Written Answers Nos. 948-964
948. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if due to significant demand, a regular and efficient bus service between the areas of Maynooth and Clane can be facilitated with particular reference to servicing the Smithstown-Rathcoffey area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19254/14]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and 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 ten working days.
949. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the engagement he has had to date with the Dublin Airport Authority to ensure the viability of Cork Airport in view of the fact that US multinationals continue to establish themselves in and grow in the Cork area; his views on the absence of transatlantic flights from Cork which could possibly impede the ongoing recovery of the southern economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19298/14]
View answerBoth Dublin and Cork Airports are owned and managed by the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) which operates under a clear commercial mandate. The promotion and development of routes at Cork Airport, including transatlantic routes, is a matter for the DAA and the airport management at Cork and is not one in which I have a direct role. That said, I do appreciate the importance of improved air access for the staff of US multinationals operating in the region and I would welcome the introduction of a transatlantic service to and from Cork.
Under the Open Skies agreements, there are no regulatory obstacles for airlines who wish to operate transatlantic services from Cork. I understand that Cork airport are actively seeking an airline to operate a service to the east coast of the US. I hope that airlines will consider the opportunities that such a route could provide, as well as other routes to the UK and mainland Europe. I understand that the airport authority is also engaging with airlines about the potential re-introduction of a Cork/Dublin service as a feeder for transatlantic services at Dublin Airport.
A Cork Airport Development Council has also been established to work with airport management to develop initiatives that support sustainable traffic in 2014 and beyond. In addition Cork Airport Authority has very extensive route support schemes for new long and short haul routes as well as generous marketing support available to help in the formative years of launching any new routes. Tourism Ireland also engages in co-operative marketing activity with both airports and air carriers to stimulate demand for existing routes and to case-make for the introduction of routes of strategic importance for Ireland.
950. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will request the National Roads Authority to provide the necessary funding as a matter of priority to address a very dangerous lag (details supplied); if he will request the Road Safety Authority to immediately investigate this health and safety issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19307/14]
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 maintenance projects on national roads) 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.
951. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 740 of 8 April 2014, in view of the fact that these figures are not available online, if he will provide a figure for the number of applications under the Sports Capital Programme 2014; the total value of grant aid sought; the corresponding figure for each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19313/14]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. Some of the figures for the amount of funding sought will change during the assessment process as some applicants have entered incorrect figures. As applications are assessed, officials in the Sports Capital Programmes Division are amending these figures to reflect the maximum grant that these applicants could have applied for. A full list of applications received is available on the Department's website www.dttas.ie
|
County |
Number of Applications Received |
Total Amount Sought |
|
Carlow |
33 |
€2,450,071 |
|
Cavan |
31 |
€2,871,501 |
|
Clare |
61 |
€5,094,802 |
|
Cork |
229 |
€15,896,771 |
|
Donegal |
96 |
€7,114,518 |
|
Dublin |
298 |
€25,292,746 |
|
Galway |
145 |
€12,504,061 |
|
Kerry |
82 |
€7,997,583 |
|
Kildare |
76 |
€5,882,874 |
|
Kilkenny |
61 |
€4,251,785 |
|
Laois |
42 |
€1,819,737 |
|
Leitrim |
23 |
€1,960,385 |
|
Limerick |
77 |
€7,381,071 |
|
Longford |
23 |
€1,495,706 |
|
Louth |
65 |
€5,463,884 |
|
Mayo |
85 |
€6,554,841 |
|
Meath |
80 |
€6,481,518 |
|
Monaghan |
35 |
€2,420,232 |
|
Offaly |
49 |
€3,310,968 |
|
Roscommon |
45 |
€2,921,324 |
|
Sligo |
45 |
€4,978,289 |
|
Tipperary |
106 |
€8,026,692 |
|
Waterford |
57 |
€5,248,356 |
|
Westmeath |
47 |
€3,137,007 |
|
Wexford |
82 |
€5,350,549 |
|
Wicklow |
63 |
€4,078,170 |
|
Grand Total |
2036 |
€159,985,442
|
952. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a review of the platform length at Croke Park train station will be undertaken by Irish Rail and National Transport Authority with a view to extending it to improve public transport options to the stadium for matches and other events. [19323/14]
View answer953. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will discuss providing additional park and ride facilities close to Croke Park with Irish Rail and other parties to provide improved public transport options to the stadium for matches and other events. [19324/14]
View answerI propose to answer Questions Nos. 952 and 953 together.
As 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 implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area, such as at train stations, comes under the remit of the NTA.
Noting this I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
954. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the commencement and progress of implementation of the Road Traffic Act 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19394/14]
View answerOn 20 March last, I signed an Order commencing sections 9 and 14 to 26 with immediate effect. Under the same order, sections 3 to 5, 7 and 8 are commenced from 1 August 2014.
It is my intention to commence the remaining sections as soon as practicable. My Department is engaging with the bodies which will have responsibility for implementation - An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority and the Medical Bureau of Road Safety - with a view to ensuring that the necessary measures are in place to implement the remaining sections. I will commence them once this is the case.
955. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he last met the chief executive officer and chairman of Dublin Bus; the topics discussed; the details of future meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19402/14]
View answerThe last bilateral meeting I had with the Chairman and Chief Executive of Dublin Bus was on 8 January 2014. A further meeting has not yet been scheduled but will take place within this parliamentary session. The following matters were discussed at the last meeting:
- General financial position
- Increasing passenger numbers in 2014
- Impact of the Luas Cross City Project
- Tendering by National Transport Authority (NTA) of certain bus routes.
Both Minister of State, Deputy Kelly and I have regular meetings with the NTA and transport operators to progress one of our key objectives of increasing the number of people using public transport by 2% this year. Two meetings have been held to date on 12th February and 9th April and the Chief Executive of Dublin Bus participated in both of those meetings.
956. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the efforts by Tourism Ireland to undertake a major tourism drive on billboards promoting tourism here in the US; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19403/14]
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 are not subject to my approval. I have referred the Deputy's Question to Tourism Ireland for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
957. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the proposed changes to be introduced under the Road Traffic Bill (No. 2) 2013, specifically the changes envisioned in relation to penalty points disqualification for new learner or novice drivers and increase in penalty points for different offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19448/14]
View answerThe Deputy is referring to the Road Traffic Act 2014, which was introduced in the Dáil originally as the Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013.
The Act creates a new category of novice driver, covering people in their first two years of a full licence. It also provides that novice and learner drivers will reach disqualification at seven rather than the usual twelve penalty points. The Act furthermore makes a number of adjustments to penalty points, based primarily on the review of the penalty points regime conducted by my Department in 2012.
My Department is liaising with An Garda Síochána to prepare for these changes. It is my intention to commence the penalty point changes, including the new threshold of seven points for learners and novices, as soon as possible.
958. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Road Safety Authority is processing applications from drivers who have requested to have the entitlement to tow a trailer of unlimited size added to their driving licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19469/14]
View answerThe categories under which driver licences are issued by the National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) are set out in legislation and determined at EU rather than national level. There is no category which gives an entitlement to drive any vehicle with a trailer of unlimited size.
959. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will make an allocation to local authorities to fund works under the local improvement scheme and thereby remove their discretion to divert such funding to other areas. [19516/14]
View answer960. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will make an allocation to local authorities specifically to fund works under the local improvement scheme and thereby remove their discretion to divert any such funding to other areas. [19517/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 959 and 960 together.
The Local Improvement Scheme provides funding for roads and laneways that Councils have not taken in charge. However, the maintenance and improvement of these is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowner. There is no separate allocation for the Local Improvement Scheme. Instead, local authorities may use up to 15% (up from 7% in 2013) of their initial Discretionary Grant towards local improvement schemes should they wish to do so. The local contribution for these schemes remains at 20% of the total cost of the project and the same eligibility rules apply for these schemes.
Details of the 2014 regional and local roads grants were communicated to local authorities on 24 January and I note that Clare County Council was allocated a Discretionary Grant of €3,081,100. This means that Clare County Council can allocate up to €462,165 of this grant heading to the local improvement scheme if it so wishes. Furthermore, it is open to local authorities to supplement the percentage of their Discretionary Grant that they can use for the local improvement schemes with their own resources.
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.
962. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the inadequate, short window made for taxi owners to sell their licences, from 1 April 2014 to 4 April 2014; his views on whether the taxi industry was given sufficient notice for members to sell licences; if he will agree to re-opening the window for a month or eight weeks for the sale of taxi licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19645/14]
View answer964. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason upon retirement, a taxi driver cannot transfer their plate directly to a family member; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19688/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 962 and 964 together.
Action 14 of the Taxi Regulation Review Report, 2011 recommended the prohibition on the transfer of a small public service vehicle (SPSV) vehicle licence with effect from 1st October 2012. The underlying principle for the recommendation was that a licence should determine a person's suitability to carry out a function and it should have no monetary value or be traded on the open market. The Taxi Regulation Review Group included representatives of the taxi industry and its recommendations were widely publicised to the industry, including through the National Transport Authority's website and industry updates.
It was intended that the measure would be introduced with effect from 1st January 2013 by way of regulations to be made by the National Transport Authority (NTA) who have responsibility for the regulation of the taxi sector. However, it was concluded that it would be more appropriate to include such a provision in primary legislation as part of the Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 which was enacted as the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 on 23rd October 2013.
The provision is included in Section 14(1) of the Taxi Regulation Act, 2013 which was commenced with effect from the 6th April 2014. Consequently the industry has had an 18 month period longer than envisaged under the Taxi Regulation Review Report under which transfers have been allowed to take place.
963. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether the policy of closing national monuments, buildings and exhibitions on public and bank holidays is counterproductive for our tourism strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19677/14]
View answerOpening hours at our national monuments, buildings and exhibitions are a matter in the first instance for the boards and management of the Office of Public Works and the National Cultural Institutions. These organisations come within the remit of the Minister of State for Public Service Reform and the Office of Public Works and the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht respectively.
As Minister with responsibility for tourism I am of course keen to see that everything be done that can be, to enhance the experience for visitors, having regard to available resources. The broader issue of how bodies such as those mentioned by the Deputy, as well as other government departments and agencies, can balance their important role in tourism with their other functions, and the priority that should be attached to tourism, is something that is being considered within the tourism policy review that is currently underway.
