Answered in Dáil

To ask the Minister for Transport if he expects to introduce legislation to establish a national transport regulator; when he expects to publish this legislation; the way a national transport regulator would affect the DTthority; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

- Fergus O'Dowd.
For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 3rd February, 2009.
Ref No:   2982/09

Answered by Noel Dempsey T.D.
Minister for Transport

REPLY

The Agreed Programme for Government contains a commitment to examine the need for a National Transport Regulator in the context of the overall review of the economic regulatory environment.  The Government Programme also contains a commitment to reform bus licensing to facilitate the optimum provision of services by providing a level playing field for all market participants.

The Government has recently approved the General Scheme of the Public Transport Regulation Bill which contains proposals for a new bus licensing regime which will replace the Road Transport Act 1932 and the provisions of the Transport Act 1958 that relate to the provision of bus services by the State bus companies.  It is proposed that responsibility for bus route licensing and public transport services contracts nationwide will be assigned to the DTA under the Bill, which will also provide for the amalgamation of the Commission for Taxi Regulation into the DTA.  The Bill will also provide for the renaming of the Dublin Transport Authority as the National Transport Authority given its proposed national focus in relation to commercial bus licensing, future bus and rail subvention and the regulation of small public service vehicles.

In the light of the recent Government approval of the
General Scheme of the Public Transport Regulation Bill, the Bill will now be drafted and published as soon as possible.