Clare Daly
Question:182. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will change the 120 km per hour speed limit on motorways to 130 km per hour. [51124/13]
View answerRoad Safety Strategy
Questions (182)
Written answers
I have no proposals to increase the current maximum speed limit on motorways. Section 9 of the Road Traffic Act 2004 sets maximum default speed limits for varying classes of roads in Ireland. Under that legislation, the maximum speed limit on motorways is set at 120 km/h, except where amended by a special speed limits order made by the relevant road authority.
Trans European Transport Network Programme
Questions (183)
Pearse Doherty
Question:183. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cross-Border corridors he is lobbying to have included on the Trans-European Transport Networks, TEN-T, comprehensive network; the cross-Border planning in which he has engaged with his counterpart in the Six Counties to secure maximum funding from TEN-T; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51158/13]
View answerWritten answers
The TEN-T network has been agreed between Member States, the European Commission and the European Parliament. The Comprehensive network under TEN-T on both sides of the border includes road and rail links as well as ports and airports including the cross border M2N2/A4 Dublin Derry road, N16/A4 Sligo to Northern Ireland road and N13/N14 Donegal to Derry road. The regulation provides for defined corridors in the Core Network which is a subset of the Comprehensive Network. In Ireland's case the corridor includes the A1/M1 Belfast - Dublin road link, the rail link from Dublin to Belfast, Dublin Airport, and Belfast and Greater Dublin area Ports. My Department has liaised with both the Department for Regional Development and the UK Department for Transport with regard to both the Core and Comprehensive Networks and this liaison is ongoing.
National Car Test
Questions (184)
Brendan Ryan
Question:184. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the rules of the NCT scheme can be examined in order that a vehicle which passes an NCT after initially failing has the new NCT certificate awarded from the date the car is roadworthy and not from the date the previous NCT disc expired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51204/13]
View answerWritten answers
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 the delivery of the National Car Test. The RSA has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight, development, quality assurance and delivery of vehicle testing arrangements. In accordance with EU Directive 2009/40/EC, the minimum requirement for roadworthiness testing of passenger cars is that a roadworthiness test is undertaken when the vehicles are four years old and every two years thereafter from the date of first registration of the vehicle. Additionally, Ireland requires that vehicles in excess of ten years old be tested annually.
Under the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2009, S.I. No. 567 of 2009, and in accordance with the Directive, the test due date is calculated by reference to the date of first registration of the vehicle. Where an NCT inspection does not occur on the original test due date, the NCT certificate is valid from the date of the original test due date to the next test due date. This can result in a certificate of less than 1 or 2 years duration, depending on when the car was presented for a test. No provision exists to permit an extension of the period covered by an NCT certificate beyond the next test due date. There is a 30 day time period for a re-test which is deemed to provide customers with a reasonable amount of time to address the fail items identified and arrange a retest, while minimising the risk that additional fail items may develop in the intervening period.
It is a road safety imperative that all vehicles are adequately maintained and fit for use on a public road and I have no proposal to amend the current periods of validity of certificates of roadworthiness.
Sports Capital Programme Applications
Questions (185)
Tom Fleming
Question:185. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will allocate a sports capital grant to a club (details supplied) in County Kerry, to allow for the development of its new playing pitches and facilities; if he will take into consideration the error that was made with this application and provide funding to this club at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51208/13]
View answerWritten answers
All of the funding available under the 2012 Sports Capital Programme was allocated last year. The initial assessment of this submission was deemed invalid. It was subsequently declared by the Department to be valid - but this was after the local projects from Kerry were reviewed and allocations made. This project was then considered with applicants for regional projects and was unsuccessful. €26 million was allocated to 615 sports clubs and organisations. €5 million was allocated for 32 regional projects.
Unfortunately, with over €7.50 sought for every €1 available under the 2012 Programme it was not possible to fund every valid project. Almost 500 valid applications were in the same position as this club and were not funded. Submitting a valid application does not in any way guarantee funding. Any sports organisation with a suitable project may apply for funding under the next round of the Sports Capital Programme under the terms and conditions that will apply. I hope to make an announcement on the next round of the Programme before the end of the year.
Road Improvement Schemes
Questions (186)
Brendan Smith
Question:186. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided in 2014 towards the final stage and completion of improvement works along the N2 to Emyvale village, County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51234/13]
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. Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
Air Services Provision
Questions (187)
Paudie Coffey
Question:187. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the introduction of any direct flights between Ireland and Silicon Valley; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51262/13]
View answerWritten answers
Aer Lingus announced last July that it will commence direct services from Dublin to San Francisco on 2nd April 2014. A direct service to the West Coast of the US was identified as a key action point in the Government's Action Plan for Jobs and I am delighted that this need is being fulfilled by an Irish airline. The IDA has been advocating the return of the service ever since it was discontinued by Aer Lingus at the height of the recession back in 2009 and the Minister has raised the matter regularly in his meetings with Aer Lingus.
The importance of this route is demonstrated by the fact that it is estimated that over 40% of Ireland’s total foreign direct investment comes from Silicon Valley based companies alone. Many Silicon Valley companies such as Intel, PayPal, eBay, Facebook, Google and Apple have their European Headquarters in Ireland. The direct air access being provided by Aer Lingus will help to sustain this investment and attract further investment.
Enhanced air access to key business and tourism markets around the world has been a key element of this Government's policy and the success of that policy to date is evidenced by the significant increased capacity that has been made available on transatlantic routes - over 26% in summer 2013 season and a number of other new services to the US and Canada have already been announced for next year. The zero rate travel tax initiative in Budget 2013 will come into effect from April 2014 and is part of a process aimed at generating new airline routes into Ireland. 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. The elimination of the air travel tax coupled with the decision to maintain the tourism and hospitality VAT rate at 6% is a clear indication of the Governments support for air travel and Irish tourism generally.
Tourism Ireland works closely with carriers, airports and agencies to make the case for the introduction of new services or extended capacity. The DAA also has attractive incentive packages available for the introduction of new routes. In Summer 2013, total available seat capacity was +3% higher thaan Summer 2012. I will launch Tourism Ireland's Marketing Plans for 2014 to the industry on Monday 2nd December and I expect that cooperative promotion will continue to be a major focus of their programme in the year ahead.
Public Transport Provision
Questions (188)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:188. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the public bus transport facilities for residents of Stamullen, County Meath, to and from Dublin, Drogheda and Balbriggan; his plans to increase public transport access to this growing town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51269/13]
View answerWritten answers
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger land transport services, including the provision of subvented PSO bus services and the licensing of public bus passenger services. I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.