Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Apr 2001

Vol. 533 No. 6

Written Answers. - Departmental Agencies.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

146 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will list every State agency, company, board, group, committee, commission, inquiry or authority which was set up under the aegis of her Department; and if she will give a brief outline of the aims of each such body. [9920/01]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke):

The details sought by the Deputy are as set out in the following schedule:

Groups-Committees set up since June, 1997

Name of Group	Purpose of Group
Aer Rianta cpt.	The principal aim of Aer Rianta is to manage, operate and develop the three State airports at Dublin, Shannon and Cork, ownership of which was transferred to the Company by the Minister in 1998 pursuant to the Air Navigation and Transport (Amendment) Act, 1998.
Commission for Aviation Regulation	To regulate airport charges and aviation terminal services charges pursuant to the Aviation Regulation Act, 2001.
A Steering Group representative of my Department and Defence and of the Irish Aviation Authority.	To examine the feasibility of establishing a commercially operated Flying Training Centre at Gormanston Military Airfield.
A Working Group representative of my Department, the Department of the Environment and Local Government, Aer Rianta, (or other airport companies as the case may be), the Irish Aviation Authority and the local authorities.	To draw up Public Safety Zones for all licensed aerodromes to be administered by the relevant Planning Authorities.
Working Group on the Post Office service.	To report to the Minister on the establishment of a basis for sustainable operation of a post office service in the medium term.
Mr. Phil Flynn review of the sub-post office Network.	Specifically to (a) review the financial and business environment of the sub PO network, and (b) to examine options and make recommendations on the sustainable development of the rural post office network against the background of the obligation of An Post to provide a nationwide service.
Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation (ODTR).	The Office is responsible for making the liberalised telecommunications market work in accordance with EU and national law while carrying out its functions of issuing, renewing, enforcing and general administration of licences and managing the frequency spectrum.
Light Rail Advisory & Action Group	To oversee the planning and implementation of the light rail project, with a particular focus on the indicative timetable set by the Minister for the project. The Group's mandate was extended in January 2001 to include the monitoring of arrangements for public communications for the project.
Light Rail Public Inquiry – Line A	This Inquiry into CIE's application for a Light Railway Order for Line A: Tallaght to Abbey Street was held in November/December 1998, under the provisions of the Transport (Dublin Light Rail) Act 1996.
Light Rail Public Inquiry – Line B	This Inquiry into CIE's application for a Light Railway Order for Line B: Sandyford to St. Stephen's Green was held in April/May 1999, under the Transport (Dublin Light Rail) Act 1996.
Name of Group	Purpose of Group
Light Rail Public Inquiry – Line C	This Inquiry into CIE's application for a Light Railway Order for Line C; Abbey Street to Connolly Station was held in December 1999, under the provisions of the Transport (Dublin Light Rail) Act 1996.
Light Rail Public Inquiry – Line C(S)	This Inquiry into CIE's application for a Light Railway Order for Line C(S); Store Street to Connolly Station was held in September 2000, under the provisions of the Transport (Dublin Light Rail) Act 1996.
State Bodies' Euro Changeover Monitoring Group.	The Group's aim is to ensure a co-ordinated approach in the preparations for the changeover to the Euro in each of the State Bodies.
State Bodies' Year 2000 Monitoring Group.	Its aim was to ensure that preparations to avoid the Year 2000 problem in IT systems were co-ordinated smoothly across all the State bodies in the Energy, Transport and Communications sectors.
Pipeline Wayleaves Group.	Established by this Department to discuss issues relating to wayleaves along the route of three major BGE pipeline applications – Ringmain pipeline from Galway/Limerick/Dublin, Mayo to Galway and a second Interconnector between Ireland and Scotland.
Cablelink Steering Group.	To oversee the sale of Cablelink.
Telecom Éireann Initial Public Offering (IPO) Steering Committee and Sub-Groups.	Set up to oversee and manage the sale of shares in Telecom Éireann by means of an IPO.
A Group to address Aer Lingus's funding requirements.	This group was established to address Aer Lingus's funding requirements and possible sources of funding including an IPO and to submit proposals to Government.
A Steering Group and various sub-groups.	These have been established to implement the Aer Lingus IPO.
Interdepartmental Steering Committee – CAIT Initiative.	To advise on the implementation of the CAIT Initiative which seeks to provide funding for community and voluntary sector projects, which harness the new information and communication technologies for social and economic development purposes.
Interdepartmental Steering Committee – International Connectivity Project.	To advise the Minister on the implementation of the International Connectivity Project which seeks to develop Ireland's international telecommunications infrastructure.
Advisory Committee on Telecommunications.	To advise the Minister on a strategy to position Ireland as a key global centre in advanced telecommunications, the Internet and electronic commerce.
Inquiry into a railway accident.	The Minister directed the three Railway Inspecting Officers of her Department to carry out an inquiry under Section 7 of the Railways Regulations Act, 1871, into the cause of the railway accident on 16 February, 2001 at Kiltoom level crossing, Co. Roscommon and into the previous accidents at this level crossing.
NDP Monitoring Committee.	To oversee progress in NDP projects and investment in the CIE group of companies.
Quality Customer Services Committee.	To develop measures to promote consumer confidence in relation to the quality of public transport, to establish appropriate standards and to develop mechanisms for redress for consumers.
A Top Level Group of three persons.	To assist Iarnród Éireann face the challenges of expanding the rail network and delivering improved services.
Commission for Electricity Regulation.	Its main function is to oversee the regulation of the electricity industry, including licensing the generation and supply of electricity, authorising the construction of new generating plant and overseeing third party access to ESB's transmission and distribution systems.
EirGrid plc.	EirGrid was incorporated on 7 February, 2001, under the provisions of the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations, 2000. It will be licensed by the Commission for Electricity Regulation as the independent electricity transmission system operator following completion of a Transfer Scheme and Infrastructure Agreement with ESB.
Road Haulage Review Group	To oversee a review of the sector. This group, chaired by the Department, consisted of representatives of both service providers and service users. The review resulted in the publication of a report entitled, “A Strategy for the Successful Development of the Road Haulage Industry”.
Road Haulage Review Implementation Group.	This Group was established to implement the recommendations of the report by the Road Haulage Review Group.
Action Plan for the Road Haulage Industry – Steering Group.	This Group has been formed to implement the commitments contained in the “Action Plan for the Road Haulage Industry” which resulted from the Taoiseach's Task Force on the Road Haulage Industry. This Steering Group has subsumed the work of the Road Haulage Review Implementation Group.
Interim Board to the Irish Energy Centre.	This Interim Board was appointed to oversee the Centre's transition to an independent body. The Centre is charged with the task of co-ordinating and implementing national objectives and policy relating to energy efficiency and renewables.
Renewable Energy Strategy Group.	To examine all aspects of, and obstacles to the further deployment of all renewable energy technologies.
Public Transport Accessibility Committee.	Established in accordance with the commitment given in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, to advise the Minister in relation to the accessibility of public transport for mobility impaired and disabled people and will, where appropriate, make recommendations for prioritised, cost effective measures to address these issues.
Name of Group	Purpose of Group
Public Transport Partnership Forum	Established in accordance with the commitment given in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, to provide a mechanism for consultation with the various partnership pillars on public transport.
Public Transport Partnership Forum Comparative Analysis Study Steering Committee.	It was established by the Public Transport Partnership Forum to commission independent consultants to carry out a comparative evaluation of the various approaches to the provision, regulation and integration of public transport services in major urban areas to assist it in making a formal statement of its views in response to the consultation paper.
Rural Transport Sub-Committee (Sub-Committee of Public Transport Partnership Forum).	This Sub-Committee will prepare, for consideration by the Forum, draft recommendations to the Minister in relation to i) pilot public transport schemes as set out under the NDP and ii) policy on rural public transport.
Surface Access to Dublin Airport (Sub-Committee of Public Transport Partnership Forum).	To accelerate a programme of implementation measures designed to promote improved public transport access to Dublin Airport.
Committee on Integrated Ticketing.	The objective of the committee was to prepare proposals for an integrated fares and ticketing system which would encourage the best use of a network of routes and facilitate people who have to make more than one trip to complete their journey.
Informal Working Group on the possible use of alternative fuels by Dublin Bus.	To consider the possible use of Liquid Petroleum Gas and Compressed Natural Gas by the Dublin Bus fleet.
Gas 2025 Steering Group.	To monitor a joint study of the Irish Natural Gas usage to 2025 (carried out by representatives from this Department and Bord Gáis Éireann) and determine the optimal long-term transmission infrastructure necessary to meet these projections.
Committee of Ministers (Nuclear Emergency Planning).	To advise the Minister in the event of a nuclear accident having the potential to affect Ireland seriously.
Ministerial Committee on Nuclear Safety.	To brief relevant Ministers and officials on current matters regarding nuclear safety and radiological protection.
Consultative Committee on Nuclear Emergency Planning.	To advise the Minister on the maintenance and updating of operational sub-plans by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland and relevant Government Departments and agencies.