Written Answers Nos. 918-933
918. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider a driving test exemption for farmers who hold a full car or jeep and trailer licence for more than ten years. [55529/13]
View answerLast year, I received representations from farming organisations suggesting that many farmers who had a car licence before the 1989 Regulations came into effect, had unintentionally lost their trailer entitlement by not ticking the appropriate box on the form when applying for renewal. I am assuming that this is the situation to which the question refers. If so, the issue has been resolved. I agreed to make an exceptional allowance for people in this position - whether farmers or not - to reclaim the trailer entitlement, where they could prove that they had previously held it and the RSA made arrangements to accommodate drivers in this position for a limited period.
919. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding speed limits for cyclists. [1798/14]
View answerCyclists are expected to comply with relevant legislation in the Road Traffic Acts, in the same way as all other road users. Speeding by a cyclist would be treated as dangerous driving, and is covered under Section 53 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 (as amended).
Section 53 of the 1961 Act (as amended) states that "a person shall not drive a vehicle in a public place in a manner (including speed) which having regard to all the circumstances of the case (including the condition of the vehicle, the nature, condition and use of the place and the amount of traffic which then actually is or might reasonably be expected then to be in it) is or is likely to be dangerous to the public". Vehicle is defined by the Road Traffic Acts as a mechanically propelled vehicle, an animal drawn vehicle or pedal cycle.
I have no proposals to bring legislation regarding speed limits for cyclists before the Oireachtas.
920. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the tendering process for the national genealogy centre will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55252/13]
View answerGenealogy policy is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. However, in relation to the development a Diaspora Centre, which comes under my remit, the Government’s infrastructure and capital investment framework 2012-16, published in November 2011, includes a commitment to support for a Diaspora centre or museum, should a suitable project and partner be available.
I asked Fáilte Ireland to carry out a scoping study of the development of such a centre and the most suitable means by which it could be financed, developed and managed. In 2013 I received the outcome of the scoping study and following consideration of the appropriate next steps, I decided that expressions of interest should be sought to establish if there is a suitable project and partner available to develop a Diaspora centre.
My Department and Fáilte Ireland will be making the necessary arrangements for a call for expressions of interest along these lines in the near future.
921. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the structural design of a bridge (details supplied) in County Galway to enable residents in the area to cross it safely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55306/13]
View answerThe 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 initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
However, my Department has received the following update from Galway County Council in relation to this bridge. The bridge on the Seanapheasteen known as Formeel Bridge is in very poor condition and following an assessment of its structural capacity, a 1.5 tonne max weight restriction was put in place. This is causing severe distress to one family and the situation has been re-examined and minor remedial works will be carried out to have the bridge propped to allow the weight restriction to be raised to 2.0 tonnes which would allow the family to cross the bridge in their adapted vehicle.
As the bridge is located in a SAC area all works require environmental assessment and, therefore, the proposal for the full upgrade of the bridge is being submitted for planning permission to An Bord Pleanála with an appropriate assessment in regards to the environmental issues. The interim propping measures have been agreed with National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
However, as the interim propping measures require Council staff to enter the river this has been delayed due to the flood levels in the river at present and will not proceed until the flood level abates. The methodology agreed with NPWS for carrying out the propping restricts machine access to the river. In reality the propping has to be done using manual labour due to the limited space available within the bridge cross section.
The actual interim propping works should not take more than three days to implement once conditions allow safe access to the river.
922. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are any plans on the part of Iarnród Éireann to recruit train drivers in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55353/13]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
923. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will allow county councils, with the help of interested parties, develop and design bus shelters. [55365/13]
View answerIn accordance with the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 (Public Service Contracts) (Commencement) Order 2013, which came into effect on 1 January 2014, the functions of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in relation to public transport infrastructure have been extended to include securing or providing bus stops, bus shelters, bus stations, stands and bus fleets in the State.
Noting this I have referred 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.
924. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the Irish Aviation Authority and the Commission for Aviation Regulation declined to participate in the stakeholder consultation prepared for the European Commission on the operation of the EU Regulation No. 785/2004 on insurance. [55368/13]
View answerIt is a matter for the Irish Aviation Authority and the Commission for Aviation Regulation as to why they chose not to make a submission as part of the EU Commission consultation on the aviation insurance regulation no. 785/2004. I have referred the Deputy's question to these agencies for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
925. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the Dublin Tourism Office, which was run in the old church in St. Andrew's Street by Fáilte Ireland; the plans to replace the office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55407/13]
View answer926. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his policy on the tourism offices in Dublin for Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland, specifically at St. Andrew's Church, Dublin; the reason these services are being discontinued; whether there is now an emphasis being placed on private operators and tour guides as opposed to public bodies, such as those referred to; whether Fáilte Ireland will have to carry the burden of complaints of consumers using these private operators; to outline the relationship between Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourism Board; to outline any plans to develop tourism facilities in the area of Dublin City Hall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55410/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 925 and 926 together.
Fáilte Ireland operates an extensive network of Tourist Information Offices throughout the country. The day to day management of the offices, opening hours and locations are administrative matters for Fáilte Ireland. In keeping with general public service reforms, Fáilte Ireland is reconfiguring service delivery and reshaping its programmes. In this regard, Fáilte Ireland considers that the existing building in St Andrew's Church is no longer fit for purpose to serve a modern tourist information office and that it is too large for the number of staff it houses. Accordingly, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport recently authorised Fáilte Ireland to lease another building for use as a Tourist Information Office. Preparations are in hand to adapt this building and it is planned to open the new office later this year.
I have no role or function in the oversight of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board; Tourism Ireland is the North/South body responsible for the promotion of the island of Ireland overseas but has no role on the island of Ireland.
Private businesses are free to establish tourist information offices and centres and Fáilte Ireland have no regulatory role in that regard.
In relation to the area around City Hall in Dublin, Fáilte Ireland is developing a discovery trail, entitled "The Dubline" which aims to bring together all the cultural, business, community and public stakeholders along the route from Trinity College to Kilmainham to provide visitors to Dublin with a unique cultural experience. It is planned that the trail will include the provision of a dedicated visitor centre at Barnardo's square.
I have asked Fáilte Ireland to provide the deputy with more detailed information in relation to this project. Please contact my private office if you do not receive the information within ten working days.
927. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which agency staff have been used in his Department in each of the past five years and to date for the purpose of answering and transferring calls on the switch-desk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55441/13]
View answerThe National Council for the Blind has supplied visual impaired telephonists to the Department of Transport Tourism and Sport over the last five years mainly on a short term basis to cover for staff on sick leave. The extent to which the Department has used this service is set out below: -
2009 318 days
2010 28 days
2011 6 days
2012 17 days
2013 34 days.
928. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport noting that it is the intention of the National Transport Authority to pursue a cycling and walking greenway along the Royal Canal in Dublin city, if he will ask Iarnród Éireann, the Railway Procurement Agency and Dublin City Council to assess the viability of opening a new walkway along the Royal Canal, sixth level, from Shandon Gardens to the seventh lock with a new footbridge at the seventh lock railway crossing linking to the existing Greenway route; and if, in particular, this option will be explored alongside any re-lining work that might be undertaken by Waterways Ireland along that level. [55466/13]
View answerThe development of walking and cycling facilities within the Greater Dublin Area is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with the relevant local authority, which is Dublin City Council in this case.
The NTA provides funding to local authorities for a range of schemes to benefit pedestrians, including new walkways, under the Sustainable Transport Management Grants Programme. Accordingly, I have sent your request to the NTA and have asked them to reply to you directly in relation to the above matter.
929. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when traffic calming structures for the village of Templeglantine, County Limerick, will be put in place as a matter of road safety. [55486/13]
View answerI understand that the traffic calming measures being referred to by the Deputy are associated with the village of Inchabaun, which is a village located on the N21, rather than Templeglantine, which appears to be a townsland not located on a national or regional road.
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 (including traffic calming measures) 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 don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
930. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the exact involvement of a company (details supplied) in County Kildare in the roll-out of the new national driver licence service; the submissions the company made to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55503/13]
View answerFollowing a competitive procurement process, the Road Safety Authority awarded a contract for the front-office, customer service element of the National Driver Licensing Service to SGS Ireland Ltd. Neither I nor my Department had any involvement in the tendering process.
I have referred your question to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
931. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline his plans to proceed with the extension of the Luas service to Bray; when this plan was shelved and the reasons for same; the capital cost of such an extension to the service; if a cost-benefit analysis has been carried out on the extension of the service to Bray; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1011/14]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in December 2009, the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including Luas light rail projects, comes within the remit of the NTA.
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.
932. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details in tabular form by railway station of the amount of money collected in parking charges by Iarnród Éireann in 2011 and 2012; the pricing structure for car parking in each of the stations concerned; the proportion of the funds collected that have been used to refurbish stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1022/14]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
933. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for his views on a submission (details supplied) regarding train fares; if he has plans through any of the State agencies under his remit to address the issues raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1023/14]
View answer965. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address the concerns of commuters from County Kildare, where train fares have increased again; the reason for same; if he will explain how commuters can help to alleviate the additional costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1762/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 933 and 965 together.
I do not set public transport fares. It is the responsibility of the regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), to adjudicate on applications from the CIE companies and the Railway Procurement Agency for fare increases or changes to fares. I think it is important to point that heavy rail is very expensive to run and journeys by Irish Rail remain heavily subsidised while journeys by car, Luas or bike are not.
In our dealings with all companies, we have consistently emphasised that they must reduce costs ahead of future fare increases or service cuts. However, in the current environment, it is the case that fare increases will be inevitable if costs cannot be reduced sufficiently in order to maintain a reasonable level of service provision and protect our network. It is, however, important to point out that significant savings can be made by passengers who choose to avail of the integrated ticket, the Leap card. In many cases, passengers will be paying fares that are below 2011 cash fares when using the Leap card.
Notwithstanding the NTA's statutory responsibilities, the Government recognises the need for the CIÉ companies to respond to the challenge of reduced PSO subvention funding, reduced fares income arising from reductions in passenger numbers and increased costs, such as fuel costs, which are outside their control. It is important to remember that public transport remains heavily subsidised by the State and fares would be much higher if people had to bear the full cost of providing PSO services.
Over the past 18 months I have monitored the financial situation in CIÉ and the subsidiary companies, including Iarnród Éireann, to ensure a return to financial stability in order that they can continue to provide an essential service to the public. Iarnród Éireann has incurred accumulated losses of €130m in the past five years, a position which is unsustainable.
My Department and the NTA are working with Iarnród Éireann to increase the efficiency and attractiveness of existing rail services. The Government continues to provide substantial Exchequer investment in the rail network. Despite the reduced level of funding available, my Department has allocated over €150m towards the rail network this year. Investment in roads has been severely curtailed since 2009 and at current levels is less than what is required to maintain and protect our investment in the longer term.
In addition to safety related works, Iarnród Éireann is undertaking infrastructural works to improve journey times such as removing or upgrading level-crossings, providing automated ticketing machines, improving station facilities - all of which contribute to making the railway more competitive and attractive to passengers. As well as capital investment, Iarnród Éireann will also receive a total allocation of €117m in 2014 for Public Service Obligation (PSO) services. There have been reductions in subvention in recent years due to pressure on the public finances but I will be proposing that there be no further cuts to the PSO subvention from 2015.
Through the NTA, my Department is also funding the use of smart technology to make public transport easier to access and more reliable for the user. Significant progress has been made with the Leap card, Real Time Passenger Information, and the National Journey Planner which maps all public transport services across the country. The use of Wifi on trains and buses has also improved the transport experience. The NTA will continue to progress these consumer friendly initiatives which make using public transport more attractive. The public transport experience has improved significantly and that is where we must target our efforts in future. I hope that no further reductions in subvention, a stabilisation of passenger numbers as the economy improves and cost saving measures in Iarnród Éireann will mean that future fare increases can be minimised.
