Departmental Agencies.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 April 2007

Tuesday, 3 April 2007

Ceisteanna (48)

David Stanton

Ceist:

72 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Transport the various bodies and organisation under the aegis of his Department; the responsibilities of each and the responsibilities that have been devolved to them from his Department since 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12726/07]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen)

The following table lists the bodies and organizations under the aegis of my Department and their responsibilities. Where responsibilities have been devolved to a body from my Department since 2002, this is indicated in the table in italics under the entry for the body concerned.

Table of Bodies under the aegis of the Department of Transport

Body	Function
Dublin Airport Authority	Dublin Airport Authority is responsible for the management and development of Dublin Airport. DAA Authority also remains responsible for Shannon and Cork airports pending the completion of the restructuring of the company (i.e. prior to the assets of Shannon and Cork Airports being vested in their respective Airport Authorities) as provided for in the State Airports Act 2004.
Shannon Airport Authority	Shannon Airport Authority will in due course, own and operate Shannon Airport. At present the board of Shannon Airport Authority is charged with preparing to assume responsibility for the management and development of Shannon Airport as well as being empowered to undertake any functions delegated to it by, and in agreement with, Dublin Airport Authority during the interim period.
Cork Airport Authority	Cork Airport Authority will in due course, own and operate Cork Airport. At present the board of Cork Airport Authority is charged with preparing to assume responsibility for the management and development of Cork Airport as well as being empowered to undertake any functions delegated to it by, and in agreement with, Dublin Airport Authority during the interim period.
Irish Aviation Authority	The Irish Aviation Authority carries out a range of operational and regulatory functions and services relating to the safety and technical aspects of civil aviation.The Authority ensures that the Irish Civil Aviation operates to international and European safety standards and systems in accordance with international agreements.
Commission for Aviation Regulation	The principal function of the Commission for Aviation Regulation is to regulate airport charges at Dublin Airport and to regulate aviation terminal services charges at Irish airports, which have an annual throughput in excess of one million passengers. The Commission also has responsibility for discharging Ireland’s responsibilities under EU legislation on slot allocation, the licensing of air carriers, the regulation of the groundhandling market and the enforcement of air passenger rights. Additionally, the Commission is the competent authority for the licensing of travel agents and tour operators.
C.I.E. Group	Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) is charged with the provision of bus and rail public transport for passengers as well as rail freight transport within the state and the operation of Rosslare Europort and CIÉ Tours. CIÉ has three wholly owned subsidiary limited liability companies: Iarnród Eireann, Bus Átha Cliath and Bus Éireann.
Iarnród Éireann	Iarnród Éireann manages, maintains and develops the rail network infrastructure. It provides a railway service and a road freight service.
Dublin Bus	Dublin Bus provides bus services in Dublin city and county and contiguous areas.
Bus Éireann	Bus Éireann provides bus services throughout Ireland with the exception of Dublin City. Bus Éireann is also responsible for the operation and administration of the national school transport scheme on behalf of the Department of Education and Science.
Railway Procurement Agency	The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) is responsible for the procurement of such light rail and metro infrastructure as may be determined from time to time by the Minister. It is also responsible for the delivery of integrated ticketing systems as may be determined by the Minister. The Agency may also exploit commercial opportunities arising from its functions.
The Railway Safety Commission	The Railway Safety Commission has responsibility for regulating the safety of railway systems carrying fare-paying passengers and commercial freight and of other railways where they interface with public roads. The Commission also has responsibility for safety approval of new and modified passenger carrying cable railways, cable cars and drag lifts.
Responsibilities Devolved	With effect from 1 January 2006, under the Railway Safety Act 2005 the Commission has taken over responsibility for railway safety and rail incident investigation which were previously dealt with by the Department of Transport.
The National Roads Authority	The National Roads Authority has overall responsibility for the planning and supervision of works for the construction and maintenance of national roads, including. the management of the national roads programme and for the allocation of grants to specific projects on the national roads network.
Dublin Transportation Office	The Dublin Transportation Office was established to coordinate the implementation by relevant agencies of an agreed integrated transport strategy for the Greater Dublin Area, the Dublin Transportation Initiative. The DTO is also responsible for carrying out ongoing strategic transportation planning work, including the regular updating of the transport strategy. It also administers a traffic management grants scheme on behalf of the Department.
Medical Bureau of Road Safety	The Medical Bureau of Road Safety’s principal functions are to carry out analyses, for their drug or alcohol content, of specimens of blood and urine, provided for the Gardaí by people suspected of drink or drugs driving offences. The Bureau issues certificates in respect of the results of these analyses, which may be used as evidence in prosecutions for offences. The Bureau also participates in the Evidential Breath Testing Programme, providing Evidential Breath Testing instruments and training to Gardaí.
Commission for Taxi Regulation	The Commission for Taxi Regulation was established under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 and is responsible for the development and maintenance of the regulatory framework for the control and operation of small public service vehicles (taxis, hackneys and limousines) and their drivers.
Responsibilities Devolved	As a consequence of the making of a commencement order under the 2003 Act, the Commission took over the regulatory role in relation to the licensing, control and operation of taxis, hackneys and limousines, and their drivers, from the Minister for Transport with effect from 26 September 2005.
Advisory Council to the Commission for Taxi Regulation	The Advisory Council to the Commission for Taxi Regulation is appointed by the Minister for Transport.The function of the Advisory Council is to advise the Commission and the Minister as appropriate on issues relevant to small public service vehicles and their drivers.
Road Safety Authority	The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is responsible for promotion of road safety including, driver testing and licensing, registration of driving instructors, driver vocational training, compulsory basic training for motorcyclists, accident and road safety research, vehicle standards and road haulage enforcement functions.
Responsibilities Devolved	With effect from the 1st of September 2006 all responsibilities listed under the Road Safety Authority Act (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 were transferred to the Road Safety Authority. These responsibilities relate to the areas of driver testing and licensing, vehicle testing and standards and road haulage enforcement. Responsibility for promoting public awareness of road safety and measures, including the advancement of education, relating to the promotion of the safe use of roads was transferred to the Authority from the National Safety Council.
Marine Casualty Investigation Board	The function of the MCIB is to carry out investigations into marine casualties that take place in Irish waters or involve Irish registered vessels.
Responsibilities Devolved	With effect from 5 June, 2002, when the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) was established, it took over certain marine casualty investigation functions from the Marine Survey Office of the Department of Transport.
Port Companies: Port of Cork Company, Drogheda Port Company, Dublin Port Company, Dundalk Port Company, Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, Galway Harbour Company, New Ross Port Company, Shannon/Foynes Port Company, Port of Waterford Company, Wicklow Port Company.	The port companies are State-owned companies established under the Harbours Act 1996. The Act provides that the principal objects of the companies include the provision of such facilities, services and lands in their harbours for ships, goods and passengers, as it considers necessary. The companies are required to take all proper measures for the management, control, operation and development of their harbour.