Clare Daly
Question:202. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the supports available to a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [48784/13]
View answerHealth Services Issues
Questions (202)
Written answers
As this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Road Safety
Questions (203)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:203. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will examine the need for an allocation of funds to be made to complete plans for urgent safety measures at Ferry Bridge, Clarina, County Limerick on the N69; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48617/13]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
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 Safety Authority Campaigns
Questions (204)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:204. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of expenditure used to fund road safety advertisements in broadcast and print media and elsewhere for the years 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013. [48623/13]
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Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority has responsibility for publicity with regard to road safety.
Accordingly, I have referred the question to the Road Safety Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my private office if a reply has not been received within ten working days.
Industrial Disputes
Questions (205)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:205. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he supports a swift resolution of the difficulties currently being experienced between Aer Lingus staff and management so as to avoid industrial action, in view of the State's position as a large shareholder in Aer Lingus. [48626/13]
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I hope the difficulties are resolved without damaging industrial action. In that context, I welcome the current talks taking place at the Labour Relations Commission on the matter, and hope that it will be possible for the parties to reach an agreement.
However, the State's 25% shareholding in Aer Lingus does not allow it to interfere in the day-to-day commercial operations of the company. Aer Lingus is a publicly quoted company and as Minister I have no role in its commercial decisions.
Roadworthiness Testing
Questions (206)
Heather Humphreys
Question:206. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider extending the NCT exemption for vintage cars and tractors to cover vintage lorries registered prior to 1980 in view of the fact these lorries are generally used at charity events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48675/13]
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Commercial vehicle roadworthiness testing regulations provide that all commercial vehicles, including vintage lorries, must be tested when they are over one year old and annually thereafter. Such vehicles must have a valid Certificate of Roadworthiness if used in a public place. Although there is no exemption for older vehicles, such vehicles are tested to the standards that they were originally designed to meet. There is currently no requirement for tractors used in a public place to be roadworthiness tested. Regular testing ensures that all commercial vehicles, regardless of age, are maintained to a minimum standard of roadworthiness. Vintage vehicles, even if only covering low mileage, may still have roadworthiness concerns such as perishing of rubber components or seizure of brake actuators following periods of inactivity.
Excluding any category of vehicle from annual roadworthiness testing based solely on the declared usage of the vehicle could have road safety implications. It could also lead to the anomalous situation whereby vehicles being used commercially may unfairly seek to claim an exemption from testing.
In relation to vintage cars, the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2009, SI 567 of 2009, exempt cars first registered prior to 1 January 1980 from the NCT. However, if such a car is used as a Small Public Service Vehicle it must be tested regardless of its age. As with vintage lorries, such cars are tested to the standards that they were originally designed to meet.
Action 59 of the Road Safety Strategy 2013-2020 provides that the RSA will conduct a review of the roadworthiness testing of vintage vehicles to determine the safety case and cost benefits, if any, for the inclusion of such vehicles in roadworthiness testing.
Integrated Ticketing
Questions (207)
John O'Mahony
Question:207. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce the Leap card system for Galway city, in view of the fact that there are two bus operators delivering scheduled city services to the people of Galway; if he has set aside a budget for the implementation of the Leap card scheme in Galway in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48696/13]
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Responsibility to develop, procure, implement, operate and maintain the integrated ticketing Leap Card system in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) became a function of the National Transport Authority (NTA) with effect from 30th September 2010. In addition, section 63 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act, 2008 extends the Authority’s remit in relation to integrated ticketing to the rest of the State.
Noting this I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
Road Safety
Questions (208)
Brendan Smith
Question:208. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review the recent decision to lower the permitted height of loaded trailers; if his attention has been drawn to the concern in the farming community of the additional costs that will arise for the agricultural sector due to the necessity to transport product such as fodder which arises on an ongoing basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48710/13]
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Statutory Instrument 366 of 2008 - Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 2008 sets the maximum height limit of vehicles in this country at 4.65 metres.
Following public consultation undertaken prior to the completion of the Regulations, the intention to introduce a 4.65 metres limit was announced in January 2007. Following representations from the industry, it was agreed that a five year derogation from that limit would apply to vehicles registered, licensed or in use prior to 1st November 2008. The derogation was introduced to allow a five-year period within which vehicles operating at heights in excess of the new limits could be withdrawn from use in Ireland or to allow for the necessary height reductions by operators. This derogation expired on 31st October 2013 and, given the lead-in time that this height limit has had, extending the derogation would have the effect of penalising those who have adjusted their operations to ensure compliance with this well flagged law, while rewarding those that did not.
I am aware of the concerns of the farming community regarding this issue. However, I have also been made aware of the view that it is possible to accommodate previous loads with different types of trailers and tyres without exceeding the 4.65 metres limit.
Sports Capital Programme Administration
Questions (209)
Brendan Smith
Question:209. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the application process for the next sports capital programme will be launched; the level of funding allocated for this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48714/13]
View answerWritten answers
Departmental officials are currently working on the details of a new round of Sports Capital Programme. I hope to be in a position to make an announcement before the end of the year, including the level of funding to be allocated.
My Department has developed a new portal on the Department's website which must be used by organisations to register, to apply for funding (when the Programme is open for applications) and to manage the drawdown of any new grants allocated after 2013.
Any interested organisation should register on www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie.