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Wednesday, 15 May 2013

Written Answers Nos. 22-26

Proposed Legislation

Questions (22)

Sandra McLellan

Question:

22. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the progress of the Sports Ireland legislation and the anticipated date of publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22846/13]

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Written answers

The Sport Ireland Bill provides for the establishment of a new sports organisation, Sport Ireland, to replace the Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority. The Heads of the Bill are being finalised and should be ready to go to Government in the near future for approval to have the Bill drafted.  I anticipate that the Bill will be published before the end of this year. The Sport Ireland Bill will combine the main functions of the Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority.

Light Rail Projects Status

Questions (23, 36)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

23. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm the progress of Ireland's application for European Investment Bank loan funding for the Luas cross city project; if he has identified other infrastructure projects which he is considering making an application for funding to the EIB; if he will list such projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22689/13]

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Alan Farrell

Question:

36. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the possibility of borrowing funds from the European Investment Bank to allow for the progression of the Metro North project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22830/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 36 together.

Following agreement with the Department of Finance, which takes the lead role on EIB matters, engagement has commenced with the EIB regarding a loan for Luas Cross City. The National Transport Authority, which is the sanctioning authority for the project, is taking the lead role in providing the detailed information and data required by the EIB. When I met senior officials from the European Investment Bank recently, I took the opportunity to outline my Department's priorities for investment in Transport Infrastructure in the medium to long term. We discussed the application for Luas Cross City and a presentation on the project was made to the visitors.  The  EIB officials are very supportive of the Luas link. I expect the application to have a positive outcome. Given the constraints in Exchequer funding, I do not have any other major public transport projects I can submit for EIB funding.  The EIB has expressed interest in the DART Underground but due to the cost of this project it can only proceed as a PPP project and with a very significant Exchequer contribution. I will review this project in advance of the next capital plan. In relation to roads, the EIB has contributed to the recently agreed PPP for the N11 Arklow - Rathnew and Newlands Cross project.  EIB funding will also be sought for the other three road PPPs announced under the 2012 stimulus package - the N17-N18 Gort to Tuam road, the N25 New Ross bypass and the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy road.

Light Rail Projects Status

Questions (24, 31)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

24. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the development of the Luas cross city including an estimated time of completion, final cost; the measures planned to deal with congestion caused by construction work during the project. [22900/13]

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Michael McGrath

Question:

31. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the timetable for the completion of the Luas cross city project; the amount the project will cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22990/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 31 together.

These questions relate to the Cross City Luas project. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including the proposed Luas Cross City line. This line is a priority project under the Government's five-year capital plan, which is known as the Infrastructure & Capital Investment Programme 2012-2016 under the Medium-Term Exchequer Framework.  In November 2012, following consideration by the Government, I asked the NTA and the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) to proceed with the procurement and contractual arrangements so the enabling works for the project would commence by mid-2013 at the latest. I understand that work has already commenced on a building condition survey which will establish a baseline record of the condition of properties along the Luas Cross City line. The procurement process for the advance works, such as Heritage Works, Cellars Investigation and Utility Diversions, is also well advanced. The award of Heritage and Cellars Investigation contracts is imminent, with work targeted to begin in June 2013. The tender documents for the Utility Diversions Contracts were also issued recently. These works are due to start in September or October 2013.

A Traffic Forum has been established for the project comprising representatives of the RPA, the NTA, An Garda Síochána, Dublin City Council and Dublin Bus. The primary role of the Traffic Forum is to develop traffic management arrangements aimed at minimising the construction impacts of the new Luas line on all road users. I understand that traffic management plans for the various works elements are progressing well and are being considered at the Traffic Forum meetings. There will also be ongoing local liaison arrangements as the project proceeds. I have established a Project Group to address at a strategic level issues which arise during delivery of the project.  The group, which I chair and has met on two occasions, and will enable me to liaise directly with key stakeholders including business representatives and will ensure I am informed of any significant traffic management issues affecting the delivery of the project. A dedicated Luas Cross City website will be launched shortly. The estimated cost of the project is €368 million, which includes almost €20 million that has been spent to date. Funding has been included in my Department's capital allocation to 2016 to cover the cost of commencing the main construction works in 2015 and for pre-construction enabling works in 2013 and 2014.  The project is scheduled for completion in late 2017.

Swimming Pool Projects

Questions (25)

Seán Crowe

Question:

25. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans, apart from the €5.6m allocated in the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme for the development/improvement of swimming pools, to allocate additional funds in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22849/13]

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Written answers

Under the current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, grant aid to a maximum of €3.8 million is provided to local authorities towards the capital cost of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. Some 47 projects have been completed and 11 other projects are at various stages of development.  Some €7.7 million was paid out last year in respect of swimming pools. Some €5.6 million is available this year, all of which is expected to be paid out to grantees. In 2011, €10.94 million was allocated to 56 pools under an energy upgrade and enhanced disabled access initiative. A further €3.36 million was allocated to 20 pools in 2012 under this initiative. This means that the total allocated under this initiative was €14.3 million. The current round of the Programme was closed to new applicants on 31 July 2000. No decision has been taken on the timing of a new round of the Programme.

Road Maintenance

Questions (26)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

26. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the recent allocation of funding for repair works on local and regional roads; his views on whether a particular percentage of funding should be ringfenced by each local authority for annual road maintenance and upkeep in view of the state of many roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22667/13]

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Written answers

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants.  The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority. The Department has allocated a total of €350.462 million for regional and local roads in 2013, a reduction of almost €28 million on the 2012 funding.  Increasingly, regional and local road grant funding to local authorities is being directed towards the maintenance and repair of regional and local roads and low cost safety works.  This will remain the position in the coming years.

The Specific Improvement Grants Scheme is being discontinued from 2014 onwards in order to maximise the funding available for repair and strengthening work.  In lieu of the Specific Improvement Grant Programme, applications will be sought in mid-2013 for minor bridge repair works (which is a subset of the current Specific Grant Programme) for 2014.  This is in line with focusing moneys on road and bridge maintenance and strengthening. The grants programme is structured to allow Councils reasonable flexibility in using grants while also ensuring there are clear outputs for the moneys allocated in terms of length of road maintained or rehabilitated.  In addition, I announced that local authorities would be afforded additional flexibility this year by allowing Councils to transfer resources into their discretionary grant.

Given the harsh reality of the financial position, the main focus will have to be on the maintenance and repair of roads. It will be necessary for local authorities to decide how best to manage their road budgets within the funding available. It is also important to reiterate that the role of Exchequer grants for regional and local roads is to supplement local authorities in their spending in this area.  The contribution made by local authorities has fallen in recent years both in real and percentage terms.  In 2008, local authorities provided over €405 million in own resources expenditure for works on regional and local roads, representing 40% of the total amount on these roads in 2008 including State grants.  This own resources expenditure has dropped to €137 million in 2012 or 27% of the total expenditure on roads, with the State providing €377 million in 2012 or 73% of the total expenditure last year.  I appreciate that many local authorities are trying to implement savings. It is important that sufficient priority is given by local authorities to road maintenance in own resources allocation.

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