Departmental Agencies.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 January 2010

Thursday, 21 January 2010

Questions (171)

John McGuinness

Question:

166 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport the number of bodies and agencies operated under the remit of his Department; the cost of each on a yearly basis; the name and number that have been abolished in the past four years; the name and number that have been amalgamated; the name of those to be abolished or amalgamated in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2749/10]

Written answers

Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey)

The Department funds the general administrative expenses of the following agencies and the estimates costs in 2008 and 2009 are set out as follows. Eight bodies in total have been abolished in the past 4 years. The Dublin Transportation office replaced by the National Transport Authority on 1st December 2009. Seven Harbour Authorities established under the Harbours Act 1946 have been abolished since 2006. Sligo, Annagassan, River Moy, Youghal, Kilrush and Westport harbours have transferred to local authority control and Dingle has been designated a Fishery Harbour Centre. There are six remaining Harbour Authorities under the Harbours Act 1946. Current policy is to transfer responsibility for these to local authorities l or to amalgamate them with State owned port companies. It is hoped that a number of these transfers will take place in 2010.

In compliance with the Government's decision of October 2008, the Air Accident Investigation Unit of the Department of Transport, the Railway Accident Investigation Unit of the Railway Safety Commission and the Marine Casualty Investigation Board will be administratively merged in mid-2010 to form the Irish Accident Investigation Office as an Executive Office under the aegis of the Department of Transport. Legislation to underpin the new arrangements is expected to be introduced in the Oireachtas in 2010.

It is also my intention to amalgamate the Commission for Aviation Regulation and the regulatory functions of the Irish Aviation Authority with the planned new National Transport Authority. Detailed proposals to implement the decision are currently being considered.

In line with the McCarthy Report proposals, consideration is been given to the merging of the National Roads Authority and the Railway Procurement Agency and this will be progressed during 2010. The Public Transport Regulation Act 2009 provides for the dissolution of the Commission for Taxi Regulation by the Minister at the request of the National Transport Authority and for the transfer of the staff, functions, duties and ongoing responsibilities of the Commission to the Authority. This will be progressed on receipt of a request from the Authority.

General Administrative Expenses

State Body	2008	2009
	€million	€million
CIÉ Group — Bus Átha Cliath	Nil	Nil
CIÉ Group — Bus Éireann	Nil	Nil
CIÉ Group — Iarnród Éireann	Nil	Nil
Railway Safety Commission	2.1	2
Railway Procurement Agency	11.0	10.6
National Roads Authority	16.3	15.9
Dublin Transportation Office*	1.1	1
National Transport Authority**
Road Safety Authority	22.7	32.8
Medical Bureau of Road Safety	3.3	4.3
Marine Casualty Investigation Board	0.2	0.2
Dublin Airport Authority	Nil	Nil
Shannon Airport Authority	Nil	Nil
Cork Airport Authority	Nil	Nil
Commission for Taxi Regulation	Nil	Nil
Commission for Aviation Regulation	Nil	Nil
Irish Aviation Authority	Nil	Nil
Port of Cork Company	Nil	Nil
Drogheda Port Company	Nil	Nil
Dublin Port Company	Nil	Nil
Dundalk Port Company	Nil	Nil
Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company	Nil	Nil
Galway Harbour Company	Nil	Nil
New Ross Port Company	Nil	Nil
Shannon/Foynes Port Company	Nil	Nil
Port of Waterford Company	Nil	Nil
Wicklow Port Company	Nil	Nil
Arklow Harbour Commissioners	Nil	Nil
Baltimore Harbour Commissioners	Nil	Nil
Bantry Bay Harbour Commissioners	Nil	Nil
Kinsale Harbour Commissioners	Nil	Nil
Tralee and Fenit and Harbour Commissioners	Nil	Nil
Wexford Harbour Commissioners	Nil	Nil

*Abolished 1 December 2009.

**Established 1 December 2009.