Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 May 2013
5. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether Dublin Bus is adequately maintaining its fleet in order to cope with passenger demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22956/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis question is about the Dublin Bus fleet. Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority, NTA, in December 2009, the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the greater Dublin area such as the replacement and refurbishment of PSO buses, comes under the remit of the NTA. I am not aware there is any problem regarding the capacity of Dublin Bus to cope with passenger demand, nor have the NTA advised me of any issue in this regard.
In keeping with priorities for transport infrastructure funding outlined in the capital framework to 2016, funding is provided via the NTA to Dublin Bus to facilitate a rolling programme of bus replacement and refurbishment in order to ensure the age profile of the PSO fleet is maintained at a safe and reliable level and to allow Dublin Bus to respond to passenger demand. This year the funding provided to the NTA will facilitate the purchase of 80 new buses by Dublin Bus, which are expected to be ready for delivery in the latter half of 2013. A similar number of new buses for PSO routes were funded in 2012 and I understand all of these have now entered into service.
I tabled a question relating to road safety, which obviously comes within the Department's remit, but it was disqualified. I sent a letter regarding the determination of penalty points to the Minister about a month ago and was disappointed that I did not receive a reply. I am concerned about the level of interest in the issue. We have not seen the report but I presume the Minister of State has seen it. I would like to ask him a few questions about it. Did he find the determination policy used by gardaí was within the limits set down by the relevant legislation? Does the report deal with the failure to offer protection to whistleblowers? Is the Minister of State concerned that whistleblowers were not interviewed even once by the people investigating the issue? In general, is the Minister of State happy with the report?
Fair play to Deputy Wallace but I cannot see how this relates in any way to the question. This is a matter-----
It relates to the question I submitted.
In fairness, that is not the question I received. This is a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality. I have not read the report yet; it is being published at 3.30 p.m.
It concerns road safety.
I have not read the report on the penalty points issue. As I understand it, it is being published at 3.30 p.m. and the Minister will be dealing with it from there.
The Deputy has one minute, on the question posed.
Obviously I would not like to see the bus fleet in Dublin undermined in any manner but I am aware that the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, has read the report and I would like to know if he is happy with it. He is already on record today as commenting on the report.
The Minister of State to reply.
That was not the question asked.
That was the question submitted. Is this a silencing policy, whereby Deputies submit questions only to-----
That was not the question asked.
All of us submitted valid questions and they were all disqualified.
I did not disallow the question.
The Minister, Deputy Varadkar, is usually pretty prompt within his remit.
He has no problem talking to RTE but he cannot answer a question here.
I do not decide the questions or the order in which they are put.
I am not attacking the Minister of State.
Neither can I answer on another Minister's behalf.
The Minister is present. He can answer for himself.
I have not read the report which is only being published at 3.30 p.m. today.
Thank you. We are out of time and are moving to the next question.
