Trevor Sargent
Ceist:184 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if he will report on the progress being made by the Public Transport Partnership Forum including the agreed work programme for the Forum. [27724/00]
Written Answers. - Public Transport Partnership Forum.
The Public Transport Partnership Forum met for the first time on 9 June last. The forum is chaired by Department of Public Enterprise and consists of representatives from the Departments of the Taoiseach, Finance and the Environment and Local Government, as well as various representatives of the social partners and CIE. The forum has met on a monthly basis so far.
The objectives of the forum are essentially as set out in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, that is, to provide a mechanism for consultation on public transport matters, particularly: the development of overall public transport pol icy; strategies for the development of the public transport system; public transport investment requirements, priorities and programmes and mechanisms for the improved delivery of public transport services, infrastructure and facilities.
The forum will continue over the coming months, as part of its work programme, to discuss major issues arising in the public transport sector. To date, issues considered include: the Government's consultative paper, A New Institutional and Regulatory Framework for Public Transport; institutional arrangements for transport and land use in the greater Dublin area; the contribution of public transport to balanced regional development, including rural public transport; implementation of the public transport programme under the national development plan; and an integrated transport strategy for the greater Dublin area.
The forum agreed at its meeting on 7 September 2000 to establish a sub-group to look specifically at the issue of rural public transport. The agreed terms of reference for the sub-committee are to prepare, for consideration by the forum, draft recommendations to the Minister for Public Enterprise in relation to: pilot public transport schemes as set out under the national development plan; and policy on rural public transport.
The subgroup is expected to report to the plenary session of the forum by mid-2001. The forum also decided at its meeting on 5 October 2000 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. The process of procuring consultants is currently under way. The purpose of the study is to assist the forum in making a formal statement of its views to the Government in response to the consultation paper, A New Institutional and Regulatory Framework for Public Transport. A report on the completed study is to be submitted to the forum within four months of commencement.
The forum has also recently agreed a statement on the future institutional arrangements for transport and land use in the greater Dublin area.
In addition to the above, the forum has agreed to discuss the following issues over the coming months: rail development outside the greater Dublin area and the development of rail freight services; urban land-use and transportation studies; and regulation of the bus market outside the greater Dublin area.