Dara Calleary
Question:1224. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will list by applicant, the applications made under the sports capital programme 2012 in Dublin. [48238/12]
View answerSports Capital Programme Applications
Questions (1224, 1225, 1226)
Dara Calleary
Question:1225. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will list by name, all of the sports capital grant applications made under the 2012 sports capital programme in County Donegal. [48239/12]
View answerDara Calleary
Question:1226. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will list by name, all the sports capital grant applications made under the 2012 sports capital programme in County Mayo. [48240/12]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1224 and 1226, inclusive, together.
My Department has received over 2,170 applications for funding under the 2012 Sports Capital Programme. This is the largest number applications ever received under the Programme.
I intend to publish a full list of all applications received under the Programme on my Department's website www.dttas.ie in the coming days.
Question No. 1227 answered with Question No. 1220.
Driving Licence Issues
Questions (1228)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor
Question:1228. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to acquire Canadian recognition of valid Irish driving licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48242/12]
View answerWritten answers
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has operational responsibility for approving countries for the recognition and mutual exchange of driving licences.
As you would expect, it is preferable to conclude mutual agreements at a national level so that there is a consistent approach across the whole country. This approach reduces the not insignificant burden of evaluating a number of licensing regimes within a single country where a federal arrangement applies.
However, for practical purposes, it is not always possible to work at a national level. In such cases, an alternative is to work with individual provinces where there might be a concentration of Irish emigrants. As such, following engagement with the Irish Embassy in Ottawa, a number of provinces in Canada have been identified for mutual recognition purposes. It has been decided, at this time, to prioritise Ontario as it is now home to a large community of Irish people.
The RSA have recently provided a comprehensive report to the Irish Embassy in Ontario on the details of the driver licensing and driver testing system in Ireland. The Embassy has also requested similar information from the licensing authority in Ontario. Once this information has been provided by the Canadian authorities, the RSA will seek to come to a mutually acceptable agreement, if appropriate, with the licensing authority in Ontario. Until that time, the Irish Embassy in Ontario is actively pursuing the Canadian authorities at a local level, and the RSA is in regular contact with the Embassy in an effort to minimise any delays in this process.
Sports Funding
Questions (1229)
John Paul Phelan
Question:1229. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of money that was paid via the Irish Sport Council, to high performance athletes in each of the years 2009 to 2012 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48338/12]
View answerWritten answers
The Irish Sports Council, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport, including the allocation of funding to high performance athletes.
I have referred the Deputy's question to the Irish Sports Council for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten days.
Question No. 1230 answered with Question No. 1220.
Road Improvement Schemes
Questions (1231)
Joanna Tuffy
Question:1231. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the proposed flyover at Newlands Cross, Clondalkin, Dublin and if the impact of works and the completed project on residents will be taken into account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48508/12]
View answerWritten answers
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.
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.
Question No. 1232 answered with Question No. 1220.
Northern Ireland Issues
Questions (1233)
Gerry Adams
Question:1233. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of the type and frequency of North South engagement his Department undertakes; the current priorities in this area; the number of whole time equivalent staff assigned to these matters; the grades involved and the amount of time each grade spends on North South Activities as a proportion of their WTE employment; the co-ordination arrangements that have been put in place; if there are any current vacancies in North South Co-operation unites; the duration of this vacancy and the steps being taken to fill the vacancy. [48553/12]
View answerWritten answers
I and my officials are directly involved in ongoing and frequent North South engagement up to and including the highest levels. Most of this work is undertaken in the context of actively pursuing our priorities for advancing cooperation through the structures of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC). As the Deputy will be aware the Council meets in both Transport and Tourism Sectoral formats. The last NSMC Transport meeting took place on the 5th October. Amongst the areas of ongoing North South cooperation discussed at this meeting were the mutual recognition of penalty points, progress on the A5/A8 road projects, the development and delivery of road safety strategies, cooperation in the area of enforcement of vehicle safety standards and current EU proposals with implications for the transport sector on the island.
The next NSMC Tourism Sectoral is scheduled for the 28th November. Amongst the discussion items will be Tourism Ireland's Business Plan for 2013 and major tourism initiatives next year such as The Gathering Ireland 2013 and the UK City of Culture.
With regard to staffing, because of the importance of the work within the Department, in practice north/south cooperation is mainstreamed into day-to-day work right across the Department. The divisions and agencies dealing with various policy areas have regular interaction with their colleagues in Northern Ireland.
As previously outlined to the Deputy, general North/South coordination is overseen within my Department by the Tourism Marketing & Impact Assessment Unit and is supported by 1 Principal Officer, 1 Assistant Principal Officer and 1 Higher Executive Officer led by the relevant Assistant Secretary. Responsibility rests with this unit as it also deals with the oversight of Tourism Ireland, the only North South body under the aegis of my Department. There are no vacancies in this unit at present.
Road Projects Contracts
Questions (1234)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:1234. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the fact that on Tuesday 30 October the main N86 Camp to Dingle road was shut down by protestors over alleged non-payments for work carried out by them for the contractors who had won the National Roads Authority contract to do the work, the action that will be taken to ensure that this type of situation does not happen again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48654/12]
View answerWritten answers
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, including this one on the N86, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
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.
Tourism Promotion
Questions (1235)
Pearse Doherty
Question:1235. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 711 and 712 of 23 October 2012, and in respect of his Department’s €330,000 expenditure on the domain name Ireland.com as part of the €495,000 overall paid for the domain name from the Irish Times, if he will provide an outline of the revenue headings and quanta of profit from which Tourism Ireland expects to recoup the €495,000 expenditure by 2015. [48662/12]
View answerWritten answers
The matter raised is an operational one for Tourism Ireland Limited as the body responsible for promoting the island of Ireland as a visitor destination overseas. I have referred the Deputy's Question to Tourism Ireland for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
Industrial Disputes
Questions (1236)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:1236. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ensure that all the industrial relations mechanisms of the State are utilised as a matter of urgency to avoid the proposed upcoming strike action at Aer Lingus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48667/12]
View answerWritten answers
Industrial relation issues at Aer Lingus are a matter in which I have no direct function and are for the airline to address in conjunction with unions and employees.
I have urged the parties to re-engage in deliberations with the assistance of the industrial relations mechanisms of the State as soon as possible so that the planned industrial action can be averted.
Tourism Promotion
Questions (1237)
Arthur Spring
Question:1237. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way the Atlantic Corridor will be marketed and promoted and to whom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48673/12]
View answerWritten answers
Operational responsibility for the promotion and development of tourism, including particular tourism products and regions, rests with the tourism agencies. Accordingly, the matters raised are operational ones for Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland and I have referred the Deputy's Question to them for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
Bus Éireann Services
Questions (1238)
Michelle Mulherin
Question:1238. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the status of the services tender for the Bus Eireann breakdown service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48677/12]
View answerWritten answers
The issue raised is a matter for Bus Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
Sports Capital Programme Applications
Questions (1239)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1239. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the objective criteria that will be used to assess sports capital grant applications to ensure that allocations are fairly distributed across the country, according to sporting need. [48699/12]
View answerWritten answers
Every valid application is assessed according to the following criteria:
- Extent to which the project will increase the levels of active participation/ improved standards of sporting performance, especially among women and older citizens
- Level of socioeconomic disadvantage in the area
- Technical merits of the project
- Financial viability of project
- Level of own funding available
- Extent to which applicant will be able to maintain project after completion
- Current and planned levels of sport and/or recreational sport facilities in the area
- Current or proposed sharing of facilities with other sporting groups or schools
- Level of SCP (or other Government) funding received in the past
- Strategies to be used to attract people from disadvantaged areas
- Priority of proposed improvements/ facility in relation to existing facilities.
National and regional projects are also assessed on 4 additional criteria:
- Priority as identified by the relevant National Governing Body of Sport (NGB)
- Priority as identified by the Irish Sports Council (NGB and third level only)
- Location of facility within the network of national, regional and municipal multi-sport facilities
- Linkages with Local Authorities Swimming Pools Programme (municipal multi-sport only)
Allocations also take account of county populations.
Road Projects Contracts
Questions (1240)
Seán Fleming
Question:1240. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the M11 project announced under the stimulus package; the various stages of this project; the expected timelines for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48708/12]
View answerWritten answers
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, within its capital budget, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. In this context the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Framework 2012-2016 included funding provision for N11 Arklow to Rathnew and Newland Cross projects.
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.
Road Projects Contracts
Questions (1241)
Seán Fleming
Question:1241. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the N25 project announced under the stimulus package; the various stages of this project; the expected timelines for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48709/12]
View answerWritten answers
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. Subject, therefore, to appropriate funding arrangements being put in place the implementation of projects under the infrastructure stimulus package will be a matter for the NRA. As the Deputy is aware, however, the stimulus plan will be funded in part from the sale of state assets. No such as asset sales have taken place to date.
Regional Road Network
Questions (1242)
Seán Fleming
Question:1242. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the Galway city bypass project announced under the stimulus package; the various stages of this project; the expected timelines for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48710/12]
View answerWritten answers
As indicated in the announcement on the infrastructure stimulus package the Galway city bypass project, while an important project, is on hold at the moment pending the outcome of legal proceedings.
Road Projects Contracts
Questions (1243)
Tom Fleming
Question:1243. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he and the National Roads Authority will clarify the uncertainty in relation to the M20 County Cork to County Limerick motorway project as it has added to the delay with the N21 Adare bypass that was recently refused planning permission by an Bord Pleanála and is a major blow to business and tourism in County Kerry; if his attention has been drawn to the impact the major bottleneck of traffic in Adare is having on tourism and job creation in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48730/12]
View answerWritten answers
The decision of An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission for the Adare by-pass is regrettable. While we do not currently have the funding to the construct the by-pass I would have liked to have seen the project brought to ‘shovel-ready’ stage. It will now be necessary to consider alternative options for Adare.
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.
The NRA will be working within a very restricted budget for the next number of years. These funding constraints mean that it will not be possible to progress a range of worthwhile projects for now. In the case of the M20 project, had An Bord Pleanála approved the scheme, the NRA/Local Authorities concerned would have been required to exercise the CPO authorisation within 18 months or the approval would lapse. The land costs involved would have been very significant. For this reason I considered it prudent to stop the process prior to that happening rather than tie up so much capital in land acquisition at the expense of road maintenance and minor improvements. The project has not, however, been abandoned but deferred in the light of the current circumstances. When the financial position improves the NRA will re-examine the position in relation to this, and other worthwhile projects.
For now NRA will have to work within its capital budget and assess and prioritise projects within that funding envelope. In this context I have referred the issue of the NRA response to an Bord Pleanála's decision on the Adare bypass to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days
Public Sector Staff Issues
Questions (1244)
Eoghan Murphy
Question:1244. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the sectors of the public sector that are currently employed on a roster basis and if there are any plans to remove employees from the rostering system. [49079/12]
View answerWritten answers
There are two areas in my Department with rostered attendance patterns, the Irish Coast Guard and the Driver and Vehicle Computer Services Division, where staff work shift patterns. The rostered work patterns are necessary in the case of the Irish Coast Guard to provide a 24 hour/7 day rescue service for the State 365 days a year. The shift patterns in the Driver and Vehicle Computer Services Division are to provide technical support for the National Vehicle and Driver Computer system in particular outside of the normal 9 to 5 working hours. There have been no plans submitted to me to change this system.
Question No. 1245 answered with Question No. 1195.