TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICE MUST ENSURE RAIL SERVICES NOT JUST ROADS ARE DEVELOPED - KENNY

Posted on February 20, 2014 4:11 PM   |   Permanent Link   

Speaking on the Roads Bill 2014

The proposal to merge the National Roads Authority (NRA) and Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) is consistent with Government plans for Public Sector reform and, in particular, its programme for rationalisation of State Agencies. The amalgamation is being implemented through the dissolution of the RPA and the transferring of its functions and staff to the NRA.

The merger will add one more to the 43 State agencies already merged or amalgamated at the last count. It is expected that there will be over a hundred fewer State agencies and public bodies before the term of this Government ends and it will, I hope, lead to a more efficient public sector that can deliver real developments for the country.
The merger of the NRA and RPA will create a new organisation which will be a leader in the planning, delivery and management of transport infrastructure in Ireland, demonstrating the best and most efficient use of scarce public resources. The need for restructuring the institutional framework in the transport sector is recognised, particularly in light of the reduced capital investment programme. However, through this merger, core technical and professional skills will be retained in the public sector to support the future development of transport infrastructure.

The newly merged NRA and RPA will remain a non-commercial State body and will be given the operational title "Transport Infrastructure Service (TIS)" to better reflect its expanded functions. The new organisation will benefit from combining the technical expertise and experience available in the NRA and RPA.
I now wish to examine various aspects of the legislation.

Section 6 of the Bill provides the main function of the legislation - for the RPA to be transferred to the NRA. This section also provides that any reference to the RPA which relates to a function transferred by this section is to be construed as a reference to the NRA.

Section 10 sets out provisions to ensure continuity after the transfer is complete, in terms of functions, assets and liabilities of the RPA to the NRA under Section 6. Anything related to the transfer of the functions of the RPA not completed on the dissolution of the RPA can be carried on or completed by the NRA. Every instrument and document made by the RPA before the dissolution, has effect as if it was made by the NRA. Any reference to the RPA in the memorandum and articles of any company is construed as a reference to the NRA.

Section 13 is also an important provision - it provides for the transfer of staff from the RPA to the NRA on the dissolution day. Staff will not have less favourable terms and conditions of service relating to remuneration than they enjoyed in the RPA before its dissolution.

Section 14 provides that a transferred person's superannuation arrangements will continue in accordance with the existing RPA pension schemes, as applied before the dissolution day. Subsection (2) is a technical provision to avoid a situation where RPA staff could inadvertently become members of the Single Pension Scheme, introduced by the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, in addition to their existing RPA scheme.
I want to say at this stage that I hope that just because the RPA is being transferred to the NRA and that the legislation is referred to as "the Roads Bill" it does not mean that NRA functions will be prioritised over RPA functions - railway infrastructure in Ireland is still underdeveloped, much more so, in my view, than our road infrastructure. I think I would like to see an amendment to the legislation that ensures a balance between both the RPA and NRA components of the Transport Infrastructure Service in order to ensure that road investment does not dominate rail investment.

Simply put - we need to build more railway infrastructure in Ireland, particularly in urban areas. The recent weather storms affecting the entire country brought home to us the reality that Climate Change is happening. I am not at all dismissing the need to maintain our road network, or to invest in new roads down the line, but it does not make sense to invest everything in the road network, when there are also other means of transport that people need and want, such as rail. In that light, I am very pleased at the initial steps being taken to merge the two Luas lines and will be watching that project with interest. I would also hope that the DART Underground is progressed when capital expenditure is reviewed, as this project, while extremely large, would revolutionise public transport in Dublin and I think too, would improve the road network around Dublin, as it would relieve traffic congestion, reduce carbon emissions, and address the question of Climate Change.