Dessie Ellis
Question:1070. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans and rationale for the new rural hackney scheme that he has proposed. [27170/13]
View answerTaxi Regulations
Questions (1070, 1071)
Dessie Ellis
Question:1071. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason he has not responded to a request from the Taxi Alliance for a meeting to discuss the proposed rural hackney system. [27171/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1070 and 1071 together.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) is the lead agency with responsibility for implementation of the recommendations of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011. Action 46 of the Review Report proposes the introduction of a "local area hackney licence" for rural locations having a low level or, in some cases, no level of SPSV transport services. The NTA has developed a proposal to facilitate the low cost entry to the hackney market for transport provision in these rural areas and the proposal has been submitted to the Taxi Advisory Committee for its consideration.
As I have stated on previous occasions, the most appropriate channel for the concerns of the representative groups in the SPSV sector to be addressed is the Taxi Advisory Committee.
Taxi Regulations
Questions (1072)
Dessie Ellis
Question:1072. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are any special circumstances in which persons applying for SPSV licences will be awarded the licence having achieved a lower score on tests than is required of other applicants. [27183/13]
View answerWritten answers
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of the taxi industry under the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act, 2009, including the development and administration of the area knowledge and skills development test.
Your question has been forwarded to the NTA for direct reply. If you do not receive a response within ten working days please notify my private Office.
Swimming Pool Projects
Questions (1073)
Dara Calleary
Question:1073. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline the overall allocation under the national swimming pool programme to the Finn Valley swimming pool project in County Donegal; the drawdown request which has been submitted to the Department to date; the amount which has been paid back to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27223/13]
View answerWritten answers
Under the current round of the Swimming Pool Programme 47 projects have been completed and opened to the public, and 11 other projects are at various stages of development.
The Ballybofey Stranorlar Swimming Pool project is included in those 11 projects. The total allocation to this project is €3,809,214, of which €614,620 has been paid to date. A payment request for €2,813,673 has been received but cannot be paid out until legal matters have been finalised.
Rail Services
Questions (1074)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:1074. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 704 of 28 May 2013, if he will explain in more detail the references he made to the AECOM report from which he quoted in his reply that there is very limited demand for movement between the regional cities; if he will also comment on the discord between the conclusions of the AECOM report referred to and the policy of his Department in relation to road infrastructure and the provision of intercity bus services between these same cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27258/13]
View answerWritten answers
The AECOM report referred to in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 704 of 28 May 2013 is available on the Iarnród Éireann website. The report is extensive and covers areas such as performance of the InterCity Network, Inter-Urban demand, mode competition and future investment strategies.
I do not accept that there is an inconsistency between the conclusions of that report and the policies of my Department in relation to road infrastructure and the provision of intercity bus services. The primary focus of the major road investment programme over the decade to 2010 was on the major inter-urban routes i.e. Dublin to Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Belfast along with some targeted development projects such as the upgrade of the M50 and the Dublin Port Tunnel. Under the Capital Infrastructure and Investment Framework 2012-2016 Exchequer funded road development projects have been scaled back significantly and the focus has increasingly been put on maintenance of the existing network and protection of the investment made to date. A number of PPP projects with good benefit to cost ratios are going ahead as part of the Government’s Stimulus Programme.
Bus services between the cities are provided by Bus Éireann Expressway or private commercial bus services licensed by the National Transport Authority. These services are commercial demand-led services which do not receive any State funding.
Taxi Regulations
Questions (1075, 1076, 1077, 1078)
Anthony Lawlor
Question:1075. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons who downloaded the Taxi Driver Check App since it was launched last February; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27323/13]
View answerAnthony Lawlor
Question:1076. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of taxi vehicles that have been registered on the database for the Taxi Drivers Check App; if there has not been full compliance; when he expects this figure to reach 100%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27324/13]
View answerAnthony Lawlor
Question:1077. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way his Department has monitored the effectiveness of the Taxi Driver Check App; if he believes this App is serving its purpose; if he believe it benefits the general public; if he will outline flaws which have been brought to light since the App went live; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27325/13]
View answerAnthony Lawlor
Question:1078. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of the tendering process which took place prior to the launch of the Taxi Driver Check App; the way the tender process was advertised; the number of tenders that were received by his Department; the criteria used in choosing this particular App; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27326/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1075 to 1078, inclusive, together.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of the taxi industry under the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act, 2009 and is also the lead agency for implementation of the recommendations of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011, including Action 32 of the Review Report concerning the Smartphone App for driver verification and Action 40 concerning registering and updating the NTA IT system connecting SPSV vehicles and their authorised drivers.
I have forwarded your Questions to the NTA for direct reply. If you do not receive a response within ten working days please notify my private Office.
Taxi Regulation Review Report Implementation
Questions (1079)
Catherine Murphy
Question:1079. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will indicate the extra provisions that have been made for the enhanced enforcement function of the Taxi Regulator in view of the proposed legislative changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26777/13]
View answerWritten answers
The regulation of the taxi industry is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act, 2009. The NTA is also the lead agency with responsibility for implemetation of the recommendations of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011, including, in cooperation with An Garda Siochana, the implementation of the enforcement measures that are proposed in the Review Report.
Many of the key recommendations of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011 relate to enforcement and compliance matters, involving both ‘on street’ and ‘off-street’ enforcement of the taxi regulations. Data sharing arrangements between the enforcement agencies, which were recommended under the Taxi Review have already been implemented and are working well. Concerning ‘on street’ enforcement specifically, there has been very good cooperation between An Garda Síochána and the NTA.
The Taxi Regulation Bill will provide for the NTA to increase its enforcement resource through service agreements - this will have a significant impact on the ‘on-street’ enforcement capability. In addition, as recommended under Actions 21 and 25 of the Taxi Review Report, the Taxi Regulation Bill will enable An Garda Síochána to issue fixed payment notices with respect to 11 additional SPSV fixed charge offences. The Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 specifically provides for this and will further support measures to ensure that operators and drivers can operate under a robust regulatory framework where I see a significant stepping-up of the enforcement effort with regard to the taxi regulations.
Road Maintenance
Questions (1080)
Clare Daly
Question:1080. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ensure that adequate funding is made available to Fingal County Council for the completion of the Moylaragh Castle Mills link road, which is long outstanding and necessary to ensure safety in the area. [26795/13]
View answerWritten 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.
In July last year local authorities were invited to submit applications for consideration for funding in 2013 under the Specific Improvement Grants Scheme. Fingal County Council applied for funding for five projects under this grant category but the Castle Mills Link road was not among the Council’s applications.
The Specific Improvement Grants Scheme is being discontinued from 2014 onward in order to maximise the funding available for repair and strengthening work. The small amount of funding available for major schemes will focus on projects already under construction or that the Department is already committed to.
It is also important to re-iterate that the role of Exchequer grants for regional and local roads is to supplement Councils like Fingal County Council in their own resources spending in this area. It is open to the Council to fund this project from its own resources.
Road Traffic Offences
Questions (1081)
Robert Dowds
Question:1081. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline the rules concerning the ban on heavy goods vehicles on certain roads; and the number of penalty points a driver breaking these rules can receive. [26814/13]
View answerWritten answers
Article 17 of the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations, 1997 (S.I. No. 182 of 1997) provides that where traffic sign number RUS 015 (ban on HGV's entering a road) is provided at the entrance to a road, the driver of a vehicle, the unladen weight of which exceeds the weight specified on the sign, shall not proceed beyond the sign, except where it is necessary for a vehicle to enter a road solely for the purpose of gaining access to or egress from premises accessible only from that road. For the purpose of road traffic legislation, traffic sign number RUS 015 is considered to be a prohibitory road traffic sign. Failure of vehicle to comply with prohibitory traffic signs is both a fixed charge and penalty point offence. The fixed charge for the offence is €60 if paid within 28 days from the date from the original fixed charge notice and €90 if paid within 56 days from the date of the original fixed charge notice. The penalty points for the offence are 1 point on the payment of the original fixed charge notice and 3 on conviction in Court.
Rail Services
Questions (1082)
Patrick Nulty
Question:1082. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a train station (details supplied) in Dublin 15 will open and be fully operational. [26819/13]
View answerWritten answers
As 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) on December 2009, the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), such as the opening of trains stations, comes under the remit of the NTA.
Noting this I have referred the Deputies question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days. Notwithstanding the above, I understand that the station is to open on the 28th of June and will be operational from that date.
Disability Support Services Issues
Questions (1083)
Maureen O'Sullivan
Question:1083. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of taxis that have wheelchair access; if wheelchair accessible taxis will be exempt from the nine year rule due to the high cost involved in replacing this type of taxi; if his attention has been drawn to the lack of communication between the Taxi Regulator and taxi drivers on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26841/13]
View answerWritten answers
The regulation of the taxi industry is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the Public Transport Regulation Act, 2009. The NTA is the lead agency with responsibility for implementation of the recommendations of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011.
The NTA carried out a consultation on vehicle standards as part of the Taxi Regulation Review which gave rise to recommendations for strengthening vehicle standards. Action 10 of the Review Report recommends retention of the 9 year vehicle age limit that applies at licence issue or renewal for all new vehicles entering the fleet. For existing vehicles in the fleet licensed prior to 1 January 2009, these can operate up to the 15th anniversary of each vehicle's first registration.
Other measures recommended in the Taxi Regulation Review Report propose improvements with regard to the accessible SPSV services. Action 20 involves a review of existing specifications for wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) with a view to the possible introduction of a wider range of lower cost vehicles thereby assisting in supply and availability of WAVs. In addition, Action 18 of the Review Report, proposing a single contact centre for ordering wheelchair accessible taxi services, which will facilitate better access to and use of the existing WAVs. I'm informed that there are currently 1,023 active wheelchair accessible taxi licences.
The NTA is progressing these measures and I anticipate delivery on these Actions later this year.
The Gathering Expenditure
Questions (1084)
Seán Kenny
Question:1084. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the way the €7 million allocated by his Department for The Gathering will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26860/13]
View answerWritten answers
The matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply. Please contact my private office if a response is not received within ten working days.
International Agreements
Questions (1085)
Andrew Doyle
Question:1085. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline the key elements of the maritime labour package as part of the flag state directive covering maritime issues; if he will detail the recent discussions he and his officials had at the recent trilogue negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26964/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) of the International Labour Organization (ILO) is applicable to international shipping worldwide. It aims to achieve decent working and living conditions on board ships for all seafarers, regardless of their nationality and of the flag of the ship, as well as securing fair competition for quality shipowners. It enters into force on 20th August 2013. All EU Member States adopted the MLC in 2006, and, at the moment, my Department is in the process of preparing legislation to enable Ireland to ratify the Convention.
Council Directive 2009/13/EC implements the Agreement made, in 2008, between European management and labour representatives on the Maritime Labour Convention 2006. This Agreement is an update of an earlier 1998 Agreement, which was set out in Directive 1999/63/EC (transposed in the European Communities (Merchant Shipping) (Organisation of Working Time) Regulations 2003 [S.I. No. 532 of 2003]).
Since the European social partners do not have the power to include in their Agreement the enforcement provisions contained in Title V of the MLC, the present proposal aims to provide for the enforcement and compliance of EU flag States with the Social Agreement as annexed to Directive 2009/13/EC.
The proposal lays down the principles to monitor the application of the relevant parts of the MLC, obliging flag States to establish mechanisms for inspection and to ensure the compliance of their ships with the Social Agreement. The Directive also establishes obligations in the area of training and competence of inspectors, as well as complaint handling.
The EU Member States agreed their General Approach to the Directive in October 2012. The European Parliament did not complete its deliberations on the file until 13 March this year, and since then, my officials have been negotiating with the European Parliament with a view to reaching a compromise, under the Irish presidency, between the Parliament and the Council. Three trilogues and several technical meetings have been held to try to reach a mutually acceptable agreement. The negotiations are now coming to a close but I cannot comment on the details of those negotiations until they are completed.
Road Network
Questions (1086)
Terence Flanagan
Question:1086. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the guidelines set by his Department in relation to criteria for works to be completed by county councils; if guidelines issued to county councils are different from one council to the next; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27017/13]
View answerWritten answers
The principal guidelines issued to local authorities in relation to works on roads are outlined below. All guidelines are standard and do not differ from one authority to the next. The guides areas follows: Guide to Road Safety Engineering in Ireland; Guidelines on the Depth of Overlay to be used on Rural Non-National Roads Guidelines for the Opening, Backfilling and Reinstatement of Trenches in Public Roads; Local Improvements Scheme Memorandum; Guidelines for the Rehabilitation of Roads over Peat;Traffic Management Guidelines; Guidelines for Road Drainage; Work Methodologies on Non-National Roads; Guidance for the Control and Management of Traffic at Roadworks; Traffic Signs Manual; Guidelines for the Application of Special Speed Limits; Procurement Procedures; Memorandum on Grants for Regional and Local Roads; Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets.