Written Answers Nos. 498-512
498. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the Office of Public Works will complete their review of the feasibility study in respect of the proposed swimming pool to be constructed in County Offaly (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10940/14]
View answerThe current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme was closed to new applicants on 31 July 2000. Since 2000, 58 projects have or are being dealt with under the Programme, of which 49 have been completed and the other 9 projects are at various stages of the Programme. The proposed development in Edenderry is one of those nine projects.
There are four stages in the development of a project under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, namely, Preliminary Report stage, Contract Documents stage, Tender Documents stage and Formal Allocation given. The proposed project in Edenderry is at Preliminary Report stage. The Department and the OPW have considered the feasibility report submitted and the Department has contacted Offaly County Council seeking clarification regarding some elements of the report.
499. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will publish the review of Ireland’s tourism policy which was commenced in September 2013. [11005/14]
View answerThe Tourism Policy Review was launched on 11th September 2013 by Minister Ring and me, with the publication of an issues paper and request for submissions. A total of 174 submissions were received from a wide variety of interested parties.
In addition to inviting submissions, Minister Ring and I carried out a series of workshops around the country, with regional and national tourism stakeholders, which were completed in the last quarter of 2013. These workshops allowed a more focused discussion of the issues raised in our discussion document.
Reflecting the diverse nature of tourism itself, a wide range of issues have emerged from the consultation. The views raised and other relevant evidence and analysis are currently being considered within my Department. Drafting of the new policy will commence in the coming weeks, with a view to finalising it in the first half of the year.
500. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to provide additional capacity or alternative means of joining the N11/M50 for the commuters from Wicklow to Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10202/14]
View answerAs 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 don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
501. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the progress being made in making provision of a third lane on the M7 motorway from M7 Naas North Junction 9 to M7/M9 merge Junction 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10203/14]
View answerAs 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.
502. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the maintenance costs associated with the motorway system in 2013; the total revenue raised from tolls on our motorways for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10204/14]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The maintenance of individual sections of national roads (including motorways) is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
The implementation of individual national road schemes which provide for tolling, is also a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2007. Moreover, the statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads is very specifically vested in the NRA under Part V of the Roads Act, 1993 (as amended).
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.
503. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has had any recent contact with his Northern Ireland counterpart on the matter of upgrading the Dublin/Belfast railway line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10205/14]
View answerI have met Ministers from the Northern Ireland administration on a number of occasions, under the auspices of the North South Ministerial Council to discuss matters of mutual interest, including the development of the Dublin-Belfast service. The next meeting is scheduled to take place on 16 April 2014 and I anticipate that, in line with previous meetings, matters relating to the Dublin-Belfast rail line will be discussed.
The Dublin-Belfast rail line is one of the key rail lines on the island of Ireland as it links Ireland's two largest conurbations. Following the decision not to allocate INTERREG co-funding to the Narrow Water Bridge project, officials in both administrations, together with the Special European Programmes Body, have been working to identify suitable replacement projects, including on the Dublin-Belfast rail line, to ensure that the INTERREG funding involved is not lost to the island.
504. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of times he has met the CIÉ board, the Dublin Bus board, the Iarnród Éireann board and the Bus Éireann board this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10206/14]
View answerI have periodic meetings with the CEO and Chairman of the CIE and the three subsidiary companies. I do not attend board meetings. I have the objective of meeting the full Boards of CIÉ and its subsidiaries at least once a year, where practical.
I met with the Bus Éireann Board on the 17th January 2014. I have not yet scheduled meetings with the CIÉ, Dublin Bus or Iarnród Éireann boards in 2014.
505. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing delays for driving licence applicants; and the action he is taking to remove such delays. [10334/14]
View answerYes. The National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). The NDLS is structured with a central unit in the RSA and three outsourced contractors. These are: a card producer for the plastic card licence; a front office to engage with the public; and a back office to process applications.
There were problems with the speed of processing applications in the NDLS when the system came on stream last October. I have had regular discussions with the acting CEO of the RSA regarding the difficulties people have experienced, and how the RSA proposed to address them. The RSA acknowledged that there were teething problems when the service opened. Some were technical and systems issues, while others related to new staff becoming familiar with rules and processes around driving licences and permits.
The RSA responded by increasing resources in NDLS centres experiencing delays, as well as in the licence processing centre, and providing further training to staff. There are no major technical difficulties now affecting the service. A booking system to allow for customers to make appointments has been operating in a Pilot Phase which was successful. This system is now being extended on a phased basis to all NDLS offices.
While I understand that there are still some backlogs in relation to applications, the situation has improved. I have been informed that licence applications that are fully and correctly completed are being issued in a shorter timeframe than previously and work is continuing to achieve a ten-day turnaround currently, and a five- to eight-day turnaround by the end of March. The RSA has assured me that the remaining backlog largely has been cleared.
506. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm that the lowest Dublin Bus fare has gone up by around 56% from 2011 over the past three years; the way this will encourage an increase in public transport use and help with traffic congestion which is chronic in Dublin city centre; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the increasing bus fares is causing a financial burden on bus users; his policy on improving Dublin's public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10335/14]
View answerI do not set public transport fares. It is the responsibility of the regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), to adjudicate on applications from Dublin Bus for fare increases or changes to fares. 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 10 working days.
The NTA approved a range of fare increases in respect of the CIÉ companies and Luas which took effect on 1st December 2013 for cash, Leap and pre-paid fares. Annual and monthly tax-saver fares were increased from 1st November. It is 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 when using the Leap card, passengers will be paying fares that are below 2011 cash fares.
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 higher fuel costs, which are outside their control. The board of CIÉ is pursuing a range of measures to address the financial position, including payroll and other cost reductions across the three operating companies. Improved bank facilities have been agreed, which will ensure that the company has sufficient funding into the future.
For the three years 2011 to 2013, the total State support for Dublin Bus for PSO, capital support and support to cover the cost of free travel was €335 million. A further €110 million is being provided across the three headings in 2014. The Exchequer, through the NTA, has provided funding for a rolling renewal programme for the PSO bus fleet. The 2013 allocation for this programme in Dublin Bus was €28m, resulting in the purchase of 80 new buses. Further funding of €20 million is being made available in 2014 for bus replacement and refurbishment. Bus is still the key public transport mode and it is important we have a reliable and efficient fleet with a reasonable average age.
Through the NTA, my Department is 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 Wi-Fi on 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 through avoidance of further reductions in subvention, a stabilisation of passenger numbers as the economy improves and cost-saving measures in Dublin Bus that future fare increases can be targeted at sustaining public transport that benefits commuters and our economy.
I have set as one of my Department's priorities for 2014 to work with all transport operators, including Dublin Bus, to increase the number of people using public transport by 2% i.e. 5 million passenger journeys. Minister of State Kelly and I will be meeting regularly with senior management in all of the publicly funded transport companies and the NTA to focus efforts to improve patronage on our buses, trams and trains.
507. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review the current situation whereby a taxi cannot act as a taxi if the vehicle is older than 15 years, while no such rule exists for buses or other public services vehicles; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this causes huge financial hardship for taxi drivers who own safe and roadworthy vehicles as it is an unfair and discriminatory ruling which has driven full time taxi drivers out of their own taxis and into the unregulated rented market, or even worse, into unemployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10400/14]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of the taxi industry, including vehicle standards, under the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act, 2009.
I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply. If you do not receive a reply within ten working days please notify my private office.
508. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will launch a new local authority swimming pool programme; when he will announce details of same; the bodies that will be in a position to apply for such funding; the format the programme is expected to take; if there will be an opportunity for towns such as Carrickmacross, County Monaghan to apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10430/14]
View answerThe current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme was closed to new applicants on 31 July 2000.
Since 2000, 58 projects have or are being dealt with under the Programme, of which 49 have been completed and the other 9 projects are at various stages of the Programme.
No decision has been taken on any new round of the Programme. If the Programme re-opens it would be open to each Local Authority, including Monaghan County Council on behalf of Carrickmacross, to submit an application under the terms that would apply at that time.
509. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will change the regulations requiring the testing of trucks and trailers that are currently off the road and have been certified as being off the road for road tax purposes, resulting in an increasing the financial burden on already hard pressed hauliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10506/14]
View answerIn accordance with EU Directive 2009/40/EC, the minimum requirement for roadworthiness testing of commercial trucks and trailers is that a roadworthiness test is undertaken annually from date of first registration. Vehicles which are temporarily not in use can deteriorate during the period while they are off the road and, in the interest of road safety, I have no proposals to introduce an "off the road" derogation system similar to that recently introduced for motor taxation.
The period of validity of a certificate of roadworthiness (CRW) is calculated by reference to the last test due date. In cases where a vehicle is overdue its test by more than one year and is presented for testing, current Regulations provide that the period of validity for the CRW shall be either 6 months falling after the testing date or a period of validity determined by reference to the date of the anniversary of the test due date whichever is earlier. This change was introduced so as to ensure that an operator who does not test the vehicle by the due date does not gain any economic advantage over an operator who tested their vehicle annually in accordance with the legal requirements and I have no proposals to amend the current testing requirements.
510. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the postal service was not developed as the provider of the drivers licence service in view of their excellent record on the passport service. [10511/14]
View answerThe operation of the National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). As such, the RSA designed the new NDLS and was responsible for the tendering process for outside contractors. Neither I nor my Department had any role in this process. I have therefore referred this 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.
511. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a list of the current directors of Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company; the date their appointment commenced; the period of time each director has been appointed to serve as per each warrant of appointments approved by him; and if he will set out the remuneration package in each case. [10535/14]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is available on my Department’s website at the following link http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/state-board-membership-and-approved-fees
512. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will implement changes to the leap card system in order that those who lose or damage a leap card can get a replacement; if he will amend the online system so that credit purchased online is immediately credited to the customers account rather than the present system of 24 hour delay. [10544/14]
View answerResponsibility 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 DTA Act 2008 extends the Authority’s remit in relation to integrated ticketing to the rest of the State.
Noting the NTA's responsibility regarding the issues raised, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
513. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will meet with representatives of the retired aviation staff association as a matter of urgency, to discuss the IASS pension scheme and the fact that these pensioners are being faced with a reduction in their benefits. [10545/14]
View answerAs Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport I have no function in relation to the administration of the IASS. The resolution of the funding difficulties in the scheme, which has a substantial and unsustainable deficit of over €700 million, is primarily a matter for the trustees, the members of the scheme, the companies participating in the scheme and the regulator of such pension schemes - the Pensions Board.
The trustees of the scheme, who are central to any solution to the funding difficulties, are required by law to act in the best interests of all members. On that basis the trustees have to take account of the interests of pensioner members in any proposals they make.
The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has recently stated that it is actively considering issues in relation to the provision of access to former employees, including retired workers, to the industrial relations machinery of the State under the Industrial Relations Acts.
In these circumstances it would not be appropriate for me to meet with representatives of the Retired Aviation Staff Association.
However, as the Deputy will be aware, an Expert Panel has been established to carry out a detailed investigation of how a final resolution of the industrial relations issues relating to the IASS can be secured. That investigation will include discussions with relevant stakeholders and has been asked to make a preliminary report by the end of March.
514. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the proposed bilateral agreement between Ireland and Canada in relation to recognition of driving licences in both countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10576/14]
View answerNegotiations on agreements for mutual exchange of driving licences are handled by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), which is the national driver licensing authority. Negotiations have been under way for some time with the authorities in Canada. As driver licensing in Canada operates at provincial rather than national level, this process involves comparison of multiple licensing regimes with the Irish driver licensing regime, in order to ensure compatibility. It will mean reaching separate agreements with individual provinces, rather than a single bilateral agreement with Canada. Inevitably, this is a longer process than a simple bilateral agreement.
I understand from the RSA that substantial progress has been made with the provinces of Ontario, Manitoba, and Newfoundland & Labrador and I expect to see the first agreement signed within the next few weeks. I will give legal effect to the agreements soon after they are signed through Statutory Instruments.
