Written Answers Nos. 699-721
699. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason section 10 of the Road Traffic Act 2014 was not included in the commencement order SI 147 of 2014 recently signed by him; when he expects to be in a position to commence section 10 and the remaining sections; and the actions that need to be taken to commence the remaining provisions of the 2014 Act. [16088/14]
View answerI am keen to see all sections of the Road Traffic Act 2014 commenced as quickly as possible. In the case of each of the sections which I have yet to commence, there is a certain amount of preparatory work to be done before they can be brought into effect. I am therefore not in a position at the present time to specify a date on which these remaining sections will be commenced. Section 10 makes numerous adjustments to the penalty points applied to existing offences and introduces new offences to the fixed charge notice/penalty points system. These changes and additions will require action by An Garda Síochána to update the PULSE system. I intend to commence the section as soon as An Garda Síochána is ready to implement it.
Section 6 provides for learners to undertake a minimum amount of logged accompanied driving experience before the driving test. Regulations are currently being drafted, and will be introduced in conjunction with this section. Once the regulations are ready, I intend to commence the section and introduce the regulations.
Sections 11, 12 and 13 are interconnected, and need to be commenced simultaneously. Guidelines for Garda members and medical practitioners on the taking of a specimen of blood from an incapacitated driver, in accordance with section 12, are currently in preparation. Once these guidelines are finalised, I will commence these three sections.
My Department will continue to liaise with the agencies concerned to ensure the earliest possible commencement of the outstanding section of the Act.
700. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Iompair, Turasóireachta agus Spóirt cén méid airgid a caitheadh in 2013 ar aistriú doiciméad ó Bhéarla go Gaeilge nó ó Ghaeilge go Béarla, agus ó theangacha eile go Béarla agus ó Bhéarla go teangacha eile, faoi seach; cad ba chaiteachas iomlán riaracháin na Roinne sa bhliain 2013; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [16144/14]
View answerTá an t-eolas atá á lorg ag an Teachta Dála le fáil ar an suíomh gréasáin de mo Roinn ag an nasc a leanas http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/expenditure-external-services.
Tá costais riartha na Roinne sa bhliain 2013 le fáil i Leabhar na Meastachán.
701. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the M17 road from Tuam to Claremorris; the length of time the land in the area will be left sterilised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16195/14]
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, such as the M17/M18 motorway project, 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
702. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for a four-month delay in processing a driver's licence from the National Driver Licence Service in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16199/14]
View answerThe operation of the National Driver Licensing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and I have no role in individual cases. I have therefore referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
703. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the numbers of applications he has received from counties Longford and Westmeath under the sports capital grant for the development of sporting or amenity projects in both counties; when an announcement will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16224/14]
View answer713. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the sports capital grants for 2014 will be announced and allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16399/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 703 and 713 together.
I intend to publish a list of all applications received under the 2014 Sports Capital Programme on the Department’s website in the near future. I hope to announce allocations later this year.
704. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he last met the chief executive officer and chairman of Iarnród Éireann; the issues discussed; and when he proposes to meet them next. [16260/14]
View answerThe last meeting I had with the CEO and Chairman of Iarnród Éireann was on the 14th January 2014. The following matters were discussed:
- General financial position
- Industrial relations
- Rosslare Port
- Revenue protection
- Marketing/Sales
- DART overcrowding
- 2% growth in passenger target for 2014
- Issues relating to car parking
- Phoenix Park tunnel
- DART underground
- Line Speed
I am due to meet the CEO again this week. The next meeting with the Chairman will be scheduled for June/July but it possible that we will meet before them given the circumstances
705. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to encourage the National Roads Authority to develop lay-bys on the M4 and other motorways for tired drivers to pull into a safe place and rest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16271/14]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding for the national roads programme. The provision of rest and service areas is a statutory matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007.
As the provision of rest areas on national roads is a matter for the NRA, I have referred the Deputy’s question concerning the M4 to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
706. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding a sports capital grant in respect of a club (details supplied) in County Cork; when the grant will be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16272/14]
View answerI can confirm that an application has been submitted under the 2014 Sports Capital Programme and the Deputy's support is noted. I hope to announce allocations later this year.
707. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will request the National Roads Authority to provide funding as a matter of priority, to extend the public lighting on a section of Ireland's premier tourist route, the Ring of Kerry (details supplied); if he will request the Road Safety Authority to examine this case immediately on health and safety grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16294/14]
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.
More specifically, the provision and maintenance of public lighting on national roads is a matter for the NRA and the relevant local authority, in this case, Kerry County Council.
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.
708. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress to date on the Sandycove to Sutton project in County Dublin; when it is expected to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16301/14]
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 development and implementation of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) comes within the remit of the NTA. The Sandycove to Sutton Cycle/Walkway is being funded under the NTA's Sustainable Transport Measures Grants Programme.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for a more detailed response. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
709. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to change the current road tax system for hauliers to bring it into line with other systems across Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16306/14]
View answerOne of my priorities for this year is to examine the feasibility of introducing a pay-as-you-go road tax system for HGVs in Ireland. For this purpose, I have established a cross-Departmental working group, following consultation with my colleague Phil Hogan, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. The group is currently considering the many, wide-ranging aspects of this issue and is due to report to Government by the middle of this year with its recommendations. In the meantime, any reform of the existing motor tax regime is a matter for Minister Hogan.
710. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if every effort is being made by his Department to support Aer Lingus workers and pensioners affected by the ongoing dispute in relation to the Irish aviation superannuation scheme. [16377/14]
View answerI have no formal function in relation to the resolution of the funding difficulties of the Irish Aviation Superannuation Scheme. This 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 Authority.
An Expert Panel was appointed on 3 March following consultations between my Department and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation with Ibec and ICTU. The Panel was asked to carry out an investigation of how a final resolution of the industrial relations issues with the IAS Scheme can be secured. On Monday last, the Panel made a preliminary report to the two Departments, Ibec and ICTU.
The Panel has held a series of meetings with all the relevant parties and has identified a number of critical issues that it believes should now be jointly explored, so as to deepen its understanding of the scope for progress between the parties. Intensive discussions on these issues are already underway and the Panel will report back by 14 April.
As I have stated repeatedly, there will need to be burden sharing between the parties, with contributions being made by the members of the scheme and the companies.
711. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the motorway from Mullingar to Rooskey in County Longford will be constructed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16397/14]
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. The scale of the reductions in the allocations to the NRA under the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Framework 2012-2016 means that I do not expect any major new projects directly funded by the Exchequer to commence construction in next few years.
As I indicated at the start of the year, the key priority for this year is the protection of the existing investment in road infrastructure as against major new expenditure on road building.
712. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider providing a capital grant for the upgrading of the N55 route between Granard, County Longford and Ballykiernan, County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16398/14]
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, such as the N55 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.
714. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the most recent traffic statistics survey undertaken on the N4 route between Mullingar and Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16400/14]
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, including the N4 is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
I have therefore referred the matter to the NRA for directly reply. Please contact my office if you do not receive a response within 10 days.
715. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the tourist potential of the Corlea archaeological settlement and biodiversity project at Keenagh, County Longford, which includes the existing facility at Corlea visitors centre that presents and interprets an iron age bog road built in the year 148 BC across the boglands to the River Shannon; as this trackway is the largest of its kind to have been uncovered in Europe, if he will facilitate the marketing of this tourism facility in all national and international tourism brochures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16401/14]
View answerI have no direct role in this matter. These are decisions for Tourism Ireland Limited (as the body responsible for promoting the island of Ireland as a visitor destination overseas) and Fáilte Ireland and are not subject to my approval. I have referred the Deputy's Question to both Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive replies within ten working days.
716. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there any exemptions for hearses from parking restrictions here similar to those in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16403/14]
View answerThere are no exemptions in regard to parking, or any other road traffic matters, for hearses under the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations.
I have no plans to make any changes in this regard.
717. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the extension of the city bikes scheme to counties Cork, Galway and Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16437/14]
View answerMy Department along with the National Transport Authority has made significant progress on finalising proposals for the provision of public bikes schemes in Limerick, Cork and Galway. The NTA has recently undertaken a tender competition for the supply, installation, operation and maintenance of bike share schemes in those cities. Tenders sought from five shortlisted candidates were received by the NTA in February of this year. The assessment of the tenders is due to be concluded shortly. It is anticipated that construction of the bike schemes will commence shortly thereafter with the schemes becoming operational later this year. Funding to meet the capital investment costs of public bikes in other cities has been identified within the 5-year capital allocation for Smarter Travel and Carbon Reduction Measures announced in 2012. The delivery of the Regional Cities Bike Scheme was also dependent on a separate process to explore the potential for a sponsorship contract to defray some of the costs associated with the introduction of the Scheme. I was delighted to be able to report last September that Coca Cola emerged as the successful sponsor for the Scheme.
The vision behind the Scheme is to develop an environmentally friendly means of public transport that is healthy, relatively inexpensive and will ensure an improved quality of life in each city’s natural and built environment. Public bike schemes have the potential to enhance the city centres and provide a significant boost to the development of a cycling culture. They also add to the tourism offering in those cities.
718. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total number of passengers who were carried on each of the public service obligation, PSO, air services to counties Kerry and Donegal airports in 2013 or the most recent year for which data are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16439/14]
View answerIn 2013, a total of 21,404 passengers were carried on the Donegal/Dublin PSO air service, representing over 63% of the total number of passengers travelling through Donegal Airport. In the same year, a total of 32,768 passengers were carried on the Kerry/Dublin PSO air service representing just over 10.5% of the total number of passengers travelling through Kerry Airport.
The current Public Service Obligation (PSO) contracts for the two routes end 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 and must also comply with the revised EU Guidelines on State-Aid, which were adopted by the Commission on 20 February 2014.
It is intended that a PSO tender competition for the Donegal/Dublin and Kerry/Dublin routes will be organised for 2015. As the Deputy appreciates, my Department cannot write a blank cheque and the final decision on whether or not to maintain PSO supports will only be taken when the outcome of the tender process is known.
There is only a limited budget of some €12m per annum available for the Regional Airports Programme post-2014, with an average cost per annum for the two PSO routes from Kerry and Donegal of over €7.5m, based on existing figures. Best use of that limited budget must be made in the context of maintaining and developing the four regional airports – Donegal, IWA Knock, Kerry and Waterford.
719. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on an issue regarding a local bus company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16449/14]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for CIE and the company concerned and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to CIE for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
720. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will request the National Roads Authority and the Road Safety Authority to immediately investigate and improve the exit from Iveragh Park, Killorglin, County Kerry onto the Ring of Kerry road; if he will take into consideration the fact that there are a large number of residents living in this estate and the fact that sight distance is severely restricted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16477/14]
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.
721. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will respond to research (details supplied) and in particular to the allegation that road safety advice on stopping distances is not supported by evidence and is inadequate. [16507/14]
View answerOne of the key functions of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is the undertaking of road safety research in order to develop measures and recommendations to improve road safety.
Accordingly, I have referred the question to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply is not received within ten days.
