Written Answers Nos. 56-67
56. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Irish Rail was invited to tender for the new ten year contract for the operation of the Luas system; if he will indicate if he gave an instruction or directive to Irish Rail on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45094/12]
View answerResponsibility for the award of the contract for the operation of Luas rests with the National Transport Authority (NTA). I understand from the NTA that the current contract expires in September 2014 and that it expects to advertise a notice for the 2014 Luas Operations Contact in the Official Journal of the European Union shortly. I have given no instruction or directive to Irish Rail in relation to this matter.
57. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will publish the Road Safety Strategy 2013 - 2020; if funding has been secured for the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44946/12]
View answerThe Road Safety Authority (RSA) is currently preparing the next Road Safety Strategy, covering the period 2013 to 2020. In preparing the Strategy, the Authority is consulting widely with all relevant stakeholders. The RSA will liaise closely with my Department during the drafting process and I expect that the Strategy will be finalised in the coming weeks. When I have received and approved the Strategy, I propose to bring it to Government for consideration and it will be published soon after. As heretofore, it is expected that the new Strategy will identify the lead agency responsible for the implementation for each of the actions outlined. I expect that the agencies coming under the remit of my Department, such as the RSA and the Medical Bureau of Road Safety, will fund the implementation of the actions for which they have responsibility. The funding of actions by other Departments and their agencies will be a matter for those Departments.
59. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the recent report from the Irish Hotels Federation which indicated that hotels here are carrying a total debt of €6.7bn; his views on the need for hotels here to attract new investment and the proposal contained within the report for a limited form of tax relief to attract such investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45193/12]
View answerI have noted the recent publication of the report “Proposals to Restore Financial Sustainability to the Irish Hotel Industry” by the Irish Hotels Federation and I was the closing speaker at the Irish Hotel Investment Conference on Tuesday of this week at which the report was discussed. The conference was a welcome development as it examined a range of mechanisms to restore financial stability and a strong equity base to the hotel sector.
The Ahearne report addresses issues of major significance to the future of the hotel sector and I will be reviewing the report and its recommendations in consultation with the tourism agencies over the coming weeks. The three recommendations put forward to address current issues of overcapacity and overleveraging in the hotel sector involve either tax breaks or use of the National Pension Reserve Fund and, as such, have clear financial implications for the Government finances. They are matters that fall to be considered primarily by the Minister for Finance.
61. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the Road Traffic Bill will be published; if he will outline the proposed heads of the Bill; if he will confirm that the new Bill will facilitate the introduction of preliminary drug driver testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45095/12]
View answerThe Road Traffic Bill 2012 is currently being prepared in my Department and I expect to bring the General Scheme of the Bill to Government in the very near future. Once the General Scheme is approved by Government, it is referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for formal drafting. It is intended that the Bill will provide for amendments to a number of existing provisions such as the impairment testing of drivers under the 2010 Act, changes to the penalty points system and some Graduated Driving Licence provisions. In consideration of these matters, I have consulted with the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications over the past year and it is intended to incorporate their views to a large extent in the General Scheme. In relation to drug testing, I refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 20, 24 and 43 today. I expect that the Bill will be ready for publication at the end of this year or very early in the New Year.
62. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his view on whether aviation leasing is a sector in which there is considerable potential for growth here; if so, the way he proposes to take advantage of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44937/12]
View answerIreland has achieved a leading global position in the aviation leasing business sector. Fourteen of the thirty largest lessors globally, including nine of the top ten global operators, are based in Ireland and fifty percent of the world's commercial aircraft fleet is managed from Ireland, representing €83bn in assets. The Government is committed to helping the sector achieve further growth and will continue to work in close collaboration with the industry to ensure that its full potential can be exploited and that Ireland retains its pre-eminent global position in this sector.
Ireland was one of the first signatories to the Capetown Convention which is aimed at facilitating the financing of mobile assets, particularly aircraft, and the international registry of mobile assets established under the Convention is operated out of Dublin. A number of tax initiatives have also been introduced in recent budgets aimed at supporting the leasing and aviation finance industries. The Government will continue to actively engage with the sector and I will have a direct opportunity to do so at a Conference I am facilitating on 3 December to launch a review process for the development of a new civil aviation policy for Ireland. Many representatives from the leasing industry have been invited to attend and I look forward to discussing with them how the Government can best support continued growth in the industry in Ireland.
65. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures he is taking to help taxi drivers source credit for upgrades to their vehicles in the interest of public safety. [45130/12]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of the taxi industry under the Taxi Regulation Act, 2003, and is also the lead agency with responsibility for implementation of the recommendations of the Taxi Regulation Review Report. The recommendations contained in the Taxi Regulation Review Report, including those relating to improving vehicle standards, reflect the agreement of the Review Group following an extensive consultation process involving the taxi industry and the public at large. The thrust of the reforms outlined in the Review Report will mean better services for consumers and improvements to the operating environment for taxi drivers generally. Any compliance burden impact will be offset by the benefits to taxi operators and to consumers of a better regulated and safer taxi sector.
The Group did not make any proposals relating to measures to help taxi drivers source credit for upgrades to vehicles. However the review group proposed, following a consultation process with the sector by the NTA, to allow vehicles licensed before 2009 to ply their trade for up to fourteen years subject to a twice yearly NCT test. This will allow some time for vehicle owners and drivers to adjust to the new regime.
66. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will launch an independent investigation into the event of February 2010 when a dinner took place in the Royal Marine Hotel hosted by the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company chief executive officer and if he will confirm how this event was paid for; the amount this event cost; if he will provide a breakdown of what the costs were for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45204/12]
View answerI understand from the Company's Chief Executive Officer that he is not aware of any such dinner occurring in February 2010. If the Deputy can provide further details on the matter, I will follow up with him.
67. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details on the need for a bypass of Adare, County Limerick; the progress that has been made on this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44960/12]
View answerAs 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 do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
