Labour calls for publication of new transport Bill

The Labour Party has called on Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey to publish legislation that will establish a new National Transport Authority to replace the Dublin Transport Authority.

The party’s transport spokesman Tommy Broughan said Mr Dempsey had told him that the Government recently approved the legislation.

“The Minister has now told me that the government has approved the general scheme of a further Public Transport Regulation Bill,” he said.

“The new bill will assign ‘responsibility to the DTA for bus licensing and public

transport services contracts nationwide’ and ‘rename the DTA as the National Transport Authority given its proposed national focus in relation to commercial bus licensing, future bus and rail subvention and the regulation of small public service vehicles.’

Under the bill, bus licensing legislation dating back to 1958 and 1932 will also be updated.

However, concerns have been raised over the change in focus from a regional body to a national one.

“Given the urgent need to improve public transport in the Greater Dublin area, many people will also regret the decision to change the focus of the DTA from a Dublin regional body to a national agency,” said Mr Broughan.

“Minister Dempsey must also clarify how CIE will operate with the NTA given that CIE already has a national public transport service remit.”