Written Answers Nos. 211 to 217
211. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he will provide the details of the funding available for the development of the Wild Atlantic Drive project to be developed under auspices of Failte Ireland; the timeframe for completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40828/12]
View answer212. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the specification envisaged for the route to be known as the Wild Atlantic Drive in accordance with Fáilte Ireland's plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40830/12]
View answer213. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he will provide a map showing the route of the Wild Atlantic Drive as envisaged by Fáilte Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40843/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 211 to 213, inclusive, together.
The matters raised by the Deputy are operational matters for Fáilte Ireland and I have asked the agency to reply directly to the Deputy. If you do not receive a reply within ten working days please contact my private office.
However, I am informed by Fáilte Ireland that the first phase of the project is being implemented, at a cost of €1.8m, on a pilot basis in Connemara. Fáilte Ireland are currently working on the development of a single brand for the Wild Atlantic Way and will partner with local authorities along the coast to identify the precise route.
I further understand that the route plan will be delivered through four regional steering groups, comprised of Fáilte Ireland, the Local Authorities, the National Roads Authority and other key stakeholders. There will be extensive trade and public consultation as part of this process. Work will then begin on the detailed planning of the various sections of the route. Interpretation and infrastructure plans, like the pilot plan recently launched for Connemara, will be prepared for each section along the Wild Atlantic Way.
214. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he will consider extending a derogation on regulations making ABS mandatory for classes of representative vehicles for the purpose of the driving test in view of safety concerns arising from the fact that drivers taught and tested in vehicles with ABS would lack familiarity in vehicles without ABS, which they may subsequently be required to drive. [40849/12]
View answerFrom 19 January 2013 onwards, all vehicles used to undertake the driving test for categories C, EC, EC1, C1, D, ED, D1 and ED1 are required to be fitted with anti-lock brakes, regardless of the year of registration.
However, following discussions with schools of motoring who would be affected by this change, it was decided that more time was required to allow some schools to upgrade their fleet to meet the new requirements, and a 10 year derogation until the 30 June 2014 was allowed Thus, vehicles registered before the 1 January 2004 can still be presented to the driving test until the 30 June 2014, and there is no requirement to have anti-lock braking systems for these vehicles.
In examining the long term effects of extending this derogation further, consideration must be given to the age of vehicles driving on our roads. At the moment, 58% of Goods Vehicles are registered after the 1 January 2004, with the remaining 42% registered pre-2004. Naturally, the number of post 2004 vehicles registered will grow or remain higher than the older vehicles, which means we will have a larger number of vehicles on our roads which are fitted with anti-lock braking systems.
Extending the derogation would have the consequence of the reverse of what is suggested, in that if drivers are taught and tested in vehicles which do not have anti-lock braking systems, they would then lack the familiarity of driving vehicles with these systems, and if these vehicles are more prevalent than older vehicles, this would also cause a safety concern. Ensuring that these vehicles are required to be presented at test will mean that training on these vehicles is completed prior to the driving test, including training on braking systems.
215. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding Aer Lingus staff pensions. [40893/12]
View answerThe question refers to correspondence circulated by SIPTU regarding difficulties faced by the Irish Airlines (General Employees) Superannuation Scheme (IASS), which is a multi-employer scheme involving Aer Lingus, the Dublin Airport Authority and former SR Technics employees.
Resolution of the funding difficulties in the scheme is a matter for the trustees, the companies participating in the scheme and the members and I understand that the parties are participating in discussions with the assistance of the Labour Relations Commission in an effort to find a solution to the current difficulties.
The correspondence also addresses the changes announced in June this year to the Minimum Funding Standard for defined benefit pension schemes under the Pension Acts. This is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection and the Pensions Board. I have no authority to change the funding standard.
216. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he will provide breakdown of the total enforcement costs comprising; the base enforcement costs and any additional enforcement costs; and any associated or ancillary costs of enforcement, for the M50 Toll road since it went barrier free in August 2008; if any consideration has been given to providing a more reasonable, convenient and consumer friendly method of payment of these toll road charges for occasional users, other than the existing method which is time consuming and seems to be unduly restrictive, which would assist the general public to avoid the late payment charges, fines and penalties (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40899/12]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
In addition, the statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads is vested in the NRA under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Roads Act 2007).
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days
217. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he will report on the bus public service contracts consultation; when he and the Houses of the Oireachtas will receive a report on this consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40909/12]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) undertook a public consultation during June and July on 2014 Bus Public Service Contracts, as required under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008. The NTA is considering whether to undertake one or more procurement competitions for the award of part or all of these contracts, or it may decide to directly award part or all of these contracts to the existing contracted parties. It is the intention of the NTA to publish a summary consultation report on its website.
I, along with my colleague Minister Kelly, recently received reports from the NTA in relation to the public consultation and the market consultation with Irish and international bus operators undertaken in parallel. We are currently examining those reports in the context of the commitment in the Programme for Government to explore the benefit to the public transport passenger of more diverse bus service provision.
