Written Answers Nos. 160-182
163. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the impact assessments that are carried out by his Department when deciding on funding cuts to public services like Bus Éireann in order to establish the likely impact on service and potential for resulting industrial disputes. [8585/13]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
169. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has had discussions with the Department of Justice and Equality on the implementation of section 63 of the 2010 Road Traffic Act in District Courts; if he is considering any other measures to ensure the robustness of the system to endorse the licences of motorists who have incurred penalty points for driving offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8393/13]
View answerThe implementation of section 22 of the Road Traffic Act 2002, as amended by section 63 of the Road Traffic Act 2010, is entirely a matter for the Courts Service and the Department of Justice and Equality. My officials continue to engage with their counterparts in that Department with a view to identifying whether or not any further amendments are required to the provisions of the section, so as to ensure that the required information is recorded by the Courts for the purposes of endorsing penalty points, following conviction, on my Department's National Vehicle and Driver File. No such additional measures have been identified to date.
170. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress being made with the A5 project; and the funding promised from his Department in order to complete this transport link. [8583/13]
View answerThis Question relates to progress on the A5 road scheme. At the NSMC Plenary meeting on 8th 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 £25m per annum in 2015 and 2016 towards the project. The Irish Government indicated that it 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 implementation of the A5 project is a matter for the Northern Ireland authorities and a decision was made in 2012 to proceed with the construction of two sections between Derry to Strabane and Omagh to Ballygawley. That decision is currently the subject of judicial review proceedings and therefore can not proceed at present.
171. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he expects to bring forward a new aviation strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8547/13]
View answerThe over-arching goal of a national aviation policy as outlined in my Department's Statement of Strategy 2011-2014 is to ensure that it supports Ireland's economic and social goals in a safe, competitive, cost-effective and sustainable manner and ensures maximum connectivity between Ireland and the rest of the world.
Given the critical importance of the aviation sector to the economy, I have launched a review process for the development of a new national civil aviation policy for Ireland. To this end I facilitated a conference on 3rd December 2012 to which a wide array of industry representatives and wider stakeholder groups were invited in order to discuss how we might set about developing a new national civil aviation policy and to start the debate on what that policy should contain.
Following on from that conference I will shortly publish a consultation paper which has been developed taking into consideration the views expressed at the conference. Submissions and comments by the end of June on the consultation paper will be invited from all stakeholders. Following this process, I intend to publish a draft Policy Statement later this year for further comment before finalising and adoping the new national policy in early 2014.
173. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the Fáilte Ireland report in relation to the Moore Street battlefield site and independence trail, Dublin, as requested by him will be published. [4260/13]
View answerThe matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. I am advised by Fáilte Ireland that it has engaged specialist expertise to carry out a study on an Independence Trail.
The study will include route planning, content development, and trail design. The Moore Street site will be a key element examined by the study. It is expected that this work should be completed by the middle of April.
179. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason funding applications under the sports capital programme by Dublin City Council in respect of Willie Pearse Park were rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8607/13]
View answerThe application referred to by the Deputy was made under the 2012 Sports Capital Programme.
When the 2012 Programme was advertised my Department issued a detailed guide to filling out the application form which set out the Department’s minimum requirements. This application did not meet these requirements and was deemed invalid and could not be considered for funding.
The application was invalid for 2 reasons. Firstly, the application referred to was for a project costing over €1 million and the applicant did not provide a feasibility study, which is a requirement under the Programme, where the cost of the project is over €700,000. Secondly, the estimate provided by the Quantity Surveyor did not provide details of the works to be carried out.
A letter setting out the reasons the application was deemed invalid has been sent to the applicant. If the applicant requires further information or clarification they should contact the Sports Capital Programme Unit of my Department in Killarney. The 2012 Sports Capital Programme is now closed and all the monies under this round have been allocated.
