Wednesday, 18 Jun 2014

Written Answers Nos. 203-208

Motor Tax Collection

Questions (203)

Dessie Ellis

Question:

203. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to allow taxi drivers to pay the tax on their SPSV vehicle online. [26280/14]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

My Department's online motor tax service has proved very successful and has been enthusiastically received by the motoring public.  The overall objective is that the facility to renew motor tax online should cover as wide a range of motor tax transactions as possible.  The Department is always keen to develop the potential for facilitating more "complex" online applications for vehicles, including small public service vehicles, which currently cannot use this channel.  

Licensing authorities have an obligation under Article 3 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing)(Amendment) Regulations 1992 to be satisfied that a vehicle is correctly taxed and the authority must have adequate documentation to support a claim for a particular rate of tax.  In order to avail of the small public service vehicle rate of tax, which currently at €95 annually is a concessionary rate, the owner is required to submit a current public service vehicle licence when applying for a motor tax disc. The public service vehicle licence is a paper based process and consequently it is currently not possible to facilitate the taxing of these vehicles through the online motor tax service. The Department is currently examining the feasibility of developing an electronic interface with the National Transport Authority, who are the regulatory authority for the licensing and regulation of small public service vehicles, to supply the necessary supporting evidence to enable these vehicles to be taxed online.

Motor Tax Collection

Questions (204)

Dessie Ellis

Question:

204. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to increase the number of places at which motor tax related to an SPSV vehicle can be paid on the south side of Dublin. [26281/14]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

Oversight of the operation of the local government system and implementation of policy in that regard, is a matter for my colleague, the Minister of the Environment, Community and Local Government and I have no role in this matter. However I understand that local service provision in the context of motor tax services is the responsibility of the local authority in question.

Parking Provision

Questions (205)

Eoghan Murphy

Question:

205. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update regarding his engagement with the National Transport Authority on the possibility of a pilot partial footpath parking scheme. [26318/14]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

Further to my response to PQ No. 238 of the 8th of May, I have asked my officials to engage with the National Transport Authority concerning a review of the issues arising from footpath parking and, in consultation with all interested parties, to consider the possibility of introducing a pilot partial footpath parking scheme.

Road Projects Status

Questions (206)

Damien English

Question:

206. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the plans for road realignment works planned for the N52 from Billistown to Cloghan, whereby such works would lead to the provision of a safer section of national route for road users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26341/14]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

As Minister for Transport, Tourism and 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 N52, 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. I understand the NRA has allocated a total of €250,000 for the N52 Cloghan to Billistown scheme in 2014.

Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NRA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (207)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

207. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide the cost to the Exchequer each year from 2009 to 2014, inclusive, of payment by his Department under the terms of settlements which included confidentiality agreements or confidentiality clauses. [26176/14]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

As this information is not readily available within my Department, I have requested relevant details from the State Claims Agency. Following receipt of a response from the State Claims Agency, I will arrange to contact the Deputy.

Appointments to State Boards

Questions (208)

Seán Fleming

Question:

208. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of appointments to State boards under the remit of his Department in each year from 2011 to 2014; the number that were publicly advertised; the reason all appointments are not open to public competition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26266/14]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

There are three agencies which are currently funded by the Exchequer through my Department's vote. These are the Adoption Authority of Ireland, the Child and Family Agency and the Ombudsman for Children's Office. Up to 31st December 2013 my Department also funded the Family Support Agency and the National Educational Welfare Board. With the establishment of the Child and Family Agency on 1st January 2014, the Family Support Agency and the National Educational Welfare Board ceased to exist, and their roles were subsumed into the Child and Family Agency. Appointments to their boards ceased with effect from 31st December 2013. Apart from the Ombudsman for Children's Office, which does not have a board, I am responsible for all board of management appointments. Since my predecessor took office in March 2011, 48 persons were appointed to the boards of management under the aegis of the Department.

As the Deputy may be aware, in line with the Government decision of April 2011, new arrangements were put in place for the making of appointments to State Boards and bodies. Following this Government Decision, a notice was placed on my Department's website inviting expressions of interest from persons interested in being appointed to the boards of State Bodies and Agencies operating under the Department's aegis. The notice indicates the vacancies in the boards of the respective bodies. My officials acknowledge all expressions of interest received and maintain a database of those expressions. My Department's website is monitored and updated on a regular basis to reflect the number of vacancies as they arise.

In making decisions on appointments to boards, subject to the governing legislation, the most suitable persons are considered for positions with due regard to the body or agency in question and its particular responsibilities. An appropriate mix of skills and experience is an important element of the selection process. The following tables show the full list of appointments.

Appointments to State Boards under the remit of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs since March, 2011

National Educational Welfare Board

Board Member	Term
Nuala Doherty (Chair)	30/07/12 – 29/07/17
Brendan Broderick (Resigned 31/12/12)	15/09/11 – 03/03/14
Catherine Connery	28/05/12 – 27/05/15
Marian Jennings	28/05/12 – 27/05/15
Eamonn Flynn	15/09/11 – 03/03/14
Bob Dowling	02/03/12 – 01/03/15
Ruairí Gogan	02/03/12 – 01/03/15
Deirdre Matthews	14/01/13 – 30/09/13
Mary Donnelly	23/04/12 – 22/04/15
Sally Maguire	03/11/13 – 03/03/14

Children Detention Schools

Board Member	Term
Joe Horan (Chair)	26/03/12 – 25/03/14
Gerard McKiernan	26/03/12 – 25/03/14
Ursula Kilkelly	26/03/12 – 25/03/14
Diego Gallagher	26/03/12 – 25/03/14
Sylda Langford	26/03/12 – 25/03/14
Pat Rooney	26/03/12 – 25/03/14
Elizabeth Howard	26/03/12 – 25/03/14
Colin Fetherston	26/03/12 – 25/03/14
Barry Rooney	26/03/12 – 25/03/14
Deirdre Keyes	26/03/12 – 25/03/14
Dan Kelleher	26/03/12 – 25/03/14
Rachel Grimes	14/11/12 – 25/03/14
Niall Kelly	06/09/13 – 25/03/14

Family Support Agency

Board Member	Term
Sharon Foley (Chair)	30/01/12 – 31/03/13 (Ordinary Board member) & 26/03/12 – 31/03/13 (Chair)
Caroline Murphy	20/10/11 – 31/03/12 16/04/12 – 31/03/13
Dick Hickey	02/06/11 – 01/12/11 02/12/11 – 31/03/12 16/04/12 – 31/03/13
Dr. John Griffin	30/04/12 – 31/03/13
Marie Fenlon	01/09/11 – 31/03/12 16/04/12 – 31/03/13
Liz Chaloner	30/01/12 – 31/03/13
Nuala Ryan	30/01/12 – 31/03/13
Catherine Downey Murphy	11/07/12 – 31/03/13
Catherine Hazlett (Resigned on 16/05/12 due to restructuring of Department)	26/07/11 – 31/03/12 16/04/12 – 31/03/13
Yvette O'Malley (Resigned on 10/11/11)	01/09/11 – 10/11/11
Marie Dullea	11/07/12 – 31/03/13
Imelda Martin	28/11/11 – 31/03/12 16/04/12 – 31/03/13
Lorraine Mulligan	12/12/12 – 31/03/13
Dr. Nollaig Byrne	08/02/12 – 31/03/13
Norah Gibbons (Chair)	01/06/13 – up to 3 years or establishment of Child and Family Agency (CFA)
Sylda Langford	17/09/13 – up to 3 years or establishment of CFA
PJ Fitzpatrick	17/09/13 – up to 3 years or establishment of CFA
Noelle Spring	17/09/13 – up to 3 years or establishment of CFA
Rory O'Ferrall	17/09/13 – up to 3 years or establishment of CFA
Gary Joyce	17/09/13 – up to 3 years or establishment of CFA
Ita Mangan	17/09/13 – up to 3 years or establishment of CFA
Noel Kelly	17/09/13 – up to 3 years or establishment of CFA
Gary Ó Donnchadha	02/12/13 - up to 3 years or establishment of CFA

Adoption Authority of Ireland

Board Member	Term
Dr. Imelda Ryan	07/02/12 – 6/07/17
Ms. Anne O'Flaherty	11/09/13- 11/09/18

Child and Family Agency

Norah Gibbons (Chair)	01/01/14 (5 years)
Sylda Langford	01/01/14 (3 years)
PJ Fitzpatrick	01/01/14 (4 years)
Noelle Spring	01/01/14 (3 years)
Rory O'Ferrall	01/01/14 (3 years)
Gary Joyce	01/01/14 (5 years)
Ita Mangan	01/01/14 (4 years)
Noel Kelly	01/01/14 (4 years)
Gary Ó Donnchadha	01/01/14 (3 years)