Written Answers Nos. 242-249
242. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures that he has taken to protect the regional and local road network; if he will commit to provide specifically for local improvement schemes funding to local authorities in certain regions of the country rather than the current situation where local authorities are allowed to provide funding under their existing capital budget. [30975/13]
View answerFirstly I would like to explain that the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads, in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants.
I announced the 2013 regional and local road grant allocations in January this year providing €347million to local authorities for works on regional and local roads. I also provided an additional €2.7 million for drainage works on regional and local roads in March this year. More recently, (12 June) I announced an additional €50 million to County and City Councils for regional and local roads bringing the overall amount available in 2013 to approximately €400 million.
My Department and local authorities are working closely to develop new more efficient ways of delivering the best outputs possible with the funding available to them. In this regard, County Councils were provided with additional flexibility this year enabling them to transfer funding from their Restoration Improvement Grant to their Discretionary Grant.
As well as this, from 2014 onward funding for major improvement schemes on regional and local road is being discontinued and the main focus will be on the maintenance and repair of roads.
Under the Local Improvements Scheme (LIS) grant category, grants are provided to county councils for the construction and improvement of non-public roads. Given the financial circumstances priority is being provided to the public road network.
Local authorities may use up to 7% of their Discretionary Grant towards LIS should they wish to do so and it is a matter for local authorities to prioritise their works programme and decide if funding should be set aside from their Discretionary Grant for LIS. I believe that local authorities are best placed to judge the priority of such works and to allocate such funds. In this way, Local Authorities may decide whether they want to operate the LIS in their area or would prefer to put their resources into regional and local public roads. The alternative is that I make a decision to establish a specific fund for the LIS. However, this would involve making a pro-rata reduction to the other road grants headings, and imposing LIS on local authorities that would prefer to prioritise public roads. I do not believe that such an approach would be in the best interests of the road network or local democracy.
243. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has given any consideration to the introduction of another round of Sports Capital Funding; and when he expects such a scheme to be launched. [30976/13]
View answerNo decision has been taken on the timing of the next round of the sports capital programme. Any such decision will of course have to be taken in the context of the likely capital provision for the subhead in future years.
244. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will give consideration to producing a dual LEAP/Dublin Bike card in order to facilitate more integrated travel options within Dublin City; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30992/13]
View answerResponsibility to develop, procure, implement, operate and maintain the integrated ticketing Leap Card system in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) is a function of the National Transport Authority (NTA). In addition among the Authority's principal functions is the promotion of an integrated, accessible public transport network.
Noting this I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA. Please advise my private office if you did not receive a reply within 10 working days.
245. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he remains committed to the A5 project and will provide specified funding to the route despite the Northern Ireland Executive discussing the diversion of funds set aside for the A5 to other road projects in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31087/13]
View answerThe Government's commitment to the A5 project, as outlined at the North South Ministerial Council in November 2011 remains in place. At that NSMC plenary session it was noted that the Irish Government would provide £25 million in 2015 and again in 2016 towards the A5 road project. This is further to the £22 million that the Irish Government has already contributed to the project as part of the planning process.
246. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has engaged with An Taisce regarding the implications that the loss of blue flags in many Dublin North beaches will have on tourism in 2013 due to their policy of applying the EU Directive for water bathing quality four years retrospectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31113/13]
View answerI understand that the Blue Flag is an international voluntary eco-label for beaches and marinas that is owned and run by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), a non-governmental organisation. The scheme in Ireland is administered by An Taisce.
The Blue Flag programme is completely independent and the award of flags is solely a matter for FEE. Neither I nor my Department has any role or authority in relation to the administration of the scheme or the award process. I am advised that Fáilte Ireland is represented on the national jury, which passes on its award recommendations to the FEE’s International Jury for assessment. Ultimately, however, it is FEE that then determines the Blue Flag awards based on specific defined criteria.
In terms of possible tourism implications, although the loss of blue flags at four north Dublin beaches is regrettable, it is very difficult to predict the impact (if any) on tourism in the area. Several factors influence the use of beaches from year to year, the most significant being weather patterns. Notwithstanding this position, I believe that local authorities around Ireland are fully aware of the value of Blue Flag beaches, particularly for domestic tourism, and I have every confidence that Fingal County Council will, in time, regain this award for the beaches in question.
247. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the commencement of the Gort to Tuam motorway; the cost involved as a Public Private Partnership scheme; the costing for the by-pass of Tuam, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31135/13]
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.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you did not receive a reply within 10 working days.
248. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the recent changes to the timetable on the Bus Éireann route 115, Dublin-Mullingar-Longford, and cuts to services on that route; and if the changes were sanctioned by his Department or by the National Transport Authority. [31147/13]
View answerThe provision of bus services and the routes they take are operational matters for Bus Éireann in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA). I have referred the Deputy's question to both the company and the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days. Under the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009, responsibility for the licensing of public bus passenger services rests with the NTA.
249. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is concerned about the lack of progress on the Narrow Water Bridge; if he has discussed this matter with Prime Minister Cameron or President Barroso; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23844/13]
View answerFirstly I would like to explain that the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads, in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Louth County Council and its project partners submitted the Narrow Water Bridge project for Interreg IVA funding and the project was approved for €17.4m in funding by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) on the basis that both my Department and the relevant Northern Ireland Authorities would provide financial support. My Department subsequently approved an up-front contribution of €3.9 million.
This project has been discussed at a number of fora with the relevant Northern Ireland Ministers which is the appropriate approach to take. The Northern Minister for Finance and Personnel has recently confirmed financial support for the project subject to specified conditions. The statutory process relating to the approval of a Bridge Order is still underway in the Northern Ireland - the consultation period for the draft Order ended on 4 June. In the meantime I understand that tenders for construction of the bridge have been received by Louth County Council and will now be evaluated by the Council.
I have never met Prime Minister Cameron and have only briefly met President Barroso, as part of a group of Ministers. I have discussed the matter with the Northern Irish Executive's First Minister and Deputy First Minister. In April of this year, Minister Kennedy, Minister Attwood and I issued a Joint Communiqué supporting the project.
