Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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70. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he plans to fill the two vacant positions on the board of the National Transport Authority; if he will appoint at least one person with a background in rail transportation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43762/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Section 14(1) of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, as amended by Sections 29 and 30 of the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009, provides that the National Transport Authority (NTA) shall consist of a Chairperson and 11 ordinary members, who perform and carry out the functions of the NTA in accordance with the Acts, and that appointments to the Authority are made by the Minister for Transport.

The legislation specifies that (other than for the three ex officio appointments required by the legislation), appointments are made from persons who, in the opinion of the Minister, have wide experience in relation to transport, industrial, commercial, financial, land use planning or environmental matters, the organisation of workers or administration.

The NTA has responsibility for the development of an integrated, accessible public transport network and the provision of public transport infrastructure.

As Minister, I will continue to have regard to the need for an appropriate mix of experience across relevant areas, including rail, when filling vacancies on the NTA Board, such as the two current vacancies, which will be subject to an open process faciltiated by the Public Appointments Service early in 2021.