Written Answers Nos. 348-360
349. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department offers grant aid for monuments or statues honouring Irish sporting greats; if not, if he will consider such a fund; the current funding avenues that are available to communities hoping to erect statues or monuments honouring their sporting greats; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1951/14]
View answerMy Department does not have a fund to provide grant-aid for monuments or statues and I have no proposal to initiate one. The grant-aid available through the Sports Capital Programme, a new round of which has recently been announced, is focused on the development of sports facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment, with a particular emphasis on increasing participation in sport throughout the country.
350. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if grant aid will be provided for the development of a greenway from Glenbeigh to Caherciveen and Renard in south Kerry along the route of the old Farranfore to Valentia Great Southern Railway line; if he appreciates the potential of such a development in view of the breathtaking scenery and engineering features such as viaducts, tunnels and bridges; when he expects a decision to be made on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1955/14]
View answer351. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if grant aid will be provided for the development of a greenway from Tralee to Fenit along the route of the old railway line; if he appreciates the potential of such a development in view of the fact the line to Mounthawk from Tralee town centre has already been completed; when he expects a decision to be made on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1956/14]
View answer352. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if grant aid will be provided for the development of a greenway from Listowel to Kilmorna along the route of the old Great Southern Railway line; if he appreciates the potential of such a development in view of the fact the proposed greenway would then link up with the greenway already completed from Rathkeale to the Limerick and Kerry border; when he expects a decision to be made on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1957/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 350 to 352, inclusive, together.
In August 2013, my Department announced a second round of funding for cycle infrastructure under the National Cycle Network Programme and the closing date for applications was 15 November. It is intended that approx. €6.5 million will be allocated to local authorities for the development of such infrastructure over the period 2014 to 2016.
Kerry County Council submitted two applications for greenway projects under the Programme. The applications relate to a proposal for a greenway from Glenbeigh to Renard Point, Caherciveen as well as a proposal for a greenway on the North Kerry Line, a 9km extension of the 39 km Great Southern Trail between the Kerry/Limerick border to Listowel.
In total, my Department has received thirty-eight applications from twenty-eight local authorities. All proposals are currently being assessed by an expert panel comprising of officials from my Department, the National Transport Authority, the National Trails Office and Fáilte Ireland. It is expected that successful projects will be announced in the coming weeks.
Given the funding available, I expect that only 2 or 3 projects, or phases of projects, will be funded. Kerry County Council's applications will be assessed as part of the overall competitive process and will be measured against the criteria outlined in the funding call in August 2013. Priority will be given to those projects with most potential to become world class, trip attracting cycle ways.
353. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the Adare bypass; the action being taken to help progress this much-needed road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1958/14]
View answerThe planning, design and 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.
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.
354. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of quangos, State agencies or organisations under the remit of his Department that have been merged, reformed or abolished since 2011; the details of each of these measures in tabular form; the cost saving or service delivery improvement which has resulted; how many more he expects to be merged, reformed or abolished and the timeline for same; if he will provide a full list of all agencies and organisations under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1984/14]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in my reply to Dáil Question 418 of the 19th December 2013. The only update since then is that Bantry Bay Harbour Commissioners were amalgamated into Cork Port Company on 1st January 2014.
It is not possible to quantify the savings from rationalisation until the detailed arrangements in respect of each implementation have been bedded in and assessed by the agencies in question.
356. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the case being taken by taxi drivers regarding the deregulation of the taxi industry a number of years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2017/14]
View answerA large number of individual claims have been made to the High Court arising from an October 2000 High Court judgement and the subsequent regulations that provided for the liberalisation of access to taxi licences, and the manner in which the taxi industry was regulated from 1963. The cases proceeded on the basis of a number of test cases and the High Court hearing took place between 29 October and 18 December 2013 with judgement reserved. The decision of the Court is awaited.
357. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on media reports regarding his plan to stop taxi drivers advertising on taxi cars and vans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2018/14]
View answerThe regulation of the taxi industry is the responsibility of the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009.
The Taxi Regulation Act, 2013 was signed into law on the 23rd of October 2013 and while the majority of the provisions in the Act have yet to come into operation, the NTA has prepared draft regulations that will consolidate and replace the existing regulations, in addition to some new regulations. The draft regulations, including provisions relating to the prohibition on advertising on small public service vehicles (SPSVs) from 2015, are the subject of a public consultation that will conclude on the 31st of January 2014.
I have referred your Question to the NTA for direct response. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days please contact my private office.
358. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the assistance that will be made available to reinstate county and non-county roads following the recent storms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2059/14]
View answerAt Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, the Government considered a preliminary report on the damage caused to all public infrastructure, including roads and rail with an initial estimate of the cost of the damage. Local authorities will now prepare a full assessment of the work that needs to be done together with detailed cost estimates. This will be co-ordinated by the Department of the Environment. The detailed assessment and the action required will then be considered by Government.
In the coming weeks, I will allocate state road grants to local authorities for the local and regional roads under their authority. Local authorities are free to use this money to repair roads damaged by the recent storms.
359. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current procedure in Irish Rail for notifying passengers regarding delays; the steps that are being taken to improve communication with customers regarding delays to their journeys; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2091/14]
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.
360. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of each allocation from his Department’s expenditure budget to registered charities in each of the past three years. [2108/14]
View answerThe funding of Irish Charities is not a function of my Department. However through the Sports Capital Programme, funding is provided to sports, voluntary and community organisations, some of which would have charitable status, to assist with the provision of sports infrastructure and towards the purchase of sports equipment. My Department also provides grants to some organisations such as the Community Rescue Boats, Irish Cave Rescue and Mountain Rescue Ireland which includes various regional Mountain Rescue Teams, which are all registered charities and are run on a voluntary basis.
