Michael McNamara
Question:232. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a list of bodies to which he has the authority to appoint board members. [7023/14]
View answerMinisterial Appointments
Questions (232)
Written answers
A list of the bodies to which I have the authority to appoint some or all of the board members is available on my Department's website at the following link:http://www.dttas.ie/sites/default/files/content/corporate/english/general/state-board-membership-and-approved-fees/20140130-report-state-boards.pdf.
Local Authority Functions
Questions (233)
Kevin Humphreys
Question:233. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a list of all specific new powers or functions conferred on local authorities by legislation under his area since June 2009 and a reference to the specific section or regulation in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7038/14]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the Deputy regarding the powers or functions conferred on Local Authorities by legislation since June 2009 is available in the table.
Powers or functions conferred on Local Authorities
S.I. No. 472/2011 - European Communities (Road Infrastructure Safety Management) Regulations 2011.
These Regulations give effect to Directive 2008/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on road infrastructure safety management.
|
New power or function conferred on local authorities under S.I. 472/2011 |
Specific regulation in S.I. 472/2011 |
|
The Authority (NRA) may give a direction in writing to a road authority in relation to any matter arising under these Regulations or the Directive and a road authority issued with such a direction shall comply with same. |
Regulation 3(1) |
|
Any person or body (i.e. including a road authority) carrying out activities covered by these Regulations or the Directive shall ensure that those activities are carried out in accordance with guidelines issued by the Authority (NRA). |
Regulation 3(11) |
|
Any person or body (i.e. including a road authority) undertaking an infrastructure project shall ensure that a road safety impact assessment is carried out for that project, in accordance with guidelines issued by the Authority (NRA) |
Regulation 4(1) |
|
Any person or body (i.e. including a road authority) undertaking an infrastructure project shall ensure that – (a) a road safety audit is carried out for that project , in accordance with guidelines issued by the Authority; (b) road safety audits form an integral part of the design process of the infrastructure project at the stage of draft design, detailed design, pre-opening and early operation, and (c) an audit report is produced setting out - (i) safety critical design elements for each stage of the infrastructure project, and (ii) relevant recommendations from a safety point of view. |
Regulation 5(1) |
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Any person or body (i.e. including a road authority) undertaking roadworks shall ensure that any temporary safety measures applying to roadworks are in accordance with guidelines issued by the Authority (NRA). Appropriate signs, warning road users of roads undergoing repairs, shall be put in place by those (i.e. including a road authority) carrying out the said repairs. Where designated by an inspection scheme published by the Authority, a person or body (i.e. including a road authority) shall carry out inspections of roadworks in accordance with that inspection scheme and in accordance with guidelines issued by the Authority. |
Regulation 9(1), 9(2), 9(4) |
Road Traffic Act 2002
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New power or function conferred on local authorities |
Section of the Act |
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Power to decide the location of bus stops |
Section 16 of the Road Traffic Act 2002 which commenced on 1st February 2013 |
Driver Licences
Questions (234)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:234. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan who was married in Rome can have their driving licence renewed to reflect their change of name; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7048/14]
View answerWritten answers
The overall requirements related to the registering of a person's name by the State is not of itself a matter for my Department. I shall therefore confine myself to the requirements for the driving licence.
Irish law allows drivers to change their surname on driving licences following marriage provided they produce evidence of a marriage in this jurisdiction or in the UK. In cases where the marriage took place in any other jurisdiction, a passport or Irish travel document will be accepted as evidence of a change of name. If an individual correctly re-registers his or her name with the State, the National Driving Licence Service will therefore be able to issue a licence under the new name.
Road Improvement Schemes
Questions (235)
Seán Fleming
Question:235. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will make funding available under the local improvement scheme to local authorities in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7080/14]
View answerWritten answers
On 23 January 2014, I announced details of the €332.9 million investment programme for regional and local roads. I can confirm that the Local Improvement Scheme remains in place for 2014; however there is no separate allocation available towards this grant category. Instead local authorities may use up to 15% of their initial Discretionary Grant (up from 7% in 2013) towards local improvement schemes should they wish to do so. Some local authorities want the LIS, others prefer to put the money into public roads. I think this decision is best made locally by the councillors themselves.
The total grant to local authorities for Discretionary Grant was €70m for 2014. The table below sets out the amount allocated to each local authority under this grant as well as the maximum permissible spend from this heading on local improvement schemes.
|
County Councils € |
Discretionary Grant |
Available for Local Improvement Schemes (15% of Discretionary) |
|
CARLOW |
€ 882,900 |
€ 132,435 |
|
CAVAN |
€ 2,030,550 |
€ 304,583 |
|
CLARE |
€ 3,081,100 |
€ 462,165 |
|
CORK |
€ 9,128,050 |
€ 1,369,208 |
|
DONEGAL |
€ 4,503,150 |
€ 675,473 |
|
DUNLAOGHAIRE - RATHDOWN |
€ 1,012,600 |
€ 151,890 |
|
FINGAL |
€ 1,095,000 |
€ 164,250 |
|
GALWAY |
€ 4,807,000 |
€ 721,050 |
|
KERRY |
€ 3,264,800 |
€ 489,720 |
|
KILDARE |
€ 2,105,650 |
€ 315,848 |
|
KILKENNY |
€ 2,282,000 |
€ 342,300 |
|
LAOIS |
€ 1,558,600 |
€ 233,790 |
|
LEITRIM |
€ 1,596,300 |
€ 239,445 |
|
LIMERICK |
€ 2,594,000 |
€ 389,100 |
|
LONGFORD |
€ 1,136,050 |
€ 170,408 |
|
LOUTH |
€ 1,032,250 |
€ 154,838 |
|
MAYO |
€ 4,620,600 |
€ 693,090 |
|
MEATH |
€ 2,954,400 |
€ 443,160 |
|
MONAGHAN |
€ 1,708,750 |
€ 256,313 |
|
NORTH TIPPERARY |
€ 1,902,400 |
€ 285,360 |
|
OFFALY |
€ 1,517,950 |
€ 227,693 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
€ 2,862,500 |
€ 429,375 |
|
SLIGO |
€ 1,863,650 |
€ 279,548 |
|
SOUTH DUBLIN |
€ 836,900 |
€ 125,535 |
|
SOUTH TIPPERARY |
€ 2,073,500 |
€ 311,025 |
|
WATERFORD |
€ 2,006,350 |
€ 300,953 |
|
WESTMEATH |
€ 1,552,800 |
€ 232,920 |
|
WEXFORD |
€ 2,528,400 |
€ 379,260 |
|
WICKLOW |
€ 1,461,800 |
€ 219,270 |
|
TOTAL |
€ 70,000,000 |
€ 10,500,000 |
The local contribution for these schemes remains at 20% of the total cost of the project. The same eligibility rules apply for these schemes.
Public Service Obligation Services
Questions (236)
Tom Fleming
Question:236. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ensure that the public service obligation for Dublin Airport to Kerry Airport is renewed in November when the current PSO expires in view of the fact that this renewal of PSO is crucial for the economic future of County Kerry with regard to tourism, business and all economic activity in the county Kerry and the general south west region. [7091/14]
View answerWritten answers
The current Public Service Obligation (PSO) Air Services Scheme, which includes the Kerry - Dublin route, ends in November this year. The policy on regional airports post-2014 is currently being developed in my Department. This policy will reflect the recommendations arising out of the recently published IWA Knock Study Group, which are being incorporated into the draft National Aviation Policy. This future policy will also have to comply with the revised EU Guidelines on State Aid once they are finalised. No decisions have been made in respect of future PSO supports for the Kerry - Dublin or any other route at this stage.
Public Service Obligation Services
Questions (237)
Terence Flanagan
Question:237. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the privatisation of bus routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7116/14]
View answerWritten answers
The direct award contracts for the provision of Public Service Obligation (PSO) bus market services held by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann expire later this year. The awarding of subsequent contracts is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA). On the 5th of December last, in accordance with the provisions of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the NTA announced that about 10% of publicly subvented (PSO) bus services will be tendered out with the new services commencing in the summer of 2016.
The objective of Government is to ensure a system of public transport throughout the country that is as efficient and as widespread as possible. It must be recognised that the tendering decisions announced by the NTA are relatively modest and there will be a long-lead in before they take effect. Furthermore, it is open to the two incumbent companies (Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann) to compete for any tendered routes.