater Dublin Area. The NTA is the key agency involved in the regulation of public transport services and delivery of public infrastructure not just in the GDA but the State as a whole:

- It has responsibility for the provision of all PSO bus and rail services across the State through the award of public service contracts with operators;

- It monitors and reports on the performance of those operators and can reward and penalise operators based on their performance;

- It licenses and regulates all commercial bus services in the State;

- It is responsible for the development of integrated ticketing and passenger information in relation to public transport services across the State;

- It invests in bus infrastructure and cycle facilities throughout the State;

- It administers and oversees the Rural Transport Programme;

- It is the designated national authority in relation to passenger rights in bus, rail and maritime transport; and

- It has a particular role in the GDA in terms of public transport infrastructure delivery.

So as can be seen from the above, the NTA's role is much broader than that of a purely land-use focussed planning authority, such as An Bord Pleanála for example. Its role in relation to land-use planning is primarily to ensure consistency between the adopted land-use plans of local and regional authorities in the GDA with the transport strategy as developed by the NTA.

The Deputy is aware that in addition to the generally applicable Guidelines on State Board Appointments, appointments to the Board of the NTA must also comply with my Department's new Principles and Procedures, which I have introduced and which complement the Public Appointments Service-led process.

I am satsified that there are robust and transparent processes in place to ensure suitably qualified and independent persons are appointed to the Board of the NTA.