Tuesday, 14 May 2013

Written Answers Nos. 749-759

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Questions (749)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

749. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of personnel in whole-time equivalent terms in his Department and in bodies under the aegis of his Department in each of the following earnings brackets: less than €20,000, €20,001 to €30,000, €30,001 to €40,000, €40,001 to €50,000, €50,001 to €60,000, €60,001 to €70,000, €70,001 to €80,000, €80,001 to €90,000, €90,001 to €100,000, €100,000 to €125,000, €125,001 to €150,000, €150,001 to €175,000, €175,001 to €200,000, €200,001 to €250,000, €250,001 to €300,000, €300,001 to €350,000, €350,001 to €400,000, €400,001 to €450,000, €450,001 to €500,000, and more than €500,000. [22797/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to staff in the Department is set out in Table 1 below.  This is gross income, before pension levy, tax and other statutory deductions.  No individual in the Department is in an earnings bracket in excess of €200,000.  

Earnings at 31st Dec 2012	Personnel in whole-time equivalent terms
€175,001 to €200,000	1
€150,001 to €175,000	0
€125,001 to €150,000	5
€100,001 to €125,000	12
€90,001 to €100,000	21
€80,001 to €90,000	36
€70,001 to €80,000	42.8
€60,001 to €70,000	30.8
€50,001 to €60,000	75.8
€40,001 to €50,000	77.7
€30,001 to €40,000	102.37
€20,001 to €30,000	41.83
Less than €20,000	19.68

 

I have asked the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department to provide the Deputy with the information requested. If you do not receive a reply from the agencies within 10 working days please advise my private office.

Rail Network

Questions (750)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

750. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he or his Department has approached the European Investment Bank regarding the EIB's potential involvement in the national rail network development projects, specifically outside the greater Dublin area; if such an engagement with the EIB has taken place, if he will report on these discussions; and if this engagement has not taken place, if he will report on the reasons for the absence of this engagement with the EIB on this project. [22798/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The Department of Finance takes the lead role in relation to engagement with the European Investment Bank as regards overall capital investment and selection of projects for submission to the EIB. I understand that Department is in ongoing consultation with the EIB with a view to exploring possibilities for funding.  

I recently met with senior officials from the European Investment Bank where I took the opportunity to outline my Departments priorities for investment in Transport Infrastructure in the medium to long term, as set out the Government's Medium Term Capital Framework. At that meeting the EIB expressed their interest in progressing an application for a loan for Luas Cross City.

Exchequer investment in railway infrastructure over the next few years is focused on ensuring that the considerable investment made to date is protected and that safety standards are maintained. I have no proposals for funding any new major heavy rail investment project outside the GDA for the foreseeable future.  If funding were available and a PPP was feasible the DART Underground  would be the priority heavy rail project.  That project will be reviewed again before the next capital plan. The EIB has expressed interest in supporting DART Underground whenever the project proceeds.

My Department and agencies will continue to explore and maximise the use of external funding sources for suitable, viable projects where possible, in consultation with the Department of Finance. As the Deputy will be aware, any new heavy rail line or lines would require state subvention to operate. Given the current squeeze on public spending, it would difficult to fund the operation of any new lines without reducing subvention of existing lines.

Taxi Regulations

Questions (751)

Seán Kenny

Question:

751. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the action that the Dublin Airport Authority are taking to ensure that only taxis that are registered with the DAA are picking up customers at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22807/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten working days.  I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten working days.

Road Projects Issues

Questions (752, 753, 754, 755)

Micheál Martin

Question:

752. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding for the A5 dual carriageway has been ring-fenced following the Northern Ireland High Court's decision to quash planning permission for the A5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20187/13]

Micheál Martin

Question:

753. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he plans to meet with the Northern Ireland First Minister and Deputy First Minister to discuss the future of the A5 following the Northern Ireland High Court decision to quash planning permission for the route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20186/13]

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

754. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to meet with the Northern Ireland First Minister and Deputy First Minister to discuss the future of the A5 following the Northern Ireland High Court decision to quash planning permission for the route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20176/13]

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

755. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding for the A5 dual carriageway has been ring-fenced following the Northern Ireland High Court's decision to quash planning permission for the A5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20177/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 752 to 755, inclusive, together.

The commitment of the Irish Government as set out in November 2011 to this project remains in place at this time. I have no specific plans to meet the Northern Ireland First Minister or Deputy First Minister on this issue. However contact between our two sponsoring Departments is ongoing, I am kept appraised of progress and any significant developments are discussed at plenary meetings of the North South Ministerial Council.

At the North-South Ministerial Council plenary on 18 November 2011, it was noted that the Irish Government would provide £25 million per annum in 2015 and 2016 towards the A5 road project. This is further to £22 million that the Irish Government has already contributed to the project as part of the planning process.  It brings the Exchequer commitment to £72 million.

The Northern Ireland Road Service had planned to start construction on two of the approved sections of the A5 in autumn last year. However, following publication of the necessary statutory Orders in advance of construction, the Minister for Regional Development’s decision to proceed with the A5 was challenged by a group known as the Alternative A5 Alliance.

While the Northern High Court rejected the majority of the applicants’ grounds of challenge, one was upheld.  The judge found that an appropriate assessment under the Habitats Directive should have been carried out on the scheme.  On that basis at a further hearing on 8 April 2013 the judge confirmed he would quash the Orders relating to the A5 scheme.

The project was discussed at the North South Ministerial Council Transport Sectoral on 17 April and the Minister for Regional Development now plans to undertake the environmental assessment required under the Habitats Directive. This is a necessary first step to progress the project and it must be allowed run its course.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (756)

John McGuinness

Question:

756. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the individual amount of overtime paid in the case of each political or ministerial appointee for the period 2007 to date in 2013 relative to his office and the office of the Minister of State; if such payments were made to the Secretary General and advisors, and if so, the amounts for the same period. [22883/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The figures relating to overtime payments made to Ministerial appointees are contained in Tables 1 and 2 below. The Secretary General of the Department and my advisors do not receive payments in respect of overtime.  

Table 1:

Overtime Payments from 2007 to March 2011  

Minister/ Minister of State	Position	Overtime in 2007	Overtime in 2008	Overtime in 2009	Overtime in 2010	Overtime in 2011
Noel Dempsey	Personal Secretary	Nil	€156.46	€221.46	Nil	€89.88
	Personal Assistant	€5,708.46	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Ciaran Cuffe	Personal Assistant	Nil	Nil	Nil	€1,286.52	Nil
Pat “The Cope” Gallagher	Personal Secretary	€8,692.06	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil

 

Table 2:

Overtime Payments from March 2011 to Date  

Minister/Minister of State	Position	Overtime in 2011	Overtime in 2012	Overtime in 2013 to date
Leo Varadkar	Personal Assistant	nil	€9,208.15	€3,290.18
	Personal Secretary	€4,155.08	€8,616.00	€2,345.91
Michael Ring	Temp Personal Assistant	€2,445.20	nil	nil
	Personal Assistant	€1,164.90	€9,104.53	€3,710.73
	Personal Secretary	€4,788.16	€8,655.51	€2,578.24
Alan Kelly	Personal Assistant	nil	€574.65	€1,754.65
	Personal Secretary	€4,138.46	€5,084.83	€282.66

Road Safety Issues

Questions (757)

Tom Fleming

Question:

757. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will take immediate action to direct the National Roads Authority and Kerry County Council to address and rectify the blackspot bend on the Miltown/Castlemaine road at Cloonmore-Rathpook townsland where over the May bank holiday weekend three car accidents occurred (details supplied) and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22888/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

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.

Cycling Facilities

Questions (758)

Seán Kyne

Question:

758. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress made on establishing a bike rental scheme in Galway similar to the successful scheme in Dublin which is about to expand. [22929/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Work is well advanced within my Department and the National Transport Authority on proposals to introduce bike share schemes to certain regional cities including Galway.  The National Transport Authority anticipates initiating, within the next few months, a tender process to procure a company to supply, install, operate and maintain the Regional Cities Bike Schemes.  It is hoped that this contract can be awarded before the end of the year with construction to commence early in 2014.   

Funding provision to meet the capital investment costs of the roll-out of public bikes in other cities has been identified within the five year capital funding allocation for Smarter Travel and Carbon Reduction Measures.  However, operational funding is not available from within the constrained current funding allocation.  The delivery of  the scheme to regional cities is contingent on the success of the ongoing process to explore the potential for a sponsorship contract to defray some of the costs associated with the Regional Cities Bike Schemes.

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Questions (759)

Heather Humphreys

Question:

759. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has completed a review of the sports capital programme 2012; arising from this, the changes that he will bring into any future capital programme; when he expects to bring forward the next call for funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22681/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

The most recent round of the Sports Capital Programme was launched last March. This was the first round of the Programme since 2008.  The deadline for applications was 11 May 2012 for paper based hard copy applications and 1 June for applications made online.

The Department received 2,170 applications for funding under the 2012 Sports Capital Programme, the highest number of applications ever received. The allocations were announced last December. There were 648 allocations totalling €31 million. 

An internal review of the 2012 round of the Sports Capital Programme is currently underway. This review is examining all aspects of the operation of the 2012 round. My officials recently held a meeting with the Office of the Chief State Solicitor regarding legal aspects of the Programme. This, along with an ongoing IT project, will feed into the review. The outcome of the review will be taken into account in the design and operation of the next round of the Programme.

No decision has been taken on the timing of the next round. Any such decision will of course have to be taken in the context of the likely capital provision for the subhead in future years.