Written Answers Nos. 693 to 702
693. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to provide funding or part funding to purchase new buses for Dublin Bus or Bus Éireann in 2013; if so the number of buses that will be purchased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2869/13]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in December 2009, the provision of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), such as the renewal of the bus fleet, comes under the remit of the NTA. Funding for public transport infrastructure in the GDA is provided to the NTA from the Exchequer for allocation to projects and programmes. This includes funding for replacement and refurbishment of PSO buses.
In the light of the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for direct reply in relation to the specific queries raised. Please advise my private office if there is no reply within ten working days.
694. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of immediate or extended family members employed by his Department; the names and remuneration in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2907/13]
View answerThere are no members of my immediate or extended family employed in my Department.
695. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on his meeting with the Chief Executive of Bus Éireann recently; if the provision of bus services to Roosky, Dromod, Ballinamore and Elphin was addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2953/13]
View answerI meet regularly with the Chairman and Chief Executive of Bus Éireann. The last such meeting took place late last week and we discussed a number of issues in relation to the ongoing financial situation of the company and the way that the company is addressing those issues. We also discussed the issue mentioned by the Deputy. As he will be aware, Bus Éireann's Expressway services are carried out on a commercial basis (i.e. receives no subsidy), so decisions made by the company in relation to such matters are taken on commercial grounds. Changes to routes are subject to approval by the NTA and I have no role in the matter.
I have referred the Deputy’s question to the company for direct reply. I have also referred the question to the NTA in relation to the licensing of bus services generally in the areas mentioned by the Deputy. Please advise my private office if there is no reply within ten working days.
696. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ensure that funding will be provided for very necessary safety improvement works on the N63, St Mel's Cathedral Junction, County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2956/13]
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 that, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if there is no reply within ten working days.
697. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he envisages being in a position to produce the funding that he had intended giving towards the dual carriageway between Ballygawley and Newbuildings, funding of some €400 million; if he envisages contributing towards a proposed affordable upgrade of the existing road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2963/13]
View answerThe previous Government gave a commitment to co-fund the construction of the A5 in Northern Ireland. However, it made no provision to meet the costs of the A5 post-2012 in either the Four Year Plan or the Infrastructure Investment Priorities Plan 2010 to 2016. Given that £400 million sterling would be required between 2013 and 2016 and given the current state of the Exchequer, it was not feasible to provide this level of funding in that timeframe. Therefore, at the NSMC Plenary meeting, on 8 November 2011, Ministers noted that the provision of further funding by the Irish Government for the A5 road was being deferred but that the Irish Government will provide £25 million per annum in 2015 and 2016 towards the project. At the subsequent June 2012 NSMC Plenary meeting, it was noted that the NI Executive had announced an investment package of major roads including two sections of the A5 project.
In addition, it was noted that the Irish Government remains committed to the completion of the co-funded A5 project which is of strategic importance to the North West Region and the island as a whole, but that the Government is not in a position to make funding commitments for the period post-2016 in advance of its consideration of the next capital review framework. The NSMC plenary approved a funding implementation plan for the A5 project to the end of 2016 which incorporated the £50 million committed by the Irish Government. The implementation of the project is a matter for the Northern Ireland Road Service.
699. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he envisages the re-introduction of the local improvement scheme or the rolling out of a new scheme for the repair of non-public roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3027/13]
View answer700. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he envisages the re-introduction of the local improvement scheme at the very least to clear the roads that were on the list prior to its suspension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3028/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 699 and 700 together.
The Local Improvements Scheme provided funding for private roads. However, the maintenance and improvement of these roads is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowner. Given that the priority in using scarce resources in the current difficult economic climate is to maintain public roads it was not possible to continue to assist with works on such roads and the scheme was suspended in 2012. It should be noted that it continues to be open to local authorities to operate the scheme or a similar scheme from their own resources. I am currently in the process of approving the regional and local roads grants for 2013 and I can confirm that the Local Improvement Scheme will be reinstated for 2013. However there will be no separate allocation for this grant category. Under the new arrangements local authorities may use up to 7% of their Discretionary Grant towards local improvement schemes should they wish to do so. The local contribution for these schemes has been increased to 20% of the total cost of the project. Apart from this amendment the same eligibility rules apply for these schemes.
Details of the 2013 regional and local roads grants, which will include details of this, will be communicated to local authorities in the coming weeks.
701. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress made to date on the development of the two Irish sections of the EuroVelo project, the Atlantic Coast Route and the Capitals' Route which aims to develop cycle tourism across the EU. [3041/13]
View answerI understand that the EuroVelo routes were identified in 2005 on a European wide basis by the Eurovelo organisation. It outlined long distance routes that had been flagged at a national level that could contribute significantly to cycling tourism in Europe, but not necessarily with any commitment to deliver the routes.
With regard to the Atlantic Coast Route concept, whilst there is no specific plan to deliver the route in its entirety, recent funding for the on-road Donegal to Newtowncunningham route aligns with the Atlantic Coast Route concept, and indeed the very successful Great Western Greenway also has a very significant coastal route element. With regard to Dublin-Galway, again recent funding initiatives have delivered route sections that align with this concept, in particular significant route development along the canal in and around Mullingar. The NRA is now undertaking detailed route alignment and design work for the route with a view to delivering the route as a cycling corridor in sections as funding allows.
702. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the new procedures the Government have introduced for appointments to State boards. [3580/13]
View answerThe new procedures advertised by my Department on Friday, 8 April 2011 involved an open invitation to members of the public to submit expressions of interest in serving on the board of any of the agencies operating under my aegis. I stated clearly at the time that, given the importance of ensuring the right mix of skills and experience on every board, appointments would not necessarily be confined to those who had made such an expression of interest. All appointments from that date have followed these procedures. Full details of the appointments that I have made are available on my Department's website, as are the fee levels approved by Government for each board.
In summary, I have made a total of 91 appointments and 36 re-appointments since March 2011. Of the 91, 39 (42%) were from persons who had availed of the opportunity to submit an expression of interest. Also under the new procedures, all new chairpersons nominated by me have, except where there were exceptional circumstances, appeared before the joint oireachtas committee prior to appointment.
