Written Answers Nos. 222-234
222. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on negotiations between the Irish Government and the Canadian Government on a driving licence transfer process or mutual recognition of licences in each jurisdiction. [30571/14]
View answerThe Road Safety Authority (RSA), which takes responsibility for the negotiation of mutual recognition of driving licences with other jurisdictions, has been engaged for some time with the Canadian provinces with the assistance of the Irish Embassy in Ottawa. It was decided to prioritise negotiations with Ontario due to the large number of Irish living there. I understand from the RSA that agreements were reached on virtually all details with Ontario, Manitoba, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Difficulties then arose in relation to some aspects of the agreement, which were resolved following intervention by my Department.
Thanks to their efforts, this week I signed an agreement to allow for the mutual exchange of driving licences between Ireland and Ontario. This will be a huge benefit to the thousands of Irish citizens living and working in Ontario, as well as to people from Ontario now living and working in Ireland. Ontario is Canada's most populous province and includes the city of Toronto. I hope to see agreement with the other provinces follow shortly.
223. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for the minimal bus allocations to Cork city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30426/14]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility to secure the provision of public passenger transport services throughout the State. The NTA also oversees the capital funding available for investment in public transport measures in the regional cities and for investment in the Bus Éireann PSO fleet.
Noting this, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
224. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason County Waterford has not been included in the Wild Atlantic Way; if he will outline the tourist strategy being put in place to promote Waterford and the Copper Coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30445/14]
View answerThe Wild Atlantic Way was developed specifically for the western seaboard and is already gaining traction in our overseas markets. A similar concept for the south and east is also being developed by Fáilte Ireland to encourage international visitors to explore the area.
I have no direct role in relation to individual tourism projects. The route of the Wild Atlantic Way is a matter for the board and management of Fáilte Ireland. I also have no direct role in the promotion of specific regions or locations and the promotion of Waterford and the Copper Coast is a matter for the boards and managements of Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland. I am aware, however, that Fáilte Ireland's plan for the South and East of the country are designed specifically for our overseas markets. This new brand will feature all the different experiences available in the area, and encourage industry providers and groups in the area to collaborate.
I have referred the question to the agencies for further information and direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
225. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will amend the draft national policy on aviation by removing section 3.1, which would allow non-EU and US airlines to pick up passengers at Irish airports and fly directly to the US, substantially undermining Irish jobs and conditions. [30541/14]
View answerThe draft National Aviation Policy for Ireland was published on 21 May 2014 following a public consultation process in 2013. The consultation process covered all elements of aviation policy and the draft National Aviation Policy takes account of the submissions received. On the issue of fifth freedom traffic rights for airlines, the majority of submissions received favoured the adoption of a fully liberalised approach.
The policy proposal in Section 3.1 to which you refer is that a liberal approach should be taken by my Department to any requests from non EU and non US airlines to serve routes to/from Ireland where there is a clear benefit for Ireland and the travelling public. I have invited submissions of the draft National Aviation policy published on 21 May. Airlines and any other interested parties have an opportunity through the consultation process to express their views on this proposal and all other proposals in the draft before the closing date for submissions on 31 July.
226. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding renewing a driving licence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30570/14]
View answerThe operation of the National Driver Licensing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and I have no power to intervene 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.
227. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has received plans from Donegal County Council for a new bypass at Bonagee, Letterkenny, County Donegal; and if he will provide the funding for same. [30572/14]
View answerAs I indicated in my response of 26 June to Parliamentary Question No. 9 and of 15 May to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 22 and 49, 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 a bypass at Bonagee) 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, due to the economic situation, has meant that it has not been possible to progress a range of road development projects. The key priority has to be the protection of the existing investment in road infrastructure.
I understand that the preferred route has been selected on the proposed N56 Letterkenny Relief Road which encompasses the Bonagee Relief Road. However, given the reduced level of funding available for major schemes such as this, it has not been possible for the NRA to provide any additional funding to enable the scheme to progress further. As the Deputy is aware the estimated cost of the total project is €45 million. Given the size of the project, it cannot be funded through a PPP model but rather must be funded by direct Exchequer funding. In that context €45 million is a very major commitment from central government given the state of the public finances.
The Government's Comprehensive Review of Expenditure 2015-2017 and Capital Review 2015-2019 have commenced. The Current and Capital Reviews will consider new ways of achieving Government objectives in the current tight fiscal climate, including the extent to which funding will be available for the maintenance and development of the road network. I cannot say at this point what the outcome of the Comprehensive Review and of the Capital Review process will be. As the Deputy will appreciate, I will have to prioritise the maintenance and upkeep of existing infrastructure and the scope for progressing new projects under this programme will very much depend on the level of funding available.
228. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to provide funding for an upgrade to the N14 Letterkenny to Lifford Road, County Donegal, as requested by Donegal County Council. [30573/14]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual national 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 questions to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
229. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a list of all persons appointed by him to State boards in 2014 to date in tabular form; the name of the person and board in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30599/14]
View answerA list of all State Board appointments can be found on my Departments website at the following link http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/state-board-membership-and-approved-fees.
230. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will list and itemise the title and reference of every statutory instrument signed by him from 1 May 2014 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30658/14]
View answerThe following table lists the statutory instruments I have signed from the 1st of May 2014.
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S.I. No. 275 of 2014 |
Sea Pollution (Prevention of Oil Pollution) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 |
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S.I. No. 241 of 2014 |
Merchant Shipping Act 2010 (Section 87) (Commencement) Order 2014 |
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S.I. No. 242 of 2014 |
European Union (Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) Regulations 2014 (Signed 04/06/14) |
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S.I. No. 245 of 2014 |
European Communities (Merchant Shipping) (Organisation of Working Time) (Amendment) Regulations |
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S.I. No. 246 of 2014 |
Merchant Shipping (Medical Examinations) Regulations 2014 |
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S.I. No. 251 of 2014 |
Córas Iompair Éireann Bye Laws (Confirmation) Order 2014 |
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S.I. No. 258 of 2014 |
European Union (Railway Safety) (Reporting And Investigation Of Serious Accidents, Accidents And Incidents) Regulations 2014 |
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S.I. No. 253 of 2014 |
Road Traffic (Construction And Use Of Vehicles) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2014 (Weights And Coupling) |
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S.I. No. 247 of 2014 |
RT (Construction & Use of Vehicles) (A) Regs 2014 (Plating & Speed Rating) |
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S.I. No. 248 of 2014 |
Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment And Use Of Vehicles) Amendment) Regulations 2014 (Braking) |
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S.I. No. 249 of 2014 |
Road Traffic (Lighting Of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 |
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S.I. No. 219 of 2014 |
European Communities (Motor Vehicles Type Approval) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 |
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S.I. No. 220 of 2014 |
European Communities (Two And Three Wheel Motor Vehicle Entry Into Service) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 |
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S.I. No. 291 of 2014 |
Road Transport Operator Licensing (Fees) Regulations 2014 |
231. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a club (details supplied) in Dublin 4 was unsuccessful in its sports capital grants application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30659/14]
View answerThe organisation referred to by the Deputy applied for a grant under the 2014 Sports Capital Programme. When the 2014 Programme was advertised my Department issued a guide to filling out the application form which clearly set out the Department's minimum requirements that applicants had to meet to be considered for funding.
An email setting out the outcome of the assessment of the club's application will be sent to all unsuccessful applicants in the coming days. If an organisation requires any more information or clarification they should contact the Sports Capital Programme Unit of the Department in Killarney. I believe that applicants have a right to receive this information first.
The 2014 Sports Capital Programme is now closed and all the monies under this round have been allocated.
232. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide a list of all persons appointed by him to State boards in 2014 to date in tabular form; the name of the person and board in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30587/14]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that I have made no appointments to State Boards under the Aegis of this Department since taking Office on May 8th 2014.
233. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the free preschool year in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Cork may be deferred until September 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30642/14]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a free and universal programme which provides a free preschool year to all eligible children. The programme includes a number of additional provisions which provide for an exemption from the upper age limit for qualification under the programme in certain circumstances, and permits certain children to have the preschool year split over two years on a pro-rata basis, for example availing of the programme for 2 days a week in the first year and for 3 days a week in the second year.
I can confirm that the application for deferral of the commencement date to September 2015 for the child in question has been approved, and this has been confirmed in correspondence to the parent(s).
234. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will list and itemise the title and reference of every statutory instrument signed by him from 1 May 2014 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30646/14]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that I have not signed any Statutory Instrument since taking Office on May 8th 2014.
