Written Answers Nos. 66 - 77
68. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he expects to publish the final draft of the National Sports Facilities Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30950/13]
View answerA draft National Sports Facilities Strategy was published as a discussion document on my Department’s website in September 2012. A final strategy, taking account of submissions received, will be published shortly.
69. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of the project that will benefit from Peace/INTERREG funds 2012/13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30942/13]
View answerThe Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) manages the cross-border European Union Structural Funds Programmes in Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and parts of Western Scotland. The current programmes (2007-2013) are the European Union's Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (otherwise known as the PEACE III Programme) and the European Union's Cross border Programme for Territorial Co-operation, Northern Ireland, the Border Region and Western Scotland (otherwise known as the Interreg IVA Programme). The SEUPB is an agency under the aegis of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and manages a range of projects across a number of functional areas and accordingly, your question may be better directed to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
72. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will have access to funding from the Strategic Infrastructures Fund for projects which will have a positive cost benefit to the local economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30939/13]
View answerThe Minister for Finance recently announced the drafting of a Bill to, inter alia, establish the Ireland Strategic Infrastructures Fund (ISIF). Once established the ISIF will invest in the Irish economy on commercial terms in support of economic activity and employment. It is difficult to create projects under the aegis of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport that are commercial. That is, projects that produce a revenue stream that can be used to repay the ESIF. To date, the only mechanism we have used are Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). This mechanism has been used for major new road projects. It can also be used for large scale public transport projects as well. Unfortunately doing so for projects that have a cost of less than €100 million (which would cover the vast majority of envisaged tourism and sports projects) is uneconomic and direct exchequer investment is preferred for those projects.
In line with this overall approach, three road projects have been included in the Government's Infrastructure Stimulus package announced in July 2012 - the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP together with the N25 New Ross Bypass and the N11 Gorey to Enniscorthy PPP. In addition, under the investment plan announced recently by the Government an additional €50million has been made available to fund maintenance and repair work on regional and local roads.
The general approach I have taken is to keep under review projects at various stages of planning and design which have been evaluated and appraised with a view to having a pipeline of suitable "shovel ready" projects ready to avail of any funding opportunities that may arise. I have also put considerable emphasis on the need to direct resources to the maintenance and repair of existing infrastructure. Should further funding become available in the future my aim will be to develop a balanced package of measures covering infrastructure maintenance, safety schemes and targeted development projects across the transport sector to ensure that available resources are maximised to generate economic activity and create jobs in Ireland.
73. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the parameters of the discussions held recently between the Bulgarian Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin and the Irish ambassador to Bulgaria, His Excellency John Rowan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31181/13]
View answerThe newly appointed Bulgarian Foreign Minister, Mr. Kristian Vigenin, had a meeting, at his request, with Ambassador Rowan on 6 June. The meeting was one in a round of introductory meetings with Ambassadors in Sofia. The Minister recalled his good relations with Irish colleagues during his time as a Member of the European Parliament and discussed matters of mutual interest in a European context. He offered his best wishes for a successful conclusion to our term of office as EU Presidency.
74. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff in his Department who availed of term time in 2012; the average duration of such in 2012; the number that will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31207/13]
View answer75. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff in organisations or agencies under the aegis of his Department who availed of term time in 2012; the average duration of such in 2012; the number that will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31223/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 75 together.
The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the table below.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Operation of the Shorter Working Year Scheme
|
Year |
Number of staff that availed of the scheme |
Total duration (weeks) |
Average duration (weeks) |
|
2012 |
47 |
263 |
5.6 |
|
2013 |
52 |
269 |
5.2 |
There are no State agencies under the aegis of my Department.
76. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff in his Department who availed of study or training leave in 2012; the average duration of such leave; if all staff availing of this leave received full pay and benefits during the time; the number that will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31239/13]
View answer77. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff in organisations or agencies under the aegis of his Department who availed of study or training leave in 2012; the average duration of such leave; if all staff availing of this leave received full pay and benefits during the time; the number that will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31255/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 77 together.
The information requested by the Deputy for 2012 is set out in the table following. Normal salary was paid in all cases.
|
No. of staff who availed of Study & Exam Leave in 2012 |
Average duration of Study & Exam Leave in 2012 |
|
44 |
6.07 days |
Based on the number of applications received in the year to date it is expected that the figures for 2013 will be broadly similar to those for last year. Study and exam leave normally arise in cases where staff of the Department undertake qualifying third level courses in their own time and receive financial assistance under a refund of fees scheme sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade strongly encourages and supports its staff in continuing their professional development where the courses are relevant to the work of the Department. There are no State Agencies under the aegis of my Department.
