Paul Connaughton
Ceist:8 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Transport if he has satisfied himself with the procedure for the location of bus stops; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15776/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 27 May 2004
Ceisteanna (11, 12)
John Perry
Ceist:61 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Transport if he has satisfied himself with the procedure for the location of bus termini; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15788/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí ó Béal (9 píosaí cainte)
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 61 together.
The Garda Commissioner has the power to determine locations for bus stops and termini. Under section 85 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, the Commissioner may issue a direction to a bus operator, identifying the specific location of bus stops and termini for any bus route. He may determine that certain stops may only be used for passengers boarding or leaving buses. I understand that the Garda engages in a consultation process with local authorities and bus service providers before it issues a direction under section 85. Section 86 of the 1961 Act empowers the Commissioner to make by-laws relating to the use of bus stops and termini. Such by-laws have been in place since 1962.
The Road Traffic Act 2002 introduced a number of significant changes to the provisions established in the 1961 Act. Section 16 of the 2002 Act provides that responsibility for the determination of the location of bus stops and termini will be transferred from the Garda Commissioner to road authorities. This new approach reflects the evolution of policy and the development of the role of local authorities in traffic regulation and management since the passage of the 1961 Act. Section 20 of the 2002 Act provides that the Minister for Transport will provide for the regulation of the use of bus stops and termini. This ensures that the controls to be applied to the use of facilities will be contained in the same statutory framework that applies to traffic regulation generally.
Investigations have been conducted by Dublin Bus and the Garda Síochána into the tragic accident at Wellington Quay on 21 February last. We await the reports of the investigations. Dublin Bus has concluded its investigation into the circumstances of the accident. The investigation will establish causes and contributory factors and will make recommendations to prevent a recurrence. The publication of the report of the investigation into the tragic events at Wellington Quay has been deferred, however, as a result of recent correspondence received from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Dublin Bus has informed me that it is committed constantly to improving safety throughout the organisation. Its commitment has been brought into sharper focus by the Wellington Quay tragedy.
The Department of Transport has written to Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann to ask them to undertake a review of all bus stops from a safety perspective and that is under way. Suggestions which refer to the location of bus stops and termini or to the use of such facilities will inform the development of the new statutory arrangements envisaged under the Road Traffic Act 2002, as will any matter that arises from the Garda investigation.
The Department of Transport has written to Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann about the locations of bus stops and termini. Why has it not written to other bus operators? Given that it issued the licences, the Department should be well aware of who the other bus operators are.
In light of the Wellington Quay incident and the impending publication of the report, does the Minister not think it would make sense to introduce common bus stops in Dublin and elsewhere? Bus stops should not be located higgledy-piggledy all over the place, one after the other, simply because different operators are involved. Is it not the case that this issue needs to be addressed, not only from a safety perspective but also, more critically, from the perspective of the Minister's proposals about deregulation and competition?
The Minister gave a commitment in the House that the families of the victims would be fully briefed about the progress of all investigations, but part of the report was published in a national newspaper yesterday. Does the Minister not feel that it was a gross insult to the families that they had to read about this in a national newspaper, rather than hearing about it from the company itself? Is an investigation taking place into how the document was leaked to a national newspaper?
I did not write to the other bus stop operators, but I will certainly do so. Perhaps my failure to do so was a symptom of an assumption that all bus stops are operated by CIE. There are not many other operators, but I will plug the gap by writing to them.
I have been informed by the chairman that the company has been in touch with the families on a consistent basis. In recent weeks, the chairman personally visited a number of the families to inform them of developments in this regard. I want the company to keep the families fully informed at all times, within whatever legal constraints there may be, given the view taken by the Director of Public Prosecutions. I agree with the Deputy it is imperative that the families involved in this terrible tragedy should be kept fully informed. My understanding is that they are being kept so informed, but I will restate the position to the company.
After the Wellington Quay tragedy, we asked the Minister to carry out a review of all the bus stops and termini in the city centre. At that stage, the Minister assured us that he was satisfied because they are kept under review and their locations are selected by the Garda Síochána and the city council. He is now telling us that, arising from the reports that have been produced, all the stops are to be reviewed. Will the Minister indicate whether terms of reference or other criteria have been established in respect of safety at those stops? Presumably, Dublin Bus was of the view that all the stops were safe so what measures will now be used to assess their safety?
The only terms of reference I gave were to instruct Dublin Bus to undertake a review of all bus stops from a safety perspective and for the organisation to satisfy itself that they were safe for pedestrians and for the operation of buses. There is no second check on that, if that is what the Deputy is suggesting. At this point, I do not have an independent authority that can second-guess Dublin Bus on the matter. Dublin Bus operates the buses and has told me in strong terms that their bus-stops are safe. We have had one terrible tragedy, which is being investigated, and Dublin Bus will now review all bus stops again from a safety perspective before letting me have the conclusions. That is the best way to proceed. If we had a separate safety organisation that could second-guess Dublin Bus, it would still be difficult to undertake a review of all bus stops throughout the city or, for that matter, the country.
At the time we discussed the Wellington Quay tragedy, the Minister stated that he had asked Dublin Bus to undertake a review of its bus stops and termini in and around Dublin. Did the Minister talk to other bus operators in Dublin? Is it not the case that some bus operators in the city do not have official bus stops or termini? Does the Minister think that is acceptable in light of the Wellington Quay tragedy?
Will the Minister give a commitment that all bus operators will be contacted and that the relevant points that emerged from the Dublin Bus investigation, regarding bus stop specifications etc. will be made available to all operators throughout the country?
What investigation is being conducted by Dublin Bus on behalf of the Minister's Department, concerning how this report, which the DPP requested not to be released to the public, got into the hands of a national media outlet which published part of it? This is a critical issue, in light of the commitments the Minister gave to the House and the fact that Dublin Bus is answerable to the Minister and his Department.
Because this tragedy involved Dublin Bus directly, the focus was on ensuring that the company reviewed its safety procedures. Very few other bus stops are serviced by private operators.
If the Minister walked around the block he would see a significant number of such bus stops.
I was just going to come to that point. I accept the Deputy's premise that private bus owners require a better deal, more certainty and a more formal role in our transport system, rather than the marginal role that has been allocated to them up to now. That includes providing bus parking space for them, as long as private operators provide a transport service of good quality. Part of the problem is the 1932 Act, which I am trying to reform.
As regards leaks, I do not think the entire report has made its way to the media. The more sensitive parts of it concerning the issues on which the DPP took some views did not feature. There were broad references in the media as to what may be contained in the report, which led the DPP to take his view. Although I do not know for sure, my opinion is that the report is not in the hands of the media but that certain aspects of it have found their way into the media. I will not be able to get to the bottom of it from inquiries I might make in that regard.