CIÉ opposes authority’s sweeping transport powers

THE powers of the National Transport Authority (NTA), which has extensive control over transport providers, are strongly opposed by CIÉ chairman Dr John Lynch who claims the new super authority will increase costs and delay the delivery of key transport projects.

Documents seen by the Irish Examiner show that Dr Lynch warned the Government in October 2006 that the proposed Dublin Transport Authority (subsequently renamed the NTA) was “at variance with international management best practice”.

The documents reveal that former Transport Minister Martin Cullen bowed to pressure from the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) against the Government’s plans to absorb it into the NTA.

The U-turn came after RPA chairman Padraic White hinted at the possibility of mass resignation by the RPA board because they would “find it difficult to support the mandate” of the new authority.

It followed Mr White’s concern that there was “a very real risk” the Metro North project would collapse within months if the NTA took over responsibility for its delivery.

The NTA has been given powers over the operators of bus, rail, metro and light rail services. It can issue directions to other bodies, including local authorities, the National Roads Authority and the RPA, and has been given responsibility for implementing integrated ticketing in Dublin.

The new super authority is also due to take over functions carried out by the Commission of Aviation Regulation and the Commission on Taxi Regulation.

The NTA’s chairman John Fitzgerald and chief executive Gerry Murphy will be questioned by TDs and senators for the first time today when they appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Transport.

Dr Lynch claimed the NTA’s powers to control and issue directions to other bodies could result in cost overruns and a lack of accountability for the delivery of the Government’s €34.4 billion Transport 21.