Written Answers Nos. 248-259
252. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which comparisons have been made between airport charges here and those applicable in competing jurisdictions; the degree to which any such issues can be addressed in the coming year with a view to ensuring the highest possible level of competitiveness within this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45525/12]
View answerThe Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) regulates airport charges at Dublin Airport, while charges at Cork and Shannon Airports are set by the relevant airport authority and charges at the regional airports are a matter for each airport concerned.
Within the limits of the overall price cap set by CAR, the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) sets variable annual charges in respect of specific services such as passenger charges, aircraft charges etc. Under Regulations which I introduced last year, the DAA is required to consult on proposed changes to airport charges and this process has been completed in relation to 2012 charges. The price cap set by CAR for this year is €10.76 but the DAA has, however, kept the headline charge at the 2011 rate of €10.43 which is 3.2 % below the cap for 2012.
A published study of airport charges conducted in 2010 by the Airports Council International (ACI) found that Dublin Airport's charges were in the middle range of comparable metropolitan airports in Europe. A cost comparative exercise would be beneficial but difficult, as the data needed is commercially sensitive and not readily available.
The Jobs Initiative launched by the Government last year includes a three-pronged strategy to encourage inbound tourism. One element of this is the introduction of a new growth incentive scheme by the DAA at the three State airports.
This scheme which is due to run until 2014 was designed to encourage growth in passenger numbers. Earlier this year, DAA paid a rebate of €1.5 million to the 30 airlines that grew their business from Dublin last year.
253. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he has had discussions with the tourism and sporting sectors with a view to availing of maximum opportunities arising from major sporting events here and in adjoining jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45526/12]
View answer254. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which efforts can be made and or increased to attract major sporting events to this country over the next five years keeping in mind the economic benefits accruing therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45527/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment that event tourism will be prioritised in order to continue to bring major events to Ireland. The hosting of major sports events can provide a great showcase for Ireland, drive international visitor numbers and the media coverage of sports tourism events helps to put Ireland onto travel itineraries as a holiday destination.
Fáilte Ireland continues to support the sports tourism sector and in 2012 the Volvo Ocean Race returned to Ireland with its finale in Galway, Dún Laoghaire hosted the ISAF Youth World Sailing Championship, the Tall Ships and the Bavaria Motor Racing Exhibition event took place in Dublin as well as the Navy-Notre Dame American Football game in the Aviva Stadium.
I am supportive of the efforts of the State Tourism Agencies and the National Governing Bodies of Sport to attract international events, subject, of course, to an assessment of the costs/benefits involved in any State financial support.
Tourism Ireland also rolled out a busy programme of promotional activity to target a wide range of potential visitors in the run-up to and during the Olympic Games. On the sporting side, athletes from over thirty countries travelled to Ireland for training or participation in Olympic/Paralympic related events before the London Games.
255. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he and or his Department and the National Roads Authority continue to examine the locations at which numerous accidents have taken place on minor or major roads including motorways throughout the country with particular reference to the frequency of such accidents with a view to identifying the cause or causes and addressing the issues by way of remedial action as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45528/12]
View answer256. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he expects to be in a position to provide adequate funding to meet the remedial work arising from the identification of well-known accident black spots on the road throughout the country in the forthcoming year; if a specific programme targeting such locations is likely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45529/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 256 together.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism & 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.
Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for the NRA in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
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.
With regard to regional and local roads, the improvement and maintenance of these roads, in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the Council. My Department continues to provide funding to local authorities for the Low Cost Safety Improvement Grants Scheme. Grant approval is based on accident data, inspection of sites and targeting locations showing demonstrable hazard which can be improved through engineering measures. A total of €6.035 million has been allocated to local authorities under this scheme of grants in 2012 for works at 212 locations nationwide. At present, it is my intention to continue this grant scheme into 2013.
257. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the various Government supports for each of the airports throughout the country will be reviewed collectively with a view to an endeavour to retain a reasonable quality of service throughout; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45530/12]
View answerDublin, Cork and Shannon Airports are managed by the Dublin Airport Authority which operates under a clear commercial mandate, is entirely funded from its own internal resources and receives no Government funding supports. Customer service at the State airports is a matter for the Airport Authority.
In line with the recommendations of the Value for Money Review on the Regional Airports Programme published in 2011, funding under the Regional Airports Programme has been consolidated on the four regional airports of Donegal, Knock, Kerry and Waterford since the start of 2012.
Furthermore, the available funding for the Regional Airports Programme over the period 2012 – 2014 has been clarified with funding of €13 million available for capital expenditure and €29 million available for current expenditure over this period. In return for receiving operational subvention under the Regional Airports Programme, regional airports must sign a contract with my Department in which they undertake to provide a safe, clean, and convenient environment for customers and a professional level of customer service. The focus now is on regional airports working towards sustainability over the coming years without an ongoing need for Government financial support.
258. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will explain the ambiguity between his statement of 24 July regarding the €36 million cash injection to CIE in which he said it was for CIE to remain adequately funded for the immediate future so it can continue to provide a sufficient service to the travelling public with your most recent statement in which you appear to be setting preconditions in advance of providing the funding; if he will give an assurance to the six thousand bus workers in CIE who's earnings match that of the average industrial wage that his policy or intervention will not contribute to the undermining of their ability to continue to provide for their families at a time when the reduction in subvention, rising fuel costs and falling passenger numbers has served to have a severe financial impact on the company. [45532/12]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question No. 1 which I answered earlier.
259. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide advice and support regading a potential tourist project that will bring in international delegates for a conference. [45545/12]
View answerThe matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. I have referred the matter to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply to the Deputy. In order to help them to address his query, it would be of assistance if the Deputy could provide further details in regard to the proposed tourism conference to the Business Tourism Unit of Failte Ireland. Please contact my private office if a reply is not received within ten working days.
