Vol. 526 No. 4
218 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the legislation which is required to be introduced to implement public private partnership projects under the national development plan which come under her departmental control; when she will publish any such legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26881/00]
I propose shortly to seek Government approval for the heads of a Bill to facilitate public private partnerships for the relevant public transport projects as outlined in the national development plan and the DTO strategy document, a Platform for Change.
The proposed legislation will establish a new independent statutory agency with responsibility for the procurement, on a public private partnership basis, of major public transport infrastructure projects, and make the necessary statutory provision for private sector participation in the design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of railways.
As indicated in the Government's legislation programme, I expect to be in a position to publish a Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Bill by mid-2001.
219 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her Department has a public private partnership section; the number of staff allocated to this section; the specific projects being dealt with by this section; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26896/00]
A public private partnership section to deal with public transport was established in my Department in May 1999.
There are seven staff allocated to the section but this is to rise to ten staff in the coming months.
