The information sought by the Deputy is outlined in this reply. This includes information in relation to the Department of Transport but not in respect of functions transferred from the Department of Public Enterprise to other Departments in June 2002.
The Task Force on Railway Safety was established by the Government on 3 November 1998 to prepare prioritised recommendations to address the issues identified in the 1998 report by independent consultants led by IRMS entitled "A Review of Railway Safety in Ireland".
The inter-departmental committee on the carriage of dangerous goods by rail, established in 1977, is charged with preparing emergency response procedures in the event of an accident involving a train carrying dangerous goods.
The Level Crossing Working Group was established in recognition of the safety risks at road/rail interfaces. The function of the group is to monitor safety performance, identify vulnerable-high risk locations or scenarios and the means for achieving appropriate risk reduction.
The Road Haulage Review Group was established in December 1997 to oversee a review of the sector. The review resulted in the publication of a report entitled "A Strategy for the Successful Development of the Road Haulage Industry".
The Road Haulage Review Implementation Group, consisting of representatives of IBEC, IRHA and the then Department of Public Enterprise, was established in June 1999 to implement the recommendations of the Strategy for the Successful Development of the Road Haulage Industry.
The Programme of Action for the Road Haulage Industry Steering Group was formed to implement the commitments contained in the "Programme of Action for the Road Haulage Industry" and had its first meeting in May 2001. The steering group has taken over the work of the Road Haulage Review Implementation Group.
An assessment panel was established in April this year to evaluate the tenders and make a recommendation to the Minister in relation to the EU public tender process in respect of air services on five PSO routes linking regional airports with Dublin. This was an ad hoc panel established for a specific purpose, which is now complete.