Thursday, 10 Apr 2014

Written Answers Nos. 227-233

Rail Network Expansion

Questions (227)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

227. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will describe the business case for the DART underground project at this stage; if he will specifically indicate in his reply the net cost to the Exchequer of advancing the project bearing in mind private funding sources, European funding sources, the savings on social welfare assistance and income tax revenue from employment created by the project; the income in fares into the long-term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17072/14]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I have recently instructed the National Transport  Authority (NTA) to make arrangements to update the existing 2010 business case for DART Underground. I made this request as a result of  a  recent High Court Judgement on the DART Underground Railway Order which ruled that the period for serving Notices to Treat for the purpose of compulsory purchase of property under the Order should be 18 months rather than the 7 years set out in the Railway Order.  This  means that a decision on whether  to proceed with DART Underground under the current Railway Order must be made by September 2015.

The 2010 business case is out of date. The NTA will ensure that the new business case is based on the latest data as regards population, transport demand, construction costs etc and meets all the requirements of the revised public sector code for capital projects which was published last year.   I have also asked the NTA to review funding options. As is the case with any major expenditure, the opportunity cost must also be considered. This is the cost of not using the money to do something else such as other transport investments in the Greater Dublin Area and around the country, school building, investment in health care facilities and loss of potential employment, revenue, social welfare savings, etc.

It should be noted that a loan, be it from European bodies such as the European Investment Bank or from domestic or international financial institutions must be repaid by the Exchequer with interest and it is added to government debt . Similarly private funding options in the form of a traditional Public Private Partnership impose significant long-term liabilities on the Exchequer or on users. The Deputy will appreciate this from her interest in other PPP projects such as the Limerick Port Tunnel and the M3 motorway.

I expect to have a detailed report from the NTA later this year and will then consider the options for the project  having regard to the outcome of the business case review, cost and  affordability, possible external funding sources and the outcome of the Governments review of the medium term capital envelope to 2020 which is commencing.

The 2010 business case is available on the NTA website.

Road Traffic Offences

Questions (228)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

228. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when will on-the-spot fines be enforced for cyclists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17077/14]

Written answers

Road Network

Questions (229)

Michael McGrath

Question:

229. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of financial support that has been provided by his Department thus far on the compulsory purchase order process in respect of a planned road (details supplied) in County Cork; if he will confirm any further financial commitments his Department has made to the completion of the CPO process and the construction of the road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17083/14]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads, such as the Carrigaline Western Relief Road, in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993.  Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants.   

My Department did give a commitment in 2010 to contribute a maximum of €3.7 million of the estimated land acquisition costs of €7.4 million or 50% of the cost whichever is the lesser and this is being honoured. 

Due to the need to focus the limited funding available on the repair and strengthening of the road network, it has been necessary to curtail the Strategic Roads Grants Scheme for the moment and there is no commitment in place to provide grant funding towards the cost of construction.

It is important to reiterate that the role of Exchequer grants for regional and local roads is to supplement the resources of Councils. It is, therefore, open to the Council to fund this project from its own resources.

Bus Éireann Staff

Questions (230, 231)

John O'Mahony

Question:

230. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Bus Éireann has clear and unambiguous written anti-corruption policies and procedures in place, implemented by top level management and communicated fully throughout the organisation by way of appropriate induction and training for directors, managers and employees to ensure they understand the full extent of the anti-corruption programme and the sanctions for violation to ensure compliance with the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Criminal Justice Act 2011; if will he make it available; if not the action will he take on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17146/14]

John O'Mahony

Question:

231. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Bus Éireann has a written policy to communicate anti-corruption policies and requirements externally to legal entities with which the organisation does business; if so, if he will make it available; if not, the action he will take on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17147/14]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 231 together.

The issues raised are matters for Bus Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the company for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Road Network

Questions (232)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

232. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he plans to allocate funding towards the development of Fintra bridge in County Donegal in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17247/14]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993.  Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants.   

The Specific Improvement Grants Scheme is being curtailed from 2014 onward in order to maximise the funding available for repair and strengthening work.  In lieu of the Specific Improvement Grant Programme, applications were sought for minor bridge repair works (which is a subset of the current Specific Grant Programme) for 2014. Donegal County Council applied for funding for eight projects under this grant category and Fintra bridge was not among the Council's applications for funding.

It is also important to re-iterate that the role of Exchequer grants for regional and local roads is to supplement Councils like Donegal County Council in their own resources spending in this area. 

Question No. 233 answered with Question No. 223.