Ray Butler
Question:42. Deputy Ray Butler asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the 2014 sports capital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27098/14]
View answerSports Capital Programme Administration
Questions (42)
Written answers
I was delighted to be able to launch the 2014 round of the Sports Capital Programme earlier this year. €40 million is available for allocation. The 2,036 applications received under the 2014 Sports Capital Programme are currently being assessed by officials in my Department. Every application will be assessed by one official and reviewed by another. Given the number of applications received and the detail contained therein, this process takes a number of months to complete. I hope to announce allocations shortly.
Applications are first checked to ensure eligibility. All eligible applications are initially assessed against five criteria, namely the likelihood of increasing participation and/or improving performance and sharing of facilities, level of socio-economic disadvantage in the area, technical merits of the project, level of own funding available and level of Sports Capital Programme funding received in the past. These criteria are designed to give higher scores to applications that increase participation, where facilities will be shared, that are from designated disadvantaged areas, that have not received substantial funding in the past and that are ready to be progressed as soon as possible.
In deciding the final allocations within each county, Minister Varadkar and I will have regard to a number of additional factors, including: ensuring a geographic spread of projects within each county; ensuring an appropriate spread of projects between rural and urban areas within each county; and ensuring that there is a spread of projects among different sports.
Tourism Project Funding
Questions (43)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:43. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his long-term plans in relation to the western rail corridor as a railway line for both freight and passenger travel; if he will seek funds from the EU for its development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27106/14]
View answerWritten answers
The lifetime of the Government's current capital investment plan runs to 2016 and with the available funding the priority for heavy rail is to protect the operational network and maintain safety standards, rather than the expansion of the network. Phase 1 of the Western Rail Corridor (WRC) between Ennis to Athenry opened in March 2010 and final close out payments for this phase have been included in the current capital plan. Consideration of the next phase was deferred.
Preparatory work on a new government capital investment plan to 2020 has begun. This will involve a focused review of the medium-term capital envelope to take account of investment priorities for the next 5 years. If additional funds are available there will be many competing transport projects across all modes and from all regions. Only projects for which there is a clear identifiable need, which are affordable, have a robust business case and add value to existing infrastructure, will be prioritised for funding to 2020.
In terms of specific initiatives being undertaken by Iarnród Éireann, that is a matter for the management of that company. I have referred the Deputy's question to them for a direct reply. If you do not receive a response within ten working days, please contact my private office.
My officials will monitor available European funding opportunities to see if any present themselves. I am advised that when funding for Phase 1 of the WRC was considered in 2006, by a Government of which the Deputy was a member, there was no application made to the EU for funding. I understand that this was due to the negative Net Present Value (NPV) of minus €137 million. EU funding is generally only available for projects assessed to have a positive benefit to cost ratio and positive NPV. Irish taxpayers' money has been used more liberally in the past.
Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme
Questions (44)
Pat Breen
Question:44. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the report of expert panel on the Irish airlines superannuation scheme which has been published; his views that the recommendations form the basis for a resolution of the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27226/14]
View answerWritten answers
I refer the Deputy to my answer to Priority Question No. 1 today.
Mountain Rescue Service
Questions (45)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:45. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has made representations to the Department of Finance in order to have organisations engaged in mountain rescue exempt from VAT. [27227/14]
View answerWritten answers
Exemption from VAT is entirely a matter for the Revenue Commissioners and my colleague the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan. I have not made representations to Minister Noonan to have mountain rescue organisations exempted from VAT. In recent exchanges with representatives of the organisations, both my officials and I have advised that it would be more appropriate for them to contact the Department of Finance in relation to this.
Mountain Rescue Service
Questions (46)
Seán Kyne
Question:46. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the introduction of a capital grant scheme for the voluntary mountain rescue teams such as the Galway mountain rescue team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27110/14]
View answerWritten answers
I refer to my answer to question 26 earlier.
Mountain Rescue Service
Questions (47)
Denis Naughten
Question:47. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider the establishment of a small capital grant for mountain and sub-aqua rescue and recovery groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27102/14]
View answerWritten answers
In terms of supporting mountain rescue teams (MRTs) I refer the Deputy to my answer to question 26 to Deputy Kyne earlier today.
I appreciate greatly the support that volunteer diving teams provide to the Coast Guard and the other emergency services. For the Deputy's information my Department, through the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG), is responsible for the initiation, control and coordination of maritime emergencies in the Irish territorial waters, harbours and coastline. The Coast Guard carries out this function utilising its own assets and declared resources. Diving support to the IRCG is provided in the first instance by the Garda Water Unit and the Navy Diving team. Volunteer diving teams do on occasion offer assistance but in such scenarios their participation is based on an offer of support.
Under previous rounds of the Sports Capital Programme grants have been allocated to sub aqua rescue clubs. Regrettably, in terms of the establishment of a specific grant scheme for such bodies, it is not envisaged that any funding assistance will be extended to sub aqua rescue or recovery groups at present.
Semi-State Bodies
Questions (48)
Timmy Dooley
Question:48. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his position regarding the sustainability and future success of Irish Rail; the impact the EU’s fourth railway package will have on the company; if he is satisfied with the industrial relations between unions and management in the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27347/14]
View answerWritten answers
The issue raised by the Deputy is a matter for Irish Rail management and their employees and trade unions and has been the subject of lengthy negotiations under the auspices of the Labour Relations Committee (LRC) and the Labour Court.
As you know, Irish Rail is in a precarious financial situation and together with the rest of the CIE Group is dependent on continued bank funding. The problems in Irish Rail are particularly acute - the company has incurred accumulated losses (after subvention) of €148m over the period 2008 to 2013, a position which is unsustainable. I am very supportive of the efforts by Irish Rail to strengthen the company's financial position through cost saving measures and other strategies. The Deputy will be aware that I have publicly commented on the importance of agreement being reached by trade unions and management on payroll savings. There have already been substantial fare increases and the payroll savings must happen in the context of the very difficult financial challenges that the company faces.
The Fourth Railway Package consists of six proposals aimed at removing the remaining barriers to the completion of the Single European Railway Area. The Package comprises three pillars which are referred to as the technical, market opening and governance pillars. The technical pillar of the Package reinforces harmonisation of interoperability and safety arrangements and extends the role of the European Railway Agency. It had been politically agreed within the Council of Ministers and will now be considered by the European Parliament in its second reading. Those measures will not impact significantly on Irish Rail.
Negotiations have not yet commenced in the Council of Ministers on the proposals for market opening and governance. The Commission’s proposal is to introduce mandatory tendering for public service contracts and the opening of the domestic passenger markets to competition. The Irish rail market is the subject to a single public service contract and there are no unsubsidised rail passenger services. These proposals would potentially have a very significant impact for Irish Rail if agreed in their current form. It is notable however that the European Parliament has proposed a significant amendment in relation to the mandatory tendering proposal. I am of the view that the size of the market places a constraint on the potential benefits that could be achieved through competitive tendering. In this context, I will consider seeking a derogation for Ireland.
Bus Éireann Services
Questions (49)
Ciara Conway
Question:49. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if proposals to privatise Bus Éireann routes in Waterford city will be reconsidered and preferably halted in view of the current economic climate and uncertainty in Waterford city, and in view of the fact that there are fears this move, which singles out Waterford, may lead to a downgrading of bus services, workers' pay and conditions, and eventually further job losses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27100/14]
View answerWritten answers
The direct award contracts for the provision of PSO bus market services held by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann expire later this year. The awarding of subsequent contracts is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA). There are no plans to revisit the decision of the NTA to tender the PSO bus services in Waterford.
The purpose of public transport is not to provide employment to any particular group of people but to provide a good public transport service to the public. The principal concern when looking at the future of bus services in Waterford is to provide a better service to those people who currently use those services, and more importantly, getting those people who don’t, to use those bus services. As at present, the fares, timetables and service standards will be set by the NTA. The tendering of these services will therefore not lead to a downgrading of services to bus users. The purpose of the tendering is to secure a better service for the same cost. It will be good for Waterford, its residents and may yet become an example for other places to follow. It is open to Bus Éireann to compete in this tender.
In the case of Bus Éireann not being successful in the competitive process, staff would be protected under the European Communities (Protection of Employees on Transfer of Undertakings) Regulations 2003 (the “Transfer Regulations” or “TUPE”). Minister of State Alan Kelly and I met with the unions representing Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann workers in November to discuss this matter. Arising from that we asked the NTA to put a structured engagement with unions in place and the NTA met with the NBRU and SIPTU unions in January and March this year.
Cycling Facilities Funding
Questions (50)
Brendan Griffin
Question:50. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will make funding available to complete greenways from Tralee to Fenit and from Listowel to the Limerick border near Kilmorna along CIE-owned routes; if he will fund a feasibility study for the Tralee to Listowel route; if feasibility studies would be initiated to find a viable route possibly incorporating local back roads in places and so on where historic railway lines used to be in State ownership from Glenbeigh to Farranfore and from Killarney to Kenmare, with absolute recognition being given to landowners along these routes and with an approach of consultation, respect for property rights and co-operation being central to all efforts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27094/14]
View answerWritten answers
I was very pleased to be in a position to provide funding to Kerry County Council (KCC) under both the National Cycle Network Funding Programme 2014-2016 and the Government Stimulus Package. As you say, almost €4 million has been provided to the Glenbeigh - Reenard Point Greenway. However, I should also mention that funding of €345,000 has also been provided to a phase of the Tralee to Fenit Trail from Rock Street to Casement Station. This was provided under the recently announced Government Stimulus for Infrastructure Development. Additionally, this project was the beneficiary of €200,000 from my Department in 2010, which resulted in the opening of a 1.8km section of the trail last year. I was delighted to have the opportunity to be there on that occasion.
While I do not anticipate any further funding announcements in the near future, it is my intention to continue to seek out funding for such infrastructure. In the meantime, I look forward to the delivery of the projects currently being funded and to the participation of Kerry County Council in future funding initiatives. It is likely, given the popularity of greenways already delivered, that funding may become available from other sources over the coming years which will enable the Council to progress, with the consent and support of the communities involved, those other projects you mention. The local authority is best placed to examine options for the delivery of further cycle routes and to respectfully consult with landowners as projects develop.
It is also worth noting that the EU Structural Funds Programme 2014 to 2020 is currently being finalised and there may be significant opportunities for cycle infrastructure development under its various sub programmes including the Rural Development Programme. I understand that many local authorities are already positioning themselves to avail of such opportunities.