Vol. 613 No. 4
110 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Transport when the coast guard will move its headquarters to Drogheda; the number of positions and staff who will transfer; the arrangements being made for the Dublin marine rescue co-ordination centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3134/06]
Under the Government's decentralisation programme the decentralisation implementation group has identified the transfer of the headquarters of the Irish Coast Guard and maritime safety directorate to Drogheda as a phase one project. The Office of Public Works is currently seeking a suitable site in Drogheda for the development with the objective of completing the move as quickly as possible. The decentralisation project will involve 47 posts composed of both coast guard and maritime safety directorate staff.
Separately, a decision to transfer the services of the marine rescue co-ordination centre from Dublin was taken on foot of a study of the coast guard undertaken by independent consultants. Reflecting advances in modern communications technologies, the consultants recommended that the coast guard should operate two control centres as opposed to the three centres that exist at present. Communications technology today is such that the geographical location of the co-ordination centres is less important now than in the past.
The intention is that the remaining two centres would be developed to handle all emergencies around our coast, including the Dublin and the east coast area, on inland waters and mountain, cliff and cave rescue. There would be no consequent reduction in the capability of the Irish Coast Guard to co-ordinate and manage incidents as a result of the relocation away from Dublin.
In this context, coast guard management would address all issues relating to the operation of two control centres, including establishing the measures that would be necessary to effect a smooth transfer from Dublin while ensuring that full co-ordination capability is maintained at all times.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Government decided to transfer responsibility for maritime transport matters, including maritime safety and the coast guard, to the Department of Transport with effect from 1 January this year. In this context, and with a view to the closer integration of maritime transport functions into overall transport policy, I have asked my officials to review current and proposed arrangements for the delivery of maritime transport services, including marine rescue co-ordination, and to report back to me.
I take it from what the Minister has said that the plan is to scrap the proposal for the Dublin marine rescue centre and that services will just be provided from Valentia and Malin Head. It seems an extraordinary decision that there will be no service on the east coast where the bulk of activity on our seas takes place. The Minister had the option of going ahead with the Dublin centre as proposed or he could have moved the service to Drogheda. Is the Minister saying there will be no marine rescue service operating along the full length of the east coast?
We are at cross-purposes.
The radio centre——
Is the Deputy referring to the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre?
Yes. Will the centre not have two bases?
No, but perhaps I conveyed that. I was saying it is a question of whether the centre in Dublin should be located at the big headquarters in Drogheda and whether we should marshal the centres in Valentia and Malin as two other centres. Rather than recommending having the Maritime Safety Directorate on its own in Drogheda, the review stated the big Dublin centre might be incorporated into it such that there would be one body in the same area. That would be based here and then one would consider the other two centres. That is how I understand the matter and I hope I have conveyed it correctly to the Deputy.
The service is to go ahead in Dublin.
No. The service exists in Dublin but when the decision was made to move the Maritime Safety Directorate to Drogheda, those involved also considered moving the centre in Dublin. A proposal, which has not been signed off, has been made to include the latter with the development in Drogheda as opposed to leaving it in Dublin. There would also be two outreach centres, in Valentia and Malin.
I believe the Minister said in his reply there would only be the two centres, at Malin and Valentia.
Yes, because there are effectively three independent centres at present. If I put together the two headquarters, that is, the Dublin Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre and the Maritime Safety Directorate, this would effectively leave two independent centres elsewhere. However, these two independent centres would be under the auspices of the main centre in Drogheda. That is how I understand it and I hope I have stated it to the Deputy correctly.
The staff in the Dublin centre are in limbo. Will they definitely be moving to Drogheda?
The final decision has not been taken. I have only received the information. The proposal was teased out and it was recommended that the centre in Dublin should move in that direction. However, it is not finalised and it has only come to me——
When will the Minister finalise it?
I would like to do so very quickly because the staff need clarity in terms of the decentralisation programme. The proposal has just been forwarded to me and, having gone through it very quickly, my sense of it is as I have outlined. If the Deputy tables a parliamentary question, I hope I will have reached a definitive position when making my response. I hope I have conveyed the position to the Deputy correctly but I have not immersed myself in the detail. I have outlined my grasp of the matter.
On emergency co-ordination, the plan was to close the Dublin centre and transfer the staff to Valentia. The reality is that there is no appetite among the staff to transfer there. It has been pointed out that it would be extremely dangerous to transfer the centre to Valentia given that the vast majority of emergency-related activities take place on the east coast. The connection between the men on the ground and those who co-ordinate rescue missions would be broken entirely. Whatever the plan is for Drogheda, it has absolutely nothing to do with the co-ordination of sea rescue. There are nuclear ships and other vessels passing along the east coast and this is where the demand is. I urge the Minister to re-examine the report. It stated two centres would be sufficient but it was never dreamt that the centre in Dublin, on the east coast, would be closed.
I have outlined to the Deputies my understanding of the issue. Frankly, am not convinced the matter has been thought through to the nth degree. If Deputy Olivia Mitchell tables a parliamentary question, I will tease out the matter with her. I would be a bit concerned if the entire east coast were not party to the new arrangement——
That is what the Minister's reply said.
——such that there would be a minimum of one on the east coast and one on the west coast.
That would be rational.
My understanding was that the Maritime Safety Directorate in Drogheda would form part of that arrangement — maybe this is an assumption and I could be wrong.
That is what the Minister's reply said.
The Deputy may be correct but that is how I understand the matter. I promise I will return to the Deputy on the matter and try to give her a fuller answer.
Will the Minister communicate directly with our offices in the next week to clarify the position?
I would appreciate that also.
As soon as I know the position I will try to clarify that point. If the proposal is to have no centre on the east coast and two elsewhere, I would be concerned about it.
Perhaps the Minister will clarify his reply in the next few days.
I will.
111 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Transport the reason for the delay in publishing the outcome of the review of the national car test; the changes he intends making following the review; and when these changes will take effect. [3142/06]
202 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Transport if the technical standards forum recommended under the review of the national car test has been established; the recommendations of this forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3356/06]
206 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Transport the action he has taken regarding the recommendations arising from the national car test review; the main changes proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3354/06]
265 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the outcome of the review of the national car test. [3394/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 202, 206 and 265 together.
The report on the outcome of the mid-term review of the national car testing service conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers for my Department was received in the Department at the end of October 2005. The Department is now in discussion with the National Car Testing Service with a view to implementing the recommendations contained in the report as soon as possible. The discussions are being conducted in accordance with the contract change procedures provided for in the project agreement between the Minister for Transport and the NCTS for the operation of the car testing service. While these discussions are ongoing, it would not be appropriate to outline the recommendations contained in the report. However, as soon as the discussions are concluded I will publish the report on the Department's website.
I have already indicated in reply to Question No. 302 of 13 December 2005 that, as recommended in the report, it is the intention to establish a technical standards forum to consider and make recommendations on vehicle technical matters associated with the national car test. I will establish such a forum in due course.
I am quite disappointed to hear how the Minister intends to handle this issue from now on. The national car test has been an issue for some time and there is much public concern over its operation, including over the fact that 49% of cars fail their first test. One hears much anecdotal information and complaints from constituents that there is a lack of uniformity in the approach taken. It is believed that strange decisions are sometimes made in the testing procedures such that a car that fails under one tester would be passed by another without any work having to be done on the car. There is concern over quality standards.
The review has been proceeding for some time and I do not understand why the Minister is not publishing the result. It will be up to him and others involved to decide how to implement recommendations but surely the public is entitled to know the outcome of the review of the national car testing service. Will the Minister publish the report prior to making any decisions on how he intends to proceed?
I do not disagree fundamentally with the Deputy. The key sentence in my reply is, "The discussions are being conducted in accordance with the contract change procedures". I am tied to the procedures, which were agreed previously, relating to how the changes are to be brought about. This is what the mid-term review report feeds into. I have said to the Deputy and give my word that I would like to publish the report as quickly as possible. I have allowed some space for the Department and the NCTS staff to discuss the contents of the report. I intend to bring the discussions to a conclusion as quickly as possible and I would like to circulate the report in the public domain. One should allow reasonable time for discussions between both parties to ensure they understand the issues. The public has a right to know what was recommended in the report. The report has been produced and it has been discussed by both parties as per the procedures agreed under the existing contract and I would like to see the discussions concluded and the report published.
I agree with my colleague, Deputy Shortall. I am sure my office is no different to that of anybody else in terms of the number of complaints it receives about the national car test, particularly about the variation between centres. There is very high failure rate although the average age of cars is extremely low and falling all the time.
The issue of non-nationals having accidents while driving cars registered abroad has come to national prominence in recent weeks. The Garda highlighted that there is no test for these cars to determine their quality and no certification as to whether they passed a road-worthiness test in their country of origin. I understand the authorities in Northern Ireland have dealt with this problem by introducing the equivalent of an national car test for cars entering that jurisdiction from other countries. Has the Minister made any inquiries into this? Is it possible for us to introduce a similar system to deal with the many cars coming into the State from abroad?
The Deputy raised a serious and important issue, of which I am well aware. I have heard much evidence about the context of how cars coming into the country are insured, the powers of the Garda Síochána to impound cars and the issue which the Deputy rightly raises, namely, the quality testing standards to which these cars should be subject. I have initiated consideration of this issue, which I would like to bring to a speedy resolution.
It is clear that due to the quality of the vehicles or the quality of the driving, or a combination of the two, the sad reality is that the number of foreign nationals — who are working in this country and welcome to do so — involved in fatal or near-fatal accidents has grown substantially in recent times. It behoves us from a legal perspective to ensure that the necessary laws are in place so the Garda Síochána and other authorities can ensure that poor vehicles are not on the road and the Garda has the power to act against such vehicles. Insurance issues also need to be considered.
The Deputy is bang on the money with regard to this issue. If all Irish drivers are subject to a high standard vehicle test, it is unconscionable that somebody from outside the country who comes to work here would have different criteria applied to him. That is unacceptable and bad for road safety.
Does the Minister agree with the welcome comments made by Conor Faughnan with regard to the real concern that existed due to the comments from the National Safety Council about the incidence of accidents involving non-national drivers? Does he agree with Mr. Faughnan that it is premature to comment on this matter as the relevant statistics have not yet been produced? We must be careful not to add to the culture of concern in this country with regard to non-nationals by bringing road accidents into the picture and depicting non-nationals as having a higher incidence of accidents, when the evidence has not been produced and when we cannot, as Mr. Faughnan noted, point the finger at anyone in terms of drink culture. Will the Minister support those comments and express concern about the original comments and how they were reported?
I must be clear on this point. My concern is for everybody on the roads, irrespective of nationality. That is the position in which I find myself and I have no difficulty with it. I agree with the Deputy that I would not want to be seen to be picking on one sector or another. Deputy Olivia Mitchell raised a legitimate and important question in the context of the application of the NCT. No driver resident in this country should be outside the law applying to all who live here. That is not to point the finger; it is a legitimate point and simply an issue of law with regard to the process of how we develop our road safety and testing standards.
I want to be clear that I replied in that context to Deputy Mitchell. It was a fair question which got a fair answer.
112 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the progress made in regard to the delivery of the projects outlined in Transport 21; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3342/06]
126 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Transport the projects contained in Transport 21 that will be completed in 2006; the projects that will begin construction in 2006; the details of these projects, including costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3352/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 126 together.
Since the launch of Transport 21 in November last, I have received applications for two railway orders for Luas extensions to docklands and Cherrywood. The public inquiries for these projects, are expected to be completed by the summer and contracts awarded by the end of the year. The Cherrywood extension is expected to commence construction this year. An announcement on the preferred route for linking the red and green Luas lines in the city centre should be made later this month, while the public consultation on the route of metro north should also commence later this month.
The first phase of the DART upgrade project has been completed on time and within the budget of €176 million. Delivery of the 67 new intercity carriages for operation on the Dublin-Cork route will be complete later this year and they will be introduced into service gradually, allowing Iarnród Éireann to provide a service every hour on the route by the end of 2006.
The public inquiry for the Kildare route project began on 23 January and construction work on the project is expected to commence in 2006. I expect to receive, in the next few months, a railway order application in respect of the re-opening of the railway line between Glounthaune and Midleton. Other rail projects, expected to commence construction in 2006 are the new docklands railway station and the new intercity railcar depot at Portlaoise.
With regard to buses, Dublin Bus recently submitted an application for funding to me for additional fleet requirements, taking account of the emerging findings of its bus network review, which is nearing completion. This is being examined in my Department at present. I understand Bus Éireann is also finalising proposals for the expansion of its fleet and I expect an application from that company shortly.
Three roads projects have opened to traffic since the launch of Transport 21. These are the N6 Kinnegad-Enfield bypass, N22 Gortatlea-Farranfore and N6 Loughrea bypass. Work has commenced on three further projects, namely, the N5 Charlestown bypass, M50 phase 1 and the N51 Navan inner relief road. During 2006, the NRA expects to complete 13 projects with a combined length of more than 82 kilometres and the major impact of Transport 21 will be felt this year with the commencement of work on 15 projects with a combined length of 334 kilometres. Deputies will appreciate the scaling up of delivery of the roads programme.
With regard to costs, I have stated previously that I do not consider it prudent to release commercially sensitive information on the cost of individual projects within Transport 21 until the public procurement processes are complete. I must maintain that position in the interests of protecting the taxpayer and ensuring Transport 21 is achieved within its budget of €34 billion.
I am aware that the two Luas lines to which the Minister referred, the link between the A and B lines and the B1 line, were well advanced long before Transport 21 was thought up, as were all of the projects mentioned. My concern centres on the projects which have not yet commenced but which have completion dates as part of Transport 21 that are looking increasingly unrealistic. For example, the first phase of the metro between Clondalkin and Tallaght is to be operational in four years' time and the full north-south metro link to the city centre, the airport and beyond that to Swords is scheduled to be operational in six years' time. The Minister would need to order the trams now to have them delivered in six years. Is it realistic to expect to have that project completed in time? If it is his intention to do so, what has happened to make it happen? Have the project teams been assembled? Is anybody driving the projects forward?
The Minister announced the setting up of the Dublin Transport Authority and the appointment of Professor O'Mahony as its head. However, the Minister had no thoughts on what the job entailed but instead asked Professor O'Mahony to come back in a few months and explain to him what it entails. Is Professor O'Mahony the person who is supposed to drive all of these projects? Is it realistic to expect them to be completed within the timescale outlined in Transport 21?
The Deputy's opening remarks were correct in that many of these projects had been in planning. There was no certainty of any of them going ahead. Transport 21 provided immediate funding to get the projects up and running, which is what has happened. Later this month the public consultation on the metro north route will commence, which is quick progress. In terms of the framework scheduling in my Department, which I released in broad terms into the public domain, we are well on schedule or ahead of schedule.
We will quote the Minister on that in ten years.
We will see him in 2012.
If the Deputies want to tell me we are behind schedule, they should point out where we are behind. We are not behind.
With regard to the ordering of rolling stock, last year we placed huge orders for intercity carriages for Iarnród Éireann, which will be delivered in 18 months. We do not need six years to place orders. Moreover, we want to get the most modern equipment available.
Does the Minister anticipate the tunnel being completed in six years given that is has not yet gone to public consultation?
Major international tunnelling projects have been completed well within that timeframe. I have no doubt it is possible to do this. My expectation is that we will deliver it. I do not, however, underestimate the complexity of delivering the projects. One of the major tasks assigned to Dr. Margaret O'Mahony was identifying a key person with the necessary hands-on project experience, particularly in the area of tunnelling, to head the Dublin Transport Authority. Very few people around the world have this experience. I have spoken with individuals from the UK, US and elsewhere about this type of experience and capacity. Deputies are aware that I visited the UK to understand the scale behind the development of terminal five at Heathrow Airport. This project is akin to, but of a lesser scale than, the two major tunnelling projects in Dublin — the metro and the intercity connector. Connecting the stations involved is a significant project.
We examined the matter in detail before Transport 21 was published and there is no doubt we can accomplish it. We have learned lessons from our earlier projects. The roads programme is indicative of the scale of delivery on budget and well ahead of time. I would be more than satisfied if——
It was completed at massive cost to the taxpayer.
Not really, it was a fair cost. Nobody appears to recognise the quality of roads being built in Ireland is far higher than that in other European countries.
They would need to be given that we will be paying for them for the next 30 years in tolls.
That is not necessarily true. The great economies of Europe — France, Germany and Italy — have major tolling schemes. Irish people use them all the time and experience no problems with them. We are quite willing to pay the charges.
One does not find individuals like Tom Roche creaming it in those countries.
I agree with the Deputy but she might acknowledge that despite the prevarication that prevailed for a number of years, I decided to end this process.
We will see.
It is a complex legal matter.
They did not fight anything.
The Deputy should not venture down that road.
That is great.
Order, please.
I am simply stating it as it is. There are risks involved in all of these matters but the decision has been made.
Can I ask the Minister a question?
I will try to bring the Minister back from his worldwide vision where every project is ahead of schedule and the great road schemes of the world are laid before us.
I am aware the Green Party does not like roads but there is little I can do about it.
It is an improvement on the Punch and Judy show which we heard earlier.
To whom is the Deputy referring?
Transport 21 contains a €32 billion envelope. The Taoiseach clearly wishes to see an additional project introduced as, at a crucial time in planning, he is talking about the need for an outer orbital motorway for Dublin, which is yet another motorway. How does this work within Transport 21? Will the Taoiseach automatically get his way? Will we be forced to drop another project and will the Minister be forced to ask the Minister for Finance for additional funding for the outer orbital motorway? Alternatively, is the Taoiseach simply trying to distract attention from the central issue? I agree with the Minister that we need tolls to manage congestion on the M50 but is the Taoiseach unwilling to address this political reality and, therefore, distracting us by discussing other outer orbital roads, which were not included in Transport 21? What will happen with regard to that outer orbital motorway?
I agree with the Taoiseach with regard to the outer orbital motorway. I have quite strong views on the matter. We also agree on the need for significant investment in public transport in Dublin. There is no question about the need for this investment, which is a significant element in the way we resolve many of the issues. Such an investment would persuade people to leave their cars at home by giving them an alternative to motor transport in the form of good quality public transport systems. We can accomplish this.
The Minister is dealing with the matter at a late stage.
We may be late in doing so but does this mean we should abandon it? Whatever about the sins of the past, we should not make the same mistakes going forward.
Where will the money for the outer orbital motorway come from?
The outer orbital motorway is included in Transport 21.
No, it is not.
Does the Deputy wish me to answer his question? It is clearly stated in Transport 21 that we need an immediate study on where the route is to be, its impact, its interaction with other roads and its impact on the M50. This study has commenced. Once this study is completed, there are a myriad of funding mechanisms which could be put in place. We must first establish the location of the outer orbital motorway, its length and its route. Having decided this, we must examine its impact on other traffic in Dublin. We need to know about this so we do not build the wrong road.
Will the figure of €32 billion pay for the outer orbital motorway?
The funding was not provided for it.
So it is not included in the plan.
It is included in the plan.
It is not included in it.
I wish to ask the Minister about the proposal——
I call Deputy Shortall.
What else is in the plan with regard to the proposed metro?
I apologise to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, although the question was mine.
My question concerns the proposed metro to Dublin Airport and Swords. In the Minister's plan, the completion date is 2012 and we have been informed that it will take a minimum of seven years to construct. By any reckoning, we are behind schedule. I understand the metro's route had already been agreed and that the RPA was working on proposals for a route from O'Connell Street, taking in the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, the National Botanic Gardens, Dublin City University, Ballymun, Dublin Airport and Swords. Work is underway on planning this route. The Minister appears to be suggesting that alternative routes could be examined and I understand he is inviting tenders today for some geotechnical testing on three different routes. Will the metro take the original route?
The Deputy is correct in stating that metro north is one of the most advanced projects. A considerable amount of work has been carried out on this project. We are not starting with a blank piece of paper on this route. A considerable portion of the route has already been decided. It is quite clear how one gets from Dublin Airport to Swords as the local authority has preserved this route.
Will the Minister stick with the route I mentioned?
Yes. I am not involved in day-to-day technical operations but there have been discussions with the local authority and the county manager told me the instruction is to ensure the route identified by the authority, which is overground, will not be touched. I have no reason to——
In his reply, the Minister spoke about examining three different routes, public consultation and route selection. What did he mean by this?
All I said was the public consultation on the route for metro north will commence later this month.
Will there be any deviation from this route?
Nobody has told me that the route has been changed. If one examines the section of the line from Dublin Airport to Swords, the route is obvious and speaks for itself. As far as I am aware, the local authority has preserved this route for metro north. I hope it brings maximum additionality to the route but the Deputy is correct.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
