Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 June 2005
29 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied with the significant delay in the bus licensing unit within his Department; the reason for the lengthy delay in securing a decision regarding a passenger licence faced by service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21218/05]
View answer42 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Transport when the national transport regulatory office will be established; the role he expects such an office to fulfil; the geographical area it will have responsibility for; the transport modes and services he expects it to have remit over; and the legislative changes required to facilitate its introduction. [21102/05]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 42 together.
The Road Transport Act 1932, which provides the legislative base for the issue of bus route licences, is administered by the bus route licensing section of my Department. Given the wide range of issues which must be taken into account in assessing an application for a bus route licence under the 1932 Act, the process is both time-consuming and complex. The workload in the area continues to increase significantly, given the increase in applications for new bus route licences and amendments to existing licences. Despite the best efforts of the staff concerned, who have achieved significant increases in their productivity, a backlog of applications has developed which has given rise to significant delays in the process. I have asked my Department to increase the staffing resources available to the section, and this is being done. In addition, work is proceeding on the development of new information technology systems which, when available, will help to improve matters.
However, despite increases in resources and improved productivity of staff, the Road Transport Act 1932 is inadequate in terms of providing a basis for a modern, effective regulatory system for the bus industry. As I have indicated previously before this House, the bus market will continue to grow in the coming years and I am committed to providing opportunities for both public and private companies to deliver increased public services and to ensure the taxpayer and the customer get a high quality of service and best value for money. This will require the replacement of the Road Transport Act 1932 with a modern legislative framework.
To this end, I propose to establish an independent national public transport commission to, inter alia, allocate Exchequer subvention for public transport services, both bus and rail, through public service contracts, licensed commercial bus services and regulated fares on all rail, Luas and bus services. The establishment of this body will require primary legislation, which will include provision for the repeal and amendment of some existing transport legislation, notably the Road Transport Act 1932.
In addition to modernising the regulatory framework, I am currently finalising plans for a major programme of investment in public transport and considering the structures and arrangements which will need to be put in place to ensure the best possible return is achieved from this investment. In this context, I am giving consideration as to how best to ensure the timely, co-ordinated and integrated delivery of public transport investment in the greater Dublin area. Work is ongoing in my Department to identify the best way forward. However, I envisage that whatever arrangements are put in place, they will work effectively with the proposed national public transport commission. Operational planning of services will remain with the public transport providers. Officials in my Department are continuing to meet with stakeholders on how to modernise the regulatory structure governing public transport. That includes public companies, a number of which I have met, and private companies. Their views are interesting and useful.
Under priority questions, the Minister has dealt with the regulatory framework. Everything he says sounds wonderful but I have heard it so often before that it lacks all credibility.
Why is the bus licensing unit taking so long to make decisions? We have heard much about congestion, the stress it causes for people and its cost to business and individuals, not to mention the toll it takes on people's health. On the one hand we have people who want a bus service, including new communities within and outside Dublin trying to commute into the city, while on the other hand there are bus companies which want to give them a bus service. The Minister is in the middle, preventing a service being given to the people who want it. It makes no sense to thwart the public will.
I accept the difficulties caused by the Road Transport Act, and all the difficulties involved in setting up a new regulatory framework, but the Minister could take action on this matter now. He could issue temporary licences to get people into buses and out of cars, and reduce the congestion which is destroying life in Dublin and the towns outside it, to which people have been forced to migrate because of the high cost of housing in Dublin.
The Minister's reply sounds wonderful, but if he cannot deal with the bigger picture immediately — I know he will try to do something before the general election — can he deal with individual issues, such as providing licences? I understand that in his Department there are currently 180 requests for licences, either new or enhanced. Could they be dealt with, perhaps in the next three months?
I have given the Deputy the figures and she can see that a substantial number of new licences has been issued, both to private and public companies. I agree with the Deputy that the existing legislation and framework for the issuing of licences are completely inadequate. The Road Transport Act 1932 does not provide the necessary framework and raises complex legal issues regarding the framework and the consultation processes that must be gone through in order to make a decision with different communities, local authorities and so on. It is very cumbersome. I am happy to issue licences to private sector and public sector companies but I want a good mix of resources in those sectors, delivering the bulk of transport needs in Dublin and throughout the country in the future. It is not possible to do that adequately under the existing Act. The system and structure in my Department do not meet the requirements of a modern economy to provide the necessary framework.
The Minister seems to be developing policy on the hoof.
No.
The Minister has been talking about a new commission for awarding licences. Very recently he announced, in the newspapers, a transport authority. What will the relationship be between the commission and the authority? A transport authority should surely be in a position to issue licences.
The Deputy is correct. I am enunciating two different bodies, one of which relates to the delivery of services. What I said this afternoon relates to the issuing of licences and to the issuing of the subventions whether they be to the private or public sector, while seeking value for money. All that relates to the technical side. The Deputy will probably agree there is a large range of bodies in Dublin with views on public transport. In parallel with a roll-out of substantial investment in infrastructure over the next ten years or so, we need a specific and sophisticated body to——
Why did the Department oppose such a body when Dublin City Council tried to include it in its development plan in the past six months? Why did the Department oppose a Dublin transport authority?
I do not know what the Deputy has in mind but I know what I have in mind.
Six months ago, the Department opposed a transport authority.
The Deputy is turning the question around. I have been more open than anyone else in this House with regard to parliamentary questions. I have given the Deputy fresh information every time.
It is different every time the Minister announces it, and on many occasions it is contradictory.
The Deputy does not like it when she sees us taking action. We will have the licensing regime in place as quickly as possibly, certainly before the next general election.
The Minister has done a complete U-turn in the past six months.
Written answers follow Adjournment Debate.
