Wednesday, 9 Dec 2009

Other Questions.

Railway Procurement Processes.

Ceisteanna (11)

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

28 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the action he has taken following the publication of the CIE commissioned Baker Tilly Ryan Glennon report on alleged irregularities in the procurement process at Irish Rail; if he has received reports he requested on major procurements at Irish Rail; his views on further measures to invigilate auditing practices at commercial semi-State transport bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45862/09]

Freagraí ó Béal (20 píosaí cainte)

Deputy Noel Dempsey

Following receipt of the report referred to by the Deputy, I discussed the matter with the chairman of CIE on 22 October and expressed my concern to him on the weaknesses identified and the fact that neither I nor my Department had been informed. The chairman briefed me on the background to the report and indicated that the actual loss was limited to €2.6 million. He informed me that certain staff members had been sacked, that some cases had been referred to the Garda and that most of the recommendations in the report have now been implemented.

I also sought a full report from the board of CIE on the circumstances giving rise to the Baker Tilly Ryan Glennon report, the extent to which progress has been made in implementing the recommendations in the report and the measures being taken to ensure adequate controls in expenditure areas not covered by the report. I expect to receive that comprehensive report shortly. The CIE board has been asked to address areas of expenditure not covered in the Baker Tilly Ryan Glennon report. In the meantime the chairman and the CEOs of the CIE companies have confirmed that the CIE companies are adhering to national and EU procurement rules and to their own internal procurement policies and procedures.

I will, in light of the report from the board, consider any necessary action on my part, including the need to put in place additional measures beyond those in the code of practice for the governance of State bodies relating to procurement and auditing practices in CIE.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

We had a lengthy discussion on the matter at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and we intend to conduct a deeper investigation. Could the Minister confirm, first, whether the total figure for losses discovered in the Baker Tilly Ryan Glennon report amounted to €2.4 million, or whether it could have been a much higher figure, as calculated by Senator Shane Ross, of perhaps €8.5 million? Were there other losses of up to €8.5 million on foot of malfeasance in the company?

Second, in regard to our previous discussion on Question Time, the Minister indicated he would request the reports on the ten largest procurements of Irish Rail during Transport 21 and its predecessor. Will he make the information on those procurements available to the Dáil and the transport committee?

The net result of the criminal misbehaviour in terms of the selling off of equipment belonging to CIE and Irish Rail was that three people left the company. The manager, Mr. Fearn, referred to contacts with the Garda Síochána in that regard . Has the Minister made any further investigations?

I noted recently that a senior engineer of Irish Rail received an award of €190,000 from the Equality Tribunal, the largest payment in the history of the tribunal. Another senior engineer is also pursuing a case at the Employment Appeals Tribunal, and there are allegations that another senior manager is currently suspended. Is the Minister aware of whether that is the case, if that suspension has taken place and if difficulties exist with senior management? I invite the Minister to comment on that.

Deputy Noel Dempsey

The assurance I have received from the company is that the loss was limited to €2.6 million. I am aware of the speculation on a higher amount, which I have been informed was based on earlier drafts of the Baker Tilly Ryan Glennon report. It is precisely because I wished to ascertain the full facts in that regard that I asked the chairman and the board to provide me with a full report to cover not just what was in the Baker Tilly Ryan Glennon report, but the other areas to which reference has been made. I am being specific about the information I have received regarding the loss being €2.6 million, because I do not wish to be accused later of misleading the Dáil.

I am not aware of whether Deputy O'Dowd——

Deputy Fergus O’Dowd

Question No. 36.

Deputy Noel Dempsey

I am aware there was a delay but we got the ten——

Deputy Fergus O’Dowd

I got the information on the ten largest procurements last night. I thank the Minister.

Deputy Noel Dempsey

I will make that information available to Deputy Broughan as well.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

I thank the Minister.

Deputy Noel Dempsey

On the other matter raised by the Deputy, the Equality Tribunal award is nothing to do with misappropriation. It is a totally unrelated matter that is being dealt with directly by the company itself.

The information available to me currently is that two or three persons were sacked, cases were referred to the Garda by CIE and the report is being implemented. When that is updated, I will inform the Deputy.

Deputy Fergus O’Dowd

The point is that €325 million is paid annually in a subsidy to CIE by the taxpayer. The Baker Tilly Ryan Glennon report refers specifically to another annual internal audit report, which outlines that further significant breaches were found in areas outside the scope of that report, including significant non-compliance in the chief mechanical engineer's department. In an effort to get to the bottom of that and to provide accountability to the Dáil and to the taxpayer, will the Minister seek a copy of that report because CIE has refused to give it to me? I ask the Minister in Question No. 36 to seek that copy——

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

The Deputy should not pre-empt a question.

Deputy Fergus O’Dowd

It refers to the Baker Tilly Ryan Glennon report. I am surprised it was not taken with this question. The key point is that there are further and other abuses going on within CIE and it is refusing to give us the facts. I ask that the Minister would insist on getting them on our behalf.

Deputy Noel Dempsey

I have asked the board for a full report, not just on the Baker Tilly Ryan Glennon report, which was the immediate focus of the question, but also in general terms in regard to procurement. I have asked the chairman and the board that the report would be made available to me. There is no doubt that the report will go to the board as it addresses all of the issues that would be of concern, especially in the area of procurement.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

Is the Minister aware of the suspension of any member of senior management in recent times?

I wish to make a final point on the previous question. Why did the Minister derogate Irish Rail from the European directive on consumer and passenger rights, which it appears——

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

That is outside the scope of this question.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

The Minister would probably like to answer it.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Whether he would like to or not, we must stay within the Standing Order.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

He decided not to join up for another five years. He joined the aviation one.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I call an t-Aire for a brief relevant reply.

Deputy Noel Dempsey

I am aware of a recent suspension in senior management in CIÉ.

Road Safety.

Ceisteanna (12)

Dinny McGinley

Ceist:

29 Deputy Dinny McGinley asked the Minister for Transport the commitments from the road safety strategy that have been implemented to date in 2009; the commitments that remain to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45998/09]

Freagraí ó Béal (10 píosaí cainte)

Deputy Noel Dempsey

The road safety strategy 2007-12 is being successfully implemented across a range of agencies. We have seen a sustained reduction in the number of people killed on our roads. The core objective of the road safety strategy is to reduce road deaths to no greater than 60 fatalities per million population by the end of 2012. This is an average of 21 road deaths per month or 252 deaths per annum.

The year 2008 saw the lowest number of road deaths on record at 279, despite the large increase in the number of drivers and vehicles on our roads in recent years. As at this morning, there have been 225 road deaths so far in 2009. This is 40 fewer than for the same period in 2008. It is important to maintain the momentum in road safety measures, as each fatality and serious injury is a tragedy for families, friends and communities.

The Road Safety Authority's report to me on the implementation of the 126 actions in the strategy in 2008 is being finalised but it is clear that substantial progress has been made. Many of the actions for that year are completed and substantial progress has been made on the majority of the rest. Work has also begun on other longer-term actions in the strategy. With regard to my Department's 2009 actions, five have been completed and five are in hand. Two of these are included in the Road Traffic Bill 2009 published on 30 October 2009, that is, lowering the blood alcohol concentration, BAC, levels and providing for preliminary impairment testing.

The road safety strategy is challenging and ambitious and even when target dates are missed, we must not lose sight of the underlying achievement. Fatalities on our roads have fallen significantly and people are alive today that might be not otherwise be.

Deputy Shane McEntee

We are coming close to budget time and the compliments from this side of the House to the other side may be few and far between but I take this opportunity to congratulate the Minister, Gay Byrne and Noel Brett on their commitment to road safety over the past two or three years. The figures are there to prove it. Will the Minister seek to ensure that every county council appoints a full-time road safety officer? That is part of the strategy and has been very successful in my county and in Deputy McHugh's, where young people are educated by them.

Deputy Noel Dempsey

I thank the Deputy for his acknowledgement. I am sure he will not mind if I extend the congratulations to all the other agencies involved. He has been very supportive in the past of the enforcement levels by the gardaí. Much of what has been achieved has been achieved by the agencies, the enforcement agencies, education, etc., but also by motorists becoming much more responsible in what they do.

My ambition is that we have road safety officers. I have first-hand experience, as has the Deputy, of how effective that can be in local authorities. I am not sure how many local authorities have them because it is under the aegis of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I know quite a few have appointed road safety officers. At one stage, I wrote to try to ensure——

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I call Deputy Broughan for a brief supplementary question.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

Before we go to war at 3.45 p.m. I join Deputy McEntee in commending the Minister on the work that has been done on road safety and also the chief executive, Noel Brett, and the chairperson, Gay Byrne, of the Road Safety Authority.

I wish to ask a question on targets which have been missed. Compulsory education and training for new motorcyclists was supposed to be in place approximately a year and half ago. That has still not been achieved. Of the 230 or 240 people who have tragically died on our roads, 26 or 27 were motorcyclists.

Where are the speed cameras? A deal was done with GoSafe to provide 6,000 hours of speed camera checks per month. Why are we waiting for them? Every time we ask a parliamentary question on it, it is referred to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

I refer to the Road Traffic Bill. As the Minister knows, Susan Gray, a tireless campaigner for road safety, has raised issues in regard to mandatory testing. She believes the Bill, as formulated, will be problematic. Perhaps the Minister might look again at the mandatory testing area, which needs to be urgently implemented.

Deputy Noel Dempsey

We will have an opportunity to talk about mandatory testing as the Bill goes through the House. As Deputies will be aware, this has been in gestation for some time but it was not only this issue that delayed the publication of the Bill. We had to try to get this right and strike a balance between the need to do mandatory alcohol testing at the scene of an accident and the need to ensure we would not cause death or serious injury by delaying getting a person to hospital. So far nobody has come up with a better suggestion that is workable. We can come up with all sorts of suggestions but they may not be workable, feasible, constitutionally possible or whatever. If somebody comes up with a better idea which is constitutionally and legally feasible, I will certainly consider that. Currently, this is as far as we can go in this regard.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

What about motorcycles and speed cameras?

Deputy Noel Dempsey

I will have to check in regard to motorcyclists. Motorcyclists comprise 2% of the traffic but comprise 12% of road fatalities. It is a serious concern. I believe the Road Safety Authority has completed consultations and that it is now a matter for the Department to finalise some statutory instrument in that regard. As Deputy Broughan rightly said, speed cameras are a matter for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It is no secret that we indicated they will be rolled out, in place and operational for 6,000 hours per month by the middle of next year.

Deputy Ulick Burke

Has the Minister committed to provide funding to the counties seriously affected by flooding and where serious damage was done to county roads and primary routes. The flooding was particularly severe throughout County Galway.

I refer to the very serious and tragic accident on the Ballindine-Milltown road, the N17, in which four young people were killed. Representations to have improvements made to that stretch of road have been made for 15 years but nothing has been done — hence we had a tragedy there. I plead with the Minister to co-ordinate all the agencies responsible, but which are denying responsibility, to do something on this issue.

Deputy Noel Dempsey

The questions are tangentially related to the original question. I have not received any reports from Galway on the damage done to roads. The flooding we saw on television will have had an effect. As I said in response to a previous parliamentary question, we will look at that when it comes in. Local authorities are directly responsible for repairing roads. We supplement the grants they make available.

The N17 is part of the national road network. We have made commitments to do a huge amount of work with public private partnership and to replace much of that road. The funding is being provided as necessary for that and it will advance.

Performance Indicators.

Ceisteanna (13)

Frank Feighan

Ceist:

30 Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Transport the additional performance indicators which will be included in the contracts and MoUs for each of CIE company for 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45963/09]

Freagraí ó Béal (7 píosaí cainte)

Deputy Noel Dempsey

The contracts relating to the public service obligation services provided by the CIÉ companies are a matter for the National Transport Authority. The contracts which have been concluded by the NTA with the three CIE companies cover, inter alia, the quantity and quality of services to be provided, payment of compensation for the provisions of these services, performance and reporting obligations, the right of the NTA to review, amend, and alter the contracts, and the step-in rights of the NTA.

The contracts include a range of performance obligations including, for example, with bus services the number of vehicles to be in service in peak and off-peak times, the passenger capacity to be provided, the number of services cancelled, scheduled kilometres operated, and requirements relating to customer service and information. The contracts relating to rail passenger services contain performance obligations relating to the frequency and capacity of services by route, punctuality, customer service and information. In addition, the contracts require that all three companies report on a range of operational and financial matters relating to the provision of services.

The contracts strengthen the position of the funding authority compared to the memoranda of understanding which previously set out the performance obligations. The NTA will be clearer about the reporting and monitoring arrangements to apply and the role of the NTA in approving changes to the services. The details of the PSO services to be provided in 2010 will, in accordance with the terms of the contract, be agreed between the NTA and the three CIE companies, having regard to the Exchequer subvention for CIE in 2010 and projected fare revenue.

Deputy Frank Feighan

Will this include fares? Fares for school transport have increased by 203%. What provisions will the Minister have to rein in such fare increases?

Deputy Noel Dempsey

Neither the Department of Transport nor the NTA would have any role in the setting of fees for school transport. The companies will make their submissions to the NTA in the normal way, and that will be taken into account.

Deputy Fergus O’Dowd

A key issue not involved in these memoranda of understanding or new contracts is the taking into account of commuters' views. The Minister should insist that commuters should be consulted, particularly where timetables have been changed very recently. On the northern line, trains now take longer to get to Dublin and people are extremely angry that there are more stops on the route. There was no consultation about changes and trains do not connect as they used to. There is a disparity of rights as well; if a person travels from north of Balbriggan into Dublin, the ticket terminates at Pearse Street but if a person travels from Balbriggan to Dublin, the commuter can travel anywhere on the internal rail and bus network in Dublin. Will the Minister include regular consultation with commuters, particularly before timetables change?

Deputy Noel Dempsey

That is a commercial matter for the company. The NTA will be able to specify in the contracts it signs the services required, the frequency of such services and if consumers have particular views and so on apart from raising a matter with the company, they will have the power to write to the NTA. The authority will have the right and obligation to take into account those matters in assessing the performance of the company against the contract signed.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

Will the memoranda of understanding relating to private transport operators include high standards for the quality of vehicle fleets? Is accessibility an aspect the new transport authority will be keen on? I support Deputy O'Dowd's point on passengers. When the Bill went through the House a few weeks ago the Labour Party tried to add a section for a passengers' champion. This would be an official within the National Transport Authority who would speak up for passengers and be accessible to them. Will that be put to the chairman, Mr. John Fitzgerald, when the Minister meets him?

Deputy Noel Dempsey

I expect the NTA to be a champion for the consumer and passenger. It is there to regulate services and to set standards to ensure transport companies deliver on their commitments under contract. The Deputy also raised the matter of fleet standards and, as I indicated, the health and safety aspects will be dealt with under legislation for the road transport operators' licence.

The reality of commercial services competing with public services is that any new PSO contracts will have to be advertised. A company which does not have high standards operating in its fleet will not be able to compete and will go out of business. The best guarantee for consumers is a level playing field on which providers will have to compete.

Public Transport.

Ceisteanna (14)

Mary Upton

Ceist:

31 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the appointment of members to the board of the National Transport Authority; if there will be a public competition for these appointments; the qualifications and expertise of each new appointee to the board of the NTA; when the NTA will commence operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45877/09]

Freagraí ó Béal (8 píosaí cainte)

Deputy Noel Dempsey

The National Transport Authority was established on 1 December last. Membership of the authority comprises a chairperson, three ex officio members and eight ordinary members. The chairperson and eight ordinary members must be persons who, in the opinion of the Minister for Transport, have wide experience of transport, industrial, commercial, financial, land use planning or environmental matters, the organisation of workers or administration.

Last March I invited applications from any person who wished to be considered for appointment as an ordinary member of the new authority. Applicants were simply required to demonstrate to me how they met the criteria in the areas referred to above. A total of 68 applications were received and I record my appreciation to everyone who took the time to submit an application.

On 1 December I appointed the following people to the new authority: Mr. John Fitzgerald, chairperson; Mr. Gerry Murphy, chief executive; Mr. John Tierney, Dublin city manager; and Mr. Frank King, Ms. Linda Saunders, Mr. Damian Usher and Dr. Berna Grist, ordinary members. The four ordinary members were chosen from the public application process and I am satisfied that they each have wide experience in relevant areas.

It is my intention to fill the remaining vacancies on the authority at an early stage in the new year. One of those vacancies is reserved for a senior NTA manager specified by the NTA chairperson with my consent. I indicated during the passage of the Bill in the House that if the transport committee wanted to make a suggestion, I was open to considering such a suggestion.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

How was the appointment of the chairperson — in this case Mr. John Fitzgerald — made? What is the exact remuneration packaged enjoyed by Mr. Fitzgerald and what are the terms and conditions of the job? When will the National Transport Authority be fully operational and how many staff will it have in 2010? I presume it will come under the Department of Transport Estimates that will come before us in a few minutes. Where will it be located? I assume it is operating from the DTO offices, but where will it be based? When the 2008 Bill established the Dublin Transport Authority, it was intended that the new directly-elected mayor of Dublin was to be chairperson of the authority. Does the Minister intend to proceed in this fashion? Will the mayor of Dublin elected by the people next year become the chairperson of the National Transport Authority?

Deputy Noel Dempsey

I asked Mr. John Fitzgerald if he would undertake what I regard as a very onerous task because of his experience in local government and his ability to get things done. I do not have the figure off the top of my head but he is only getting the same as any other chairperson of a non-commercial State body. It may be around €16,000. He will not be overpaid for the work he must do.

The authority will be initially located in the DTO. In the current straitened times I do not expect the purchase of any new premises for the NTA. With regard to the mayoral position, that is a matter——

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Members should have regard to the questions. They may have other things on their mind at the moment.

Deputy Charles Flanagan

We are in anticipation.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

That is hardly surprising.

Deputy Billy Timmins

If the Minister said something interesting we would listen.

Deputy Noel Dempsey

That matter has to be decided in the context of the local government reform Bill, which the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has proposed. It was intended if the Dublin transport authority had been established, the proposed directly elected lord mayor of Dublin would be the chairperson. He or she will still have a role in regard to transport in the greater Dublin area but this is a national body and, therefore, Mr. John Fitzgerald will remain as chairman.

Road Safety.

Ceisteanna (15)

Ulick Burke

Ceist:

32 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Transport his views on the Report on Major Incidences in Tunnels, (SI 213 of 2006), prepared by the National Roads Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45915/09]

Freagraí ó Béal (15 píosaí cainte)

Deputy Noel Dempsey

I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in regard to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The planning, design, implementation and maintenance of individual national road projects, including the Dublin Port tunnel, is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Act 1993, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. I am required under the terms of the EU tunnel safety directive to transmit to the Commission a report from Ireland's tunnel administrative authority, the NRA, every two years setting out incidents that affect the safety of road users in tunnels. The first such report was submitted by me in September 2008 and covered the Jack Lynch and Dublin Port tunnels.

Two incidents were reported in the Jack Lynch tunnel and one in the Dublin Port tunnel. In all the reported incidents, the response by the Garda, fire brigade and tunnel staff ensured they were rapidly contained and dealt with in an appropriate manner. Subsequently, the tunnel operators examined all aspects of the incidents with a view to further optimising the appropriate safety procedures. The safety procedures in Ireland's tunnels are kept under continuous review. The NRA has not, and will not, allow the tunnels to be operated in circumstances, which could compromise the safety of the public. Any event that arises that could cause such a compromise results in the immediate closure of the tunnel and no risk then arises. While this causes inconvenience and disruption to traffic, it is essential to maintain the required safety standard.

Deputy Fergus O’Dowd

The last report the NRA has relating to tunnel safety is the Egis Tunnels report. The executive summary of the report was kept from me and I had to appeal to the Information Commissioner under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 to obtain a copy. It stated the result of tests confirm, "that the system is unable to provide the required level of safety, especially in the case of an event leading to important data exchanges such as an accident or fire". Serious issues regarding the safety of the tunnel arise from this report . NRA officials refused to be transparent, open and accountable before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport.

Deputy James Reilly

Shame on them.

Deputy Fergus O’Dowd

Will the Minister insist on a report from the NRA regarding the safe operation of the tunnel, given the system deemed to be unsuitable for the purpose? How can that be allowed to happen?

Deputy Noel Dempsey

A number of reports were done. Two were made public under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 to Deputy O'Dowd. The first was carried out by Martin Kelly in May 2007 and is known as the Kelly report. The second is the one to which he referred by Egis Tunnels in mid-2008. That report formed the basis of the RTE "Prime Time" programme. The NRA dealt comprehensively with all the issues raised in both reports at a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport in October 2008 and at select committee in November 2009. The Egis report concerned tests carried out in early to mid-2008 on the tunnel's main operating management systems known as the SCADA system. Those tests were to help ensure that problems associated with the system were comprehensively identified and the report covered all the main issues identified in the earlier Kelly report. While the report offered the view that the SCADA system should be replaced, all parties, including Egis Tunnels, which prepared the report, agreed suitable and adequate measures could be taken to address the problems with the existing system and those measures were taken in 2008. Other safety measures will be put in place such as the upgrading and replacement of the SCADA servers and improvements to the equipment maintenance procedures to achieve better equipment performance.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I would like order in the House.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

Given the concerns expressed at hearings of the joint committee, does the Minister think it is time to conduct an independent review of safety in the port tunnel, particularly as there were a number of closures in the early days? Why did the NRA not include the port tunnel in the EuroTAP safety review under the 2004 directive? What was the total cost of the port tunnel? Have all the legal issues relating to the Nishimatsu Mowlem Irishenco consortium been concluded? Will someone else come along looking for more money in connection with the tunnel?

Deputy Noel Dempsey

There is an independent safety officer for the tunnel with whom Deputy O'Dowd has been in contact. The Department also arranged for an expert on the tunnel safety directive in the EU Commission to speak to Deputy O'Dowd but I do not know whether that offer was taken up. With regard to the Dublin port tunnel, the Department has been assured by the NRA that it is fully compliant with the EU directive? I am not aware that the final cost of the tunnel has changed from the figure of approximately €700 million given in the House previously.

Deputy Frank Feighan

Did the Minister read the Kelly report, which was critical of safety in the port tunnel? Did he meet Mr. Kelly? What are the Minister's views on the report?

Deputy Noel Dempsey

Tunnel safety is a matter for the NRA, which commissioned the report. I am satisfied that, according to my departmental officials, the recommendations that were necessary were implemented.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I ask Members to come to order. We are transacting business.

Deputy Fergus O’Dowd

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublin_Port_Tunnel — FootnoteThe only technical report available from the NRA regarding the tunnel concludes it is not safe. Is the Minister aware the NRA said it must commission a new report but it has no funding to do so? It will have to come out of next year's Estimate. The key issue is the authority is not being transparent about the facts regarding the tunnel and I urge the Minister to take this matter up with the authority directly following our representations today.

Deputy Noel Dempsey

The report dates back to 2008 and I am assured that on foot of it and the NRA's own work, all the recommendations made at the time were implemented.

Deputy Fergus O’Dowd

The NRA has no report saying that.

Deputy Noel Dempsey

Further action was taken, as I outlined earlier. Additional safety measures were introduced, including the upgrading and replacement of equipment, improvements to equipment maintenance procedures, additional monitoring of the tunnel through the establishment of a dedicated, manned CCTV monitoring system in the control room and an additional drive through patrol of the tunnel by the operator's staff. Following the introduction of those measures last year, Egis Tunnels stated it was satisfied the tunnel operator, Transroute, had taken appropriate and sufficient steps to allow the tunnel to continue to operate safely.

Public Transport.

Ceisteanna (16)

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

33 Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Transport if CIE has submitted a programme to him for the implementation of operational efficiencies, improved timetabling and co-ordination as highlighted in the Deloitte report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45961/09]

Freagraí ó Béal (3 píosaí cainte)

Deputy Noel Dempsey

Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann report regularly on progress made in the implementation of the recommendations of the Deloitte report on the cost and efficiency review of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann.

In line with the recommendations of the report and taking account of the need to reduce its operating deficit, Dublin Bus is redesigning its network based on the most recent pattern of demand and on reducing the number of variations of bus routes. It is also working on eliminating unnecessary duplication of services, creating even headways to improve reliability and reduce the potential for "bunching" of services.

Dublin Bus has commenced the roll-out of its automatic vehicle location, AVL, system and full implementation on the Dublin Bus fleet is expected to be completed towards the end of 2010. The information from the AVL system will be used on the real time passenger information, RTPI, units which are being procured and managed by Dublin City Council. In 2010, prior to installation of on-street signage, Dublin Bus will commence provision of RTPI on the Internet and on mobile telephones.

Bus Éireann is engaged with Pobal, the HSE, the Irish Wheelchair Association, the Department of Education and my Department in co-ordinating the better integration of various services provided by Bus Éireann, the rural transport programme and the HSE. Pilot projects currently under way will be evaluated with a view to mainstreaming across the country.

Bus Éireann has also expanded the use of double deck buses and coaches and have undertaken a "Use the Bus" type marketing campaign to increase passenger numbers

Deputy Fergus O’Dowd

Vast areas of the greater Dublin area have no bus or rail transport whatsoever due to the expansion of the city in recent years. Approximately 200,000 more people are living in the greater Dublin area and a significant number of them will not have a choice from Dublin bus. In discussing timetabling and accountability from CIE and, in particular, Iarnród Éireann, does the Minister accept that recent timetable changes were introduced on the northern line without consultation with passengers, trains are taking longer to get to Dublin and more stops are being made for longer periods of time? Notwithstanding the millions spent on improving that railway line, eight speed restrictions remain on it. Fares north of Balbriggan are almost twice what they are south of Balbriggan. Serious inequities exist for travellers from Drogheda and Laytown. Will the Minister ensure that something is done about this immediately by CIE and its companies?

Deputy Noel Dempsey

The point made by the Deputy on bus services is precisely the finding of the Deloitte report. Bus services have not changed substantially over the past 70 years and vast areas have grown up that are not serviced by regular bus services. This is what implementation of the Deloitte report is designed to try to counteract. Changes to timetables are operational matters for the company. I will bring the Deputy's concerns to the attention of Iarnród Éireann.

Departmental Bodies.

Ceisteanna (17)

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

34 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for Transport if he has received reports of any alleged wrongdoing in companies or agencies under the aegis of his Department; the action he has taken as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45981/09]

Freagraí ó Béal (2 píosaí cainte)

Deputy Noel Dempsey

Since my appointment as Minister for Transport on 15 June 2007, the following are the only matters brought to my attention that indicated any alleged wrongdoing in companies or agencies under the aegis of my Department. An internal Irish Rail report — the Baker Tilly Ryan Glennon report — was carried out on procurement practices in Irish Rail. The position on this report has been answered in my reply to Question No. 28. The Department received correspondence from third parties in 2009 regarding alleged historical inappropriate corporate behaviour by the Shannon Foynes Port Company. This correspondence has been forwarded to the Garda Síochána and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement. Correspondence was received from a third party in 2009 regarding alleged inappropriate actions by the Arklow Harbour Authority, in particular relating to overcharging of port users. A due diligence report is being prepared for the Department on the harbour and the correspondence has been brought to the attention of the person carrying out this exercise. These are the only such complaints that have been identified to me at the current time.

Deputy Fergus O’Dowd

What happened in the Shannon Foynes Port Company is not acceptable. I accept that the Minister sent the report to the Garda Síochána but we need companies such as CIE, which the Minister mentioned, and the Shannon Foynes Port Company to be accountable in a stronger and more accountable to the Oireachtas, the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Committee of Public Accounts. That is not happening under the Government and it must change now.

Written Answers follow Financial Resolutions 2010.