Fergus O'Dowd
Question:1 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Transport the potential and planned spending cuts across his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29661/09]
Priority Questions.
Departmental Expenditure.
Planned expenditure levels for my Department will be considered as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for 2010. This will include consideration of the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes.
It would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage pending the outcome of these deliberative processes.
That is a poor response. The former Minister for Transport, Deputy Mary O'Rourke, spoke about the an bord snip nua report this morning and said it should be in the public domain. The Minister has been in consultation with an bord snip nua. The Minister should put on record the plans he put before the board.
The Deputy will be aware that we did not make any proposals. We were asked questions about the various programmes. We gave an outline of those programmes and it is up to Mr. McCarthy to make up his mind and make his decision on what he feels might or might not be cut to ensure the levels of expenditure generally across Government are reduced. The Deputy will be aware that we are talking in terms of an adjustment in the coming budget of €4 billion in total between tax and revenues. I am sure some elements of that will fall on the Department of Transport but until the deliberative process is finished I am not at liberty to say anything further.
The Minister has not given me any facts. Did the Minister distinguish, in the discussion with an bord snip nua, between capital and current projects? Did he distinguish between national priorities in terms of transport infrastructure? The key point that he and his Department should have made, if they did not make it, is that it was never cheaper to build infrastructure projects than it is now and that, on average, they are coming in 20% less than what was the case in the previous year, and may be even less again next year. The process sounds like a confession box in which no confession was made. The an bord snip nua man was there, the Minister was on his knees but he said nothing. It is clear he said nothing and therefore the axe may fall universally on his Department rather than on where the waste is located. What proposals, if any, does the Minister have in terms of current expenditure cutbacks or efficiencies?
The Deputy seems to be under some misapprehension as to the process in regard to an bord snip nua. I did not talk to an bord snip nua. I had no contact with it. I was not asked to have any contact with it. An bord snip nua can make whatever recommendations it likes but at the end of the day I will outline my priorities and those of the Government. If programmes are suggested for cuts, whether capital or current, I will make a judgment on that and make my views known at that time.
Taxi Regulations.
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:2 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on recent meetings with taxi workers and their representatives; his views on a moratorium and major reform of the taxi regulatory system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28929/09]
Officials of my Department recently met representatives of several different organisations representing taxi interests. They set out the concerns of their members relating to the taxi industry including, in particular, in relation to taxi numbers. The taxi representative bodies were encouraged by the officials to participate fully within the advisory and consultative structures provided for under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 to ensure that their views, including those in relation to the economic review of the sector, are taken into account by the Commission for Taxi Regulation, which is the agency charged under law with the regulation of the taxi industry.
The Taxi Regulation Act 2003 does not provide for a moratorium on taxi numbers and the recent economic review concluded that a moratorium is not warranted. The Commission for Taxi Regulation has recently completed a major public consultation on the economic review and is currently preparing proposals for the further development of the taxi industry for consideration by its Advisory Council. I understand the commission expects to finalise its development proposals in August.
I will consider the outcome of this work, the views of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and the views of the representatives of the taxi industry, consumers and consumer interest groups insofar as they relate to my statutory responsibilities.
Is it not time the Minister told us where he stands on a moratorium on the issuing of taxi licences because he is the Minister who has presided over a collapse in standards and a free for all in the taxi industry? Many Deputies, particularly those on the transport committee, have been inundated with complaints about cloned vehicle licences, illegal licences of different kinds, drivers without the proper knowledge of the region in question, the poor state of vehicles, safety issues and, most recently, investigations by the media such as the Evening Herald and The Sunday Times into the ease with which one can legally buy a roof taxi sign or a full taxi package. Roof signs are only €180 approximately. There is a litany of abuses in the industry and, at the same time, the recent Goodbody report highlighted that the income of taxi workers has collapsed, down to approximately €11 an hour, which is just above the minimum wage, although drivers who are members of Taxi Drivers for Change and the taxi unions tell us that incomes have collapsed by anything from 25% to 40%.
It is very difficult for taxi workers to put bread on the table for their families. The Minister is presiding over that with an ineffective and failing taxi regulator who has now granted licences to almost 28,000 drivers and approved more than 27,000 vehicles in the case of this city. More licences are being issued for this city than for the city of New York with ten times the population. The Minister is presiding over that failure of regulation. On the regulator, for those 50,000 drivers there are only nine enforcement officers — nine inspectors for 50,000 workers. Is it not time the Minister stopped shilly-shallying and came forward with a moratorium?
It would be helpful if the Deputy knew the structure for the control and regulation of the taxi industry. It would make answering some of his questions a little easier. In addition to that, matters legal and for enforcement are a matter for the Garda as well as the taxi regulators.
This is utter nonsense.
I will call the Deputy again but allow the Minister to answer the question.
As the Deputy should be well aware, both the Garda and the transport officers are involved, and we have approximately 14,000 gardaí in the country.
On the economic review, the Deputy has selectively quoted from that. He fails to note that the economic review also states that taxi journeys have increased by 25% in recent years.
As has the population.
It is an increase. Demand has grown by 25%. The number of cabs has increased from almost 3,000 in 2000 to almost 27,500 in 2008.
The current status of the industry, according to the Goodbody report, from the point of view of vehicle standards, knowledge and so on, is that "current overall level of cab services provided in Ireland as well as vehicle quality, vehicle cleanliness and helpfulness of drivers is good". The Deputy is being very unfair to the taxi regulator but there is only one taxi regulator and 27,000 taxi drivers. They have included a new uniform and new fare structure, new national vehicle standards, better customer information and redress complaint mechanisms, including a national information line. They have provided for a new skills development programme, for this year for new drivers and for 2012 for existing drivers. There has been a streamlining of the administration of vehicle licensing, a strengthening of enforcement and the establishment of a national register of licensed vehicles.
The Minister does not have the required knowledge of how the system works. Is it an offence to sell a licence on a particular number or not? Gardaí tell us it is not.
The Joint Committee on Transport has discussed this issue for the past nine months. We have listened to all interests and have consulted with consumers and passengers. We have taken advice from a senior counsel who says it would be possible to introduce legislation to suspend the allocation of licences for a period, using a legal device known as a sunset clause, to allow time to bring in a proper system of regulation.
The Minister and his Cabinet colleagues presided over lousy regulation of the financial system and planning. The country is suffering from a poor regulation regime. This is affecting the taxi business and the Minister is responsible.
I am aware of the work of the CTR. I am also aware of the work done by the Joint Committee on Transport. A process of consultation is under way and the fair and reasonable approach is to wait until all of that work is compiled, look at it and then decide if further action is required in the areas for which I have direct responsibility. I will do that.
Public Transport.
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:3 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Transport the progress that has been made in the implementation of the Deloitte report on efficiency reforms in Dublin Bus; the timetable for the implementation of set objectives; his plans to restructure other areas of CIE and Dublin Bus in the immediate future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29662/09]
I understand from Dublin Bus that it has commenced implementation of the recommendations of the Deloitte report. The implementation process includes the application of the principles identified in the report, such as the amalgamation of route legs and the use of even headways between buses, as part of its cost recovery plan. The company has also commenced work on the review and redesign of the network in line with the Deloitte report and Dublin Bus is targeting mid-2010 for the completion of this work. This involves a detailed review of the 18 main route corridors served by Dublin Bus. I am informed that Dublin Bus is rolling out automatic vehicle location, AVL, and real time passenger information on a depot by depot basis with the first depot to be completed by the end of this year. Once AVL has been introduced this will enable Dublin Bus to provide real time passenger Information, RTPI, by way of Internet or mobile phone access. Funding has also been set aside for Dublin City Council to enable the installation of RTPI display signs at bus stops in a similar fashion to those at Luas and DART stops.
Both Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann are introducing a single smart card in the greater Dublin area on a phased basis over the period to early 2011. Dublin Bus introduced a "disposable" smart card in 2008 for its current range of prepaid tickets and more than 30 million smart card transactions take place every year.
While I have no plans to restructure other areas of CIE and Dublin Bus in the immediate future, my Department is currently developing public service contracts for the annual compensation paid to the CIE companies in respect of their PSO services. These contracts, which will replace the current memoranda of understanding, are due to be in place by early December.
I have met with Dublin Bus representatives. I am happy with the way the company resolved its industrial relations issue, and particularly with how it gave priority to new people coming into the company and allowed older people who wished to take voluntary redundancy to do so.
In a contracting economy, the situation has worsened for people who need public transport. People cannot afford to drive as much as previously and there are fewer buses on the road. What plans do the Minister or Dublin Bus have to improve services? When funding is cut the company cannot provide service.
The Dublin Transport Authority was to have been set up earlier this year. Will it be in place before the end of the year? When it is set up, will it give priority to this area?
Integrated ticketing was to have cost €12 million. It has cost €18 million to date and is still not fully in place. Taxpayers' money has been wasted on this project and it is not working as well as it ought.
The total cost of integrated ticketing will be €54 million. The amount spent so far is €19 million.
A sum of €12 million was the estimated cost so far.
Yes, to the stage it is now at. The estimated total cost was in the region of €49 or €50 million. When tenders came in that was revised up to €54 million. That is the figure we are looking at.
I hope the Dublin Transport Authority will be established and operational before the end of this year. The new chief executive officer has been notified of his appointment and some matters remain to be finalised in that regard. As soon as the person is in place we will establish the board itself and move forward.
I join Deputy O'Dowd in commending Dublin Bus on securing agreement for a new streamlined service and for the necessary economies. The plans for improvement do not need extra money. The recommendations of the Deloitte report will save money. I meet Dublin Bus representatives every four to six weeks to discuss the Deloitte report. The company has set up a steering group which is dedicated to implementing the recommendations of the report.
The Deloitte recommendations would save Dublin Bus approximately €2 million per major route. The key point is that new areas of population have no bus service. With its finite resources, Dublin Bus will not be able to provide these services. What attractions is the Minister providing to private companies to come into the market, as was promised ten years ago?
I accept the Deputy's basic point. I am sure Bus Átha Cliath will take note of the fact that there are areas where there are no services. I have seen some maps which illustrate this lack. There is nothing to stop private sector companies from operating in those areas. The forthcoming public transport Bill, which will reform the 1932 Act, will be a big help in attracting the private sector.
It takes years to get the consent of the Department of Transport and to get a licence.
No, it does not.
I can give the Minister a few examples.
There have been difficulties in the past. The 1932 Act is slow and cumbersome and is not fit for current purpose.
Absolutely.
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:4 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Transport the indicative completion dates of all planned public transport capital projects; the delays that are currently being experienced by these projects; the status of other public transport capital projects as detailed in Transport 21 but have not yet entered the planning phase or are not subject to contractual obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29663/09]
Significant progress has been made in the delivery of the ambitious programme of works to upgrade our public transport system set out in Transport 21.
A number of public transport projects have already been completed. The new Docklands railway station has opened and Irish Rail has completely modernised its intercity rolling stock. The new Portlaoise traincare depot is open and operational and new stations have also been provided at Parkwest-Cherry Orchard, Clondalkin-Fonthill and Hazelhatch-Celbridge. All of the Luas trams on the Tallaght line were lengthened by 10 m, increasing the capacity of that line by 40%.
Further major works are also in progress on other public transport projects, some of which will be completed this year. These are the Cork to Midleton rail line, phase 1 of the western rail corridor and the Luas extension to the Docklands. Apart from six that were damaged in transit, the remainder of the new intercity railcars will also enter service on the national rail network this year. Work is progressing on the Luas extensions to Cherrywood and Citywest, phase 1 of the Kildare route project and phase 1 of the Navan rail line project. All of these will complete construction within 18 months.
Funding for an automatic vehicle location system, AVLS, and real-time passenger information, RTPI, has also been made available and these projects will be rolled out over the next 18 months. The integrated ticketing project is also well advanced and the single smartcard for the GDA will be introduced on a phased basis over the period to early 2011. Major investment in Iarnród Éireann's railway safety programme is ongoing. Progress is also continuing on the delivery of bus priority measures in Dublin and the provincial cities. By the end of this year, more than €2.5 billion will have been invested in new public transport infrastructure under Transport 21.
Regarding projects not yet at construction, I have stated a number of times that the provision of increased capacity will continue to be a key consideration in determining investment priorities for public transport. Given their potential to increase capacity on the public transport network, metro north and the DART underground are key projects. Continued investment in increased bus capacity and bus priority measures are also priorities. The bus-related investment will be guided by the Deloitte cost and efficiency review of the CIE bus companies and the availability of current funding for public service obligations. The selection of projects and programmes will also be guided by the overarching priorities of strengthening the productive capacity of the economy and sustaining employment.
The planning of the other major public transport capital projects identified in Transport 21 is continuing and they will be released for construction as soon as they are through statutory procedures and subject to the funding available during the current difficult economic climate.
The current economic climate is key. Does it mean that all of Transport 21's objectives will be followed through? There has been speculation in the press regarding metro north and west. Will the Minister comment in this regard? Metro north, which everyone present favours, is predicated on a Government decision to proceed. It has not received the final green light.
Where there are contractual obligations, I presume that they must continue. Where there are none, will the Minister provide an amended Transport 21 plan for 2015?
Like the Deputy, I have been reading consistently negative comments in newspapers about metro north for as long as I have been in my Department and even prior to that time. Metro north is some people's pet hate and they continue to feed this feeling into the media.
Yes.
However, the project's situation has not changed one iota. It is one of Transport 21's two key public projects. As the Deputy is aware from newspaper reports, it is being delayed in the planning process.
This week.
The two preferred tenderers are in place. As soon as the planning and tendering processes have concluded, the cost-benefit appraisal will be carried out. Once it proves positive, which I am certain will be the case, construction will commence.
Any contracts we have signed must be honoured and those projects will continue. As to which projects might fall foul of the economic circumstances if they do not improve, I will decide nearer the time. In deference to our time limits, I will not name all of the projects listed in Transport 21, but I intend to continue providing money for planning and to make them shovel ready. At that stage, we will make the decisions in light of the economic circumstances.
The Minister can add any additional information in a tabular statement that will be included in the Official Report.
The Minister and I agree on the objectives. He stated that the projects without contractual obligations will continue until he must make the decision to say "Yay" or "Nay". What is metro west's position in this regard?
Its next stage, the railway order, is under consideration. No final decision will be made on the project until we get that order.
Proposed Legislation.
Shane McEntee
Question:5 Deputy Shane McEntee asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline the progress to date in reducing the legal blood alcohol level to 0.5 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood; the introduction of compulsory testing of alcohol at road traffic accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29664/09]
A road traffic Bill that, inter alia, provides for a reduction in the blood alcohol concentration levels for drivers is nearing completion. The preparation of legislation takes time and I am sure Deputies will agree that it is important to get it right.
The Bill will take account of the blood alcohol concentration levels proposed by the Road Safety Authority, RSA, last year. The implementation of the new levels, when the legislation has been enacted, will require the recalibration or replacement and subsequent recertification of both the roadside breathalysers and evidential breath testing machines in Garda stations. The Bill will also include provision for the mandatory testing for alcohol of drivers involved in road traffic collisions and provisions for field impairment testing, that is, non-technological methods by which gardaí can make a preliminary assessment about the possible presence of drugs. A number of amendments will be included to improve the effectiveness of the fixed charge and penalty points system.
As Deputies will be aware, we have seen a sustained reduction in the number of people killed on our roads. For example, 2008 saw the lowest number of road deaths on record at 279, despite the fact that, in the past decade, there has been a 40% increase in the number of drivers and a 70% increase in the number of vehicles on our roads. Fatalities in the year to this morning number 128, down 18 from the same date last year. It is important to maintain this momentum. As everyone knows, each fatality and serious injury is a tragedy for families, friends and communities. I am confident that the provisions in the road traffic Bill will contribute to significant further improvements in road safety.
I welcome the Minister's report. In 2005, there were 396 road deaths. Last year, the figure was 279, a decrease of 117. The RSA was established due to the outcry about the slaughter on the roads. Many initiatives have since been taken. I would push to the limit the education of young people.
The Minister knows of the considerable input provided by Mr. Michael Finnegan, a road safety officer in our county, in educating people on not drinking and driving. This is the bottom line. People should find a way to get to and from places without drinking and driving. Young people follow this message because they will not sit into a car being driven by someone who has been drinking.
The other issue is speed. Given the drastic number of sergeants leaving the Garda force, I am concerned that we will not be in a position to patrol roads. Nothing is more striking than the sight of a garda or a patrol car on the road. One will cut one's speed. The reduction in law enforcement numbers will affect everyone. In one station in Dublin, seven of nine sergeants have left.
We all know what must happen, but it has not yet come about. When will the Garda begin testing for drug driving?
The sooner the better. My most recent information in this regard is that, unlike the breathalyser and so on, there is no effective roadside test for drugs. However, drugs can show up in blood and urine samples, so there is some level of detection of drugs. Anecdotal evidence indicates an increasing number of people are being caught with drugs, but not necessarily alcohol, in their system. With a view to having roadside testing for drugs, we are involved with a high-level group at European level that is trying to develop a means of carrying out reliable roadside tests. The Australians are trying out systems at present and if they prove successful, we will consider them.
In Australia, where roadside tests were carried out, it was discovered people are five times more likely to have drugs in their systems than alcohol. Addressing this problem is crucial. The Oxegen concert is taking place this weekend and it is essential that we avoid the carnage that occurred last year.
I agree with the Deputy and I join him in appealing to those going to the concert to drive safely.