Department Transport

 

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

 

The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has a number of bodies under its aegis including Commission of Aviation Regulation, Railway Procurement Agency, National Transport Authority, National Roads Authority, Medical Bureau of Road Safety, Marine Casualty Investigation

Board, Fáilte Ireland, Irish Sports Council,  National Sports Campus Development Authority.

 

The following are also subject to oversight by  the Department:

Irish Aviation Authority, Railway Safety Commission, Road Safety Authority, Tourism Ireland, Dublin Cork and Shannon Airports Authority,

CIE Board, Dublin Bus, Bus Eireann, Iarnród Éireann.

 

It also has a number of port companies and Harbour Commissioners including Drogheda, Dublin, Dun Laoghaire, Dundalk, New Ross, Galway, Cork, Waterford, Foynes, and Wicklow together with a number of Harbour Commissioners.

 

The Internal Audit Department underpins the accounting and management function and considers the application and effectiveness of the Department’s internal controls. It performs audits and reviews and follow up within the Department in accordance with its multiannual business plan.

 

The Corporate Services and Road Safety Group embraces a number of different units.

National Transport Authority

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board is an entity separate from the Department.  The staff of the Department carry out day-to-day administration on its behalf.

 

Insert above regarding National Transport Authority #[1:55].

 

The Air Accident Investigation Unit promotes aviation safety through investigation, reporting, and publishing information on air accidents and incidents occurring within the State.  It supports foreign investigation.

 

The Aviation Division is responsible for aviation policy.  It ensures the airports are run in an efficient manner and have appropriate infrastructure to meet needs.

 

The Airports Division has responsibility for state and regional airport. The State owns Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports. It administers a number of financial supports for the six regional Airports; Donegal, Sligo, Knock, Galway, Kerry and Waterford.

 

The Aviation Services and Security Division assist the Department in achieving objectives by way of the development and growth of air transport in Ireland, traffic using Irish controlled airspace and ensure that it is managed in an efficient and cost-effective manner.  It has responsibility for formulating policy in the areas of aviation, security, access to the market, air services and aviation and environmental issue.  It responsibility for formulating aviation safety, air navigation and airspace policy.

 

The Finance Division provides management and financial services to the Department as a whole.  This includes budgets, estimates and allocations within the allocated budgets.

 

The Policy and Government Coordination Division promotes best practice in corporate governance.  It represents the Department in emergency planning groups and ensures preparedness for major emergencies.  It manages and coordinates cross divisional EU legislative matters, coordinates the policy of the Department and cross-sectorial issues concerning transport, tourism and sport matters in response to queries from other departments, certain other entities and on foot of FOI requests.

 

The Information Services Division provides information technology services to the department.  It provides an IT service desk, and network team dealing with network, mail, telephone, internet issues and business information system. It is responsible for systems development projects.

 

The Irish Coast Guard prepares and coordinates search and rescue services for marine emergencies. It provides a medium load carrying helicopter rescue service and provides preparedness, intervention, command and control of ship casualties and pollution at sea.

 

It maintains over 50  Coastal Rescue Stations manned by volunteers.  It aims to reduce marine, inland water and cave emergencies through information and awareness.  It provides communication service for the marine industry and marine recreational public.

 

The Marine Survey Office regulates safety, security, pollution prevention, living and working conditions of ships crews and foreign flagships and crews in Irish port.  It regulates the security of Irish Ports.

 

The Office incorporates the Mercantile Marine Office.  It performs administrative functions in relation to the General Register of Shipping and Seafarers under the Merchant Shipping Acts and Mercantile Marine Acts.  It administers the seafarers medical examination scheme.

 

It carries out surveys and inspection of ships and vessels to ensure they meet the requisite standard.  It supports the safety of navigation by the provision of advice on foreshore licenses, aquaculture licenses, offshore r activities and advice to the oil industry.

 

It regulates examinations and practices of Nautical Colleges and Other Marine Course Centres in accordance with international practice. It cooperates with bodies in other countries through international bodies. It maintains receipts for ships surveys and assists owners in complying with registration procedure.

 

The Maritime Safety Policy Division develops a policy and legislation for maritime safety and security.  This includes seafarers training, certification and compliance with international organisation requirements, EU measures and safety awareness information for professional and recreational water users.  It has oversight of the Commission for Irish Lights and the Marine Casualty Investigation Board. It deals with compliance with international obligations through the development of legislation and the review of existing legislation.

 

The Maritime Transport Division provides a framework for the provision by port companies operating through the national transport chain of port services in an efficient manner supporting the needs of the trading economy. It  seeks to maintain and increase Irish ship ownership and foster economic development and employment in the sector.  It introduces legislation to safeguard the marine environment from ships sourced pollution.

 

It oversees transfer of ownership of port authorities to port companies. It overseas the remaining states regional harbours.  It provides corporate governance for nine port companies under the Harbours Act.  It implements policy in relation to, commercial seaports including issues in relation to port services infrastructure, integrated transport and regional harbour.

 

The Road Traffic Operator Licensing Unit licenses road haulage and road passenger service in Ireland.  It also monitors licenses to ensure compliance and revokes noncompliant license.  It liaises with EU and other authorities in the areas concerned.

 

It deals with EU legislation in the area of road transport, bilateral international matters and relations with the Road Transport and Passenger sectors. It t deals with working time and driving time legal issues under European law.

 

The Public Transport Division seeks to improve the capacity, safety, quality, use and sustainability and integration of the Irish Public Transport System.  It seeks to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public transport services, delivery through competition, economic regulation and structural reform.

 

It seeks to ensure that railway infrastructure and services are provided and used in a manner that is safe in conformity with EU requirements.  It provides governance to the state agencies C.I.E, Iarnród Éireann, Bus Eireann, Bus Atha Cliath, the Railway Safety Commission, the Railway Procurement Agency and the Commission for Taxi Regulation.

 

The Public Transport’s Investment Division devises and implements policy and funding frameworks for investment in public transport.  It seeks to ensure effective and cost-efficient delivery of the capital program.

 

The Driver and Vehicle Computer Services Division manages national motor tax and driving license services. It maintains the national computer database and the national vehicle and driver files.

 

The Road Safety Division supports the Road Safety Authority and seeks to promote the safe use of roads and promote policy in relation to road safety.  It also oversees the Medical Bureau of Road Safety which is attached to the Department of Forensic Medicine at UCD.

 

The Division oversees compulsory motor insurance and is responsible for EU Insurance Directive.

 

The Sustainable Transport Division the National Sustainable Travel Office advances the development of an integrated and suitable transport system.  It promotes sustainable transport initiatives including National Cycle Policy, Bike Week and mobility management measures.

 

The Minister’s Office liaises between the Department and the Minister for State.  It coordinates and organises ministerial replies, requirements and functions.  It deals with correspondence with other departments.

 

The Press Office liaises with national, local and international media in relation to the policies of the Department.  It disseminates interviews and information in relation to its functions.

 

The Management Board us supervised by the Secretary General and five  Assistant Secretaries  who are responsible for the department’s strategic management and operation.  The Human Resources Division is responsible for ensuring human resources issues within the Department including development of public service agreements.  It deals with industrial relations issues within the Department.

 

The Sports Capital Program  administers the sports capital projects for which funding is approved, administration of Local Authority Swimming Pool Program and sports projects qualifying for tax relief. The Sports Capital Program Division deals with improved sporting and recreational projects.  It monitors expenditure.

 

The Sports Policy and National Sports Campus develops the National Sports Campus and liaises with the National Sport Campus Development Authority.  It develops sports and liaises with the Irish Sports Council and sporting organisations internationally.

 

The Tourism Development Unit promotes the tourism sector and tourism industry.  It supports competitiveness, enterprise, capability and sustainably in tourism.   It deals corporate governance matters to Fáilte Ireland and policy issues relating to tourism development and the structures.

 

It deals with requests for information for potential funding for tourism projects.  It deals with monies in the relevant tourism subheads which are – voted for the state tourism agencies.

 

The Tourism Marketing Unit develops, monitors and reviews the overall policy framework for tourism marketing.  It coordinates department policy in relation to the North-South tourism body.  It contributes to the formulation, implementation and review of government policy as it affects tourism.

 

The Roads Division oversees, influences and support sustainable investment in national, regional and local roads.  It ensures structures are in place so as to ensure compliance by the division and the National Roads Authority with Government Financial and Accounting rules.  It deals with roads policy and legislation.  It monitors the national investment programmes for roads.  It supports the NRA in the administration of grants.