Thursday, 7 Nov 2013

Written Answers Nos. 31-41

Public Transport

Questions (31)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

31. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will examine the high failure rate of the knowledge test element of the small public service vehicle test; if he is satisfied that the knowledge test that is being applied adequately reflects the geographical area where a person is likely to serve; his views on whether a person from a large county is at a disadvantage and is more likely to fail the knowledge test because of its current construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46947/13]

Written answers

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

The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the operation of the area knowledge test and SPSV Skills Development Programme, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act, 2009.

I have referred your Question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days. 

Question No. 32 answered with Question No. 14.

Travel Tax

Questions (33)

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

33. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the response of the airline industry to the abolition of the travel tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47117/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The zero rate travel tax initiative is part of a process aimed at generating new airline routes into Ireland and will come into effect from April 2014. There has been a positive response to the initiative from airlines so far with Ryanair and Aer Lingus Regional both announcing details of new routes and increased services from Dublin, Shannon, Cork and Knock.

Ryanair has said it will grow its traffic at Irish airports by at least 1m passengers per annum from April 2014 in response to this initiative.  To date it has announced new routes and and additional services at Shannon and Knock which account for around 380,000 passengers of this planned 1m increase and will support in the region of 380 jobs. Aer Lingus Regional has also announced a 10% increase its flights from Cork and Dublin.

I would like to see further announcements of this kind from these and other airlines in respect of the various Irish airports. More flights into Ireland at more locations will mean more visitors from overseas, and a bigger tourism dividend. The airports and Tourism Ireland have attractive incentive and marketing programmes available which will help support new services and build on the success of The Gathering in the months ahead.

Road Projects

Questions (34)

Tony McLoughlin

Question:

34. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department and the National Roads Authority will consider funding to Sligo County Council which is seeking design funding on their part of the N16 to develop a scheme which could be ready for construction in a number of years time (details supplied). [47064/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

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.

Road Network

Questions (35)

Dessie Ellis

Question:

35. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to deal with increasing deterioration of the road network here in view of recent spending cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47187/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport I have responsibility for overall policy and funding for the national roads programme. The implementation of individual national 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. 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 amount of public funding available for the road network has reduced significantly over the last number of years and the reality of the situation is that the amount of money available does not match the work that needs to be done. In these circumstances the NRA and local authorities have to focus primarily on the maintenance and rehabilitation of roads.

It is worth noting however, that an additional €50 million under a mini-stimulus plan was provided to local authorities in June this year for works on regional and local roads and a further €50 million has been announced for next year. This funding next year means that the intended cut of €116 million under the roads capital budget for 2014, will now be a smaller adjustment of €66 million. This does, however, remain a very challenging reduction but every effort will be made to make the most out of the very limited resources.

Rail Services

Questions (36)

Dessie Ellis

Question:

36. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has had any discussions with Irish Rail in relation to the cut in DART carriages operating at peak times and the rationale for same. [47188/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I refer the Deputy to Minister of State Kelly's reply to the Topical Issue on this matter on Tuesday, 22nd October.  Concerns on this subject have been raised with the Chief Executive of Irish Rail and I understand that Irish Rail have already responded and re-introduced larger carriages to accommodate passengers where this has been considered necessary.  The Chief Executive has agreed to continuous monitoring of carriage levels to ensure they match passenger demand.

Question No. 37 answered with Question No. 16.

Wild Atlantic Way Project

Questions (38, 40, 43)

Seán Kyne

Question:

38. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline the investment plans, with indicative timetable, that his Department has for the next three years for the Wild Atlantic Way tourism initiative. [46949/13]

Jim Daly

Question:

40. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the current plans and funding arrangements to develop the Wild Atlantic Way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46952/13]

Pat Breen

Question:

43. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to invest in the Wild Atlantic Way in the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47061/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 , 40 and 43 together.

The Wild Atlantic Way is set to be Ireland's first long-distance touring route, stretching along the Atlantic coast from Donegal to West Cork.  It is planned to develop it into an attraction of international scale, on a par with the Garden Route in South Africa or the Great Ocean Road in Australia, that will achieve greater visibility for the west coast of Ireland in overseas tourist markets.  It will be a central feature of our overseas promotion efforts through Tourism Ireland in 2014, as we bring Ireland's magnificent scenery to the world, and I understand the overseas tourist trade has already given the product a strong endorsement.  

I was pleased to welcome the announcement in Budget 2014 of an additional €8 million in capital investment for the Wild Atlantic Way. I am informed that this funding will ensure the completion of route signage, provide for the development and enhancement of discovery points on the route as well as other infrastructural improvements. 

While my Department provides the capital funding for investment in tourism product such as the Wild Atlantic Way, it is not directly involved in developing or managing such product. The development of the Wild Atlantic Way is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland and I have referred the Deputy's question to the agency for further information in relation to its future development.  Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days. 

Public Service Obligation Services

Questions (39, 51)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

39. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for the tendering out of Dublin Bus routes to private firms and the implications this will have for the terms and conditions of Dublin Bus drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47177/13]

Mick Wallace

Question:

51. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the analysis he has undertaken into the impact of the ending of Dublin Bus's five year public service obligation contract in 2014 and the reduction of its subsidy by a further €4.5 million; if he will ensure that this will not be another taxi style deregulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46898/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 51 together.

The objective of Government is to ensure a system of public transport throughout the country that is as efficient and as widespread as possible.  In relation to the award of Public Service Obligation (PSO) contracts for the bus market, this falls under the remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA).  The NTA is currently considering how best publicly subvented bus services will be provided in the future.  The direct award contracts for the provision of PSO bus market services held by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann expire late next year.  The awarding of the licenses for the services thereafter is a matter for the NTA, and not for Government, but I have kept the Cabinet updated on the process.

Where the NTA proposes to enter into a further direct award contract or contracts for bus services it is obliged to carry out a statutory consultation under section 52 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008.  Under the legislation, if the NTA proposes to enter into direct award contracts, the relevant section states that  “it may only do so where it is satisfied that the continued adequacy of the public bus passenger services to which the contracts relate can only be guaranteed in the general economic interest by entering into such direct award contracts".  If it is not so satisfied, it must provide for some level of competitive tendering.  As explained above, this is not a decision for the Government or for me.

The NTA conducted its work in accordance with the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 and statutory consultations in relation to the matter commenced on the 11th September and concluded on the 11th October.  The NTA expects to announce its decision on how it intends to proceed before the end of the year.

It should be noted that it will be open to Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann to tender for any routes or bundles of routes that are tendered.  The contract will go to the best competent tenderer who can provide the best service for the least subsidy.  I would be disappointed if the outcome of tendering is anything other than an improvement in services or no reduction in service at the very least.

The NTA noted in its consultation document "Proposal to Directly Award a Public Bus Services Contract to Dublin Bus in 2014" that "tendering in the order of 10% of the services would ... leave 90% of services with Dublin Bus, a manageable downsizing to be planned for and achieved by that company."

Question No. 40 answered with Question No. 38.

Question No. 41 answered with Question No. 14.