asked the Minister for Transport when the legislation to provide for the setting up of the Dublin Transportation Authority will be introduced; and if it will include provisions for the transfer of responsibility for roads from the Department of the Environment to his Department as stated in the Fine Gael election programme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Transportation Authority.
14.
My Department have prepared the draft heads of a Bill to establish the Dublin Transportation Authority and are in consultation with other Departments in the matter. I expect to bring my proposals before the Government shortly and to introduce the Bill in the Oireachtas in the next session.
As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the Deputy to the reply given by the Taoiseach on 10 November 1981, to a similar question from Deputy Flynn.
Is the Minister saying that negotiations between his Department and the Department of the Environment have not yet concluded?
Negotiations on the transport authority?
On the transportation authority legislation.
There are other Departments with an input into this and consultations are proceeding with these Departments also.
I asked a specific question: have negotiations between this Department and the Department of the Environment been concluded in respect of this legislation?
If the Deputy puts down a separate question I will get that information for him.
As indicated by the Minister, the Taoiseach replied to me some weeks ago concerning the question of responsibility for transport in various Departments and said it was not the intention to transfer any responsibility to the Department of Transport. Would the Minister confirm that this is in direct conflict with the Government's programme as outlined?
What the Taoiseach said was there were no immediate proposals.
I asked a specific question: have negotiations in relation to the legislation for setting up the Dublin Authority been completed with the Department of the Environment?
I told the Deputy if he wants that information I will get it for him. Negotiations between Government Departments are not cut off at a particular point. That comes when the matter is submitted to the Government and Departments' submissions and counter-submissions are available. We are not at that situation yet. I might want to consult the Department of the Environment about something after they had given what might have appeared to be their final submission. This is on-going until the memorandum is submitted to the Government.
The Minister is fudging the question. What I am trying to get at is the proper operation of the Dublin Transportation Authority. Are the Department of the Environment prepared to give up responsibility in relation to traffic, transport and roads in the Dublin area? If the Government had ever any intention, and I doubt it, of transferring responsibility for roads from the Department of the Environment to the Department of Transport this is an ideal opportunity in which to do so. This was in their election manifesto but is another broken promise.
The Deputy should await the publication of the Bill and see exactly what the position is.
The Government are not transferring roads despite the fact that they gave an election commitment to do so.