Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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26. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider the policy of fully devolving to local authorities the role of providing bus shelters as provided in local government legislation. [51956/18]

Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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51. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will allocate funding directly to local authorities to provide bus shelters in their functional areas in which they are deemed appropriate. [51957/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 51 together.

The Deputy is probably aware that the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, as amended, provides that the National Transport Authority (NTA) 'shall have the function to secure or provide public transport... infrastructure in the State in relation to bus stops, bus shelters, bus stations, stands and bus fleets'. The Act also states that the NTA may enter into agreements with other persons for the purposes of achieving its function in this regard.

I believe that assignment of this function to the NTA is entirely appropriate given its central role in both the contracting and funding of Public Service Obligation (PSO) bus services and its regulatory role in relation to commercial bus licensing.

It is extremely important that our public transport network develop in an integrated and coordinated manner and the role of the NTA in providing bus shelters is entirely consistent with that ambition. Obviously I expect the NTA to work closely with local authorities in that regard and I am aware that it collaborates with local authorities in the performance of its function in relation to bus shelters across the State.