Written Answers Nos. 268-278
268. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider introducing legislation on modified cars, regulating height noise and power of such cars; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34998/14]
View answerAll vehicles used on the public road must comply with the requirements of Road Traffic legislation. It is the responsibility of the owner/driver of a vehicle to ensure that their vehicle is roadworthy and does not present a danger to any road users. The Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations contain requirements in a number of areas including in relation to height and noise. All vehicles are required to be fitted with silencers or other devices that are suitable and sufficient for reducing noise to a reasonable level. In particular, Article 85 of those regulations prohibits the use in a public place of a vehicle which causes excessive noise and compliance with this regulation is tested at the NCT.
Under the Road Traffic (NCT) Regulations 2014 (SI No. 322 of 2014) made in July last, where safety critical modifications have been made to a vehicle since its last NCT, the owner is required to present a Modifications Report in a particular format completed by the manufacturer or a suitably qualified individual.
In addition, the Road Safety Authority is currently conducting a review of systems to ensure that modifications made to vehicles meet a minimum safety standard and I will consider the outcome of that review when completed.
269. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the draft aviation policy; if public consultations were held regarding the policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35000/14]
View answer270. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way the draft aviation policy will shape the future of Cork Airport; the way the growth and expansion of Cork Airport will be facilitated by the policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35001/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 269 and 270 together.
The process of developing a draft National Aviation Policy for Ireland commenced in early 2013 with the publication of an Issues Paper for consultation. The Issues Paper covered all elements of aviation policy and a large number of submissions were received from a range of stakeholders. The draft Policy was published on 21 May 2014 and takes account of the submissions received.
Further submissions were invited on the draft Policy and the deadline for receipt was 31 July. Over 70 submissions have been received. The final policy document is currently being finalised and the intention is that a new National Aviation Policy will be published before the end of the year.
With regard to Cork Airport, I am very conscious of the importance of the airport for the development of the economy of the region as a whole and in particular for tourism. DAA has established a Cork Airport Development Council (CADC), which provides for strong engagement with, and alignment among key stakeholders in the Cork region. The purpose of CADC is to foster a common understanding of issues of concern, potential opportunities for growth and the operating performance of the airport. I hope the Council will be successful in its work, as a vibrant Cork Airport will ultimately benefit both Cork and the wider region.
271. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the National Transport Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35043/14]
View answerGiven the constrained resources of recent years, I am satisfied with the staffing, budget and work of the National Transport Authority (NTA). There are no plans to merge the NTA and Railway Procurement Agency (RPA).
However, legislation to provide for the merger of the RPA and National Roads Authority has been published and a Bill is currently before the Oireachtas.
273. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is the practice of his Department to employ an archivist to examine records and archives once records are deemed appropriate for archiving to determine the quality of the records, the importance, the estimated care and attention needed to preserve the records and so on; if not if he will consider this option to best capture the most valuable records before they potentially deteriorate in storage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35401/14]
View answer274. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total cost of his Department and those under the aegis for the storage of records and archives that are ultimately intended to be forwarded to the National Archives in time; if he will provide this cost for 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35425/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 273 and 274 together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the Department has a dedicated file storage facility, located in Finglas, Dublin 11. This facility is provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW) who is responsible for its procurement.
The Department also uses a limited amount of off-site storage, provided by a private supplier. The cost for this service to the Department was €3,576.06 in 2012 and €3,857.03 in 2013.
It is not the practice of my Department to employ an archivist. Files are stored in accordance with guidelines issued by the National Archives Office and storage conditions are reviewed periodically to ensure that they are appropriate for the storage and preservation of files over long periods.
The cost of management of records within the agencies under the Department's aegis is a matter for the agencies themselves and I am forwarding the Deputy's question to those agencies for a direct response to the Deputy. If the Deputy does not receive a response within 10 working days, she should contact my private office.
275. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount that has been paid out to date under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme. [34932/14]
View answer276. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount that has been paid out to date to County Roscommon turf cutters under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme. [34933/14]
View answer277. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount that has been paid out to date to County Galway turf cutters under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme. [34934/14]
View answer278. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of persons who are affected by the cessation of turf cutting on the 53 raised bog Special Areas of Conservation. [34935/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 275 to 278, inclusive, together
Some 3,000 applications for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme for raised bog special areas of conservation have been received and acknowledged by my Department. A total of 6,081 payments and 528 deliveries of turf have been made in respect of the applications received. In addition, 1,184 once-off incentive payments of €500 have been made to applicants who have signed and returned legal agreements under the scheme to my Department.
Details of the expenditure under the scheme to date, grouped by county, are set out in Table 1 SACs below. The total expenditure amounts to over €10.6 million. This expenditure is comprised of amounts paid in respect of annual payments, turf deliveries and once-off incentive payments. A number of raised bog special areas of conservation straddle more than one county and it is not possible to give a single figure per county where this arises.
The cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been extended to land owners and turbary right holders affected by the restrictions on turf cutting in raised bog natural heritage areas. To date, 125 applications have been received and 32 payments have been made at a cost of over €48,000 to applicants from these sites. Details of the expenditure under the scheme to date for these sites, grouped by county, are set out in Table 2 NHAs below.
My Department estimates that in the region of 2,000 individual applicants have received payments to date under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme for raised bog special areas of conservation. The closing date for the receipt of applications generally has passed for raised bog special area of conservation sites. However, my Department will continue to accept late applications under the scheme for the time being.
Table 1 SACs
|
Site Code |
Name of raised bog special area of conservation |
County |
Expenditure under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme |
|
000006 |
Killyconny Bog (Cloghbally) |
Cavan/ Meath |
€9,500 |
|
000231 |
Barroughter Bog |
Galway |
|
|
000248 |
Cloonmoylan Bog |
Galway |
|
|
000285 |
Kilsallagh Bog |
Galway |
|
|
000296 |
Lisnageeragh Bog and Ballinstack Turlough |
Galway |
|
|
000301 |
Lough Lurgeen Bog/ Glenamaddy Turlough |
Galway |
|
|
000326 |
Shankill West Bog |
Galway |
|
|
001242 |
Carrownagappul Bog |
Galway |
|
|
002347 |
Camderry Bog |
Galway |
|
|
002350 |
Curraghlehanagh Bog |
Galway |
|
|
002352 |
Monivea Bog |
Galway |
|
|
002356 |
Ardgraigue Bog |
Galway |
€2,232,084 |
|
000297 |
Lough Corrib |
Galway/Mayo |
€569,706 |
|
000382 |
Sheheree (Ardagh) Bog |
Kerry |
|
|
002351 |
Moanveanlagh Bog |
Kerry |
€105,000 |
|
000391 |
Ballynafagh Bog |
Kildare |
|
|
002331 |
Moud's Bog |
Kildare |
€651,683 |
|
000440 |
Lough Ree |
Roscommon/Longford/ Westmeath/Mayo |
€1,273,548 |
|
000497 |
Flughany Bog |
Sligo |
€65,000 |
|
000566 |
All Saints Bog and Esker |
Offaly |
|
|
000572 |
Clara Bog |
Offaly |
|
|
000575 |
Ferbane Bog |
Offaly |
|
|
000580 |
Mongan Bog |
Offaly |
|
|
000581 |
Moyclare Bog |
Offaly |
|
|
000582 |
Raheenmore Bog |
Offaly |
|
|
000585 |
Sharavogue Bog |
Offaly |
€460,218 |
|
000592 |
Bellanagare Bog |
Roscommon |
|
|
000595 |
Callow Bog |
Roscommon |
|
|
000597 |
Carrowbehy/Caher Bog |
Roscommon |
|
|
000600 |
Cloonchambers Bog |
Roscommon |
|
|
000604 |
Derrinea Bog |
Roscommon |
|
|
000614 |
Cloonshanville Bog |
Roscommon |
|
|
002338 |
Drumalough Bog |
Roscommon |
|
|
002339 |
Ballynamona Bog and Corkip Lough |
Roscommon |
|
|
002349 |
Corbo Bog |
Roscommon |
|
|
002354 |
Tullaghanrock Bog |
Roscommon |
€2,043,349 |
|
000641 |
Ballyduff/Clonfinane Bog |
Tipperary |
|
|
000647 |
Kilcarren-Firville Bog |
Tipperary |
|
|
002353 |
Redwood Bog |
Tipperary |
€425,276 |
|
000679 |
Garriskil Bog |
Westmeath |
|
|
002336 |
Carn Park Bog |
Westmeath |
|
|
002337 |
Crosswood Bog |
Westmeath |
€517,546 |
|
001818 |
Lough Forbes Complex |
Roscommon/ Longford |
€7,518 |
|
002110 |
Corliskea/Trien/Cloonfelliv Bog |
Galway/ Roscommon |
€398,000 |
|
002298 |
River Moy |
Mayo/ Roscommon/ Sligo |
€130,500 |
|
002332 |
Coolrain Bog |
Laois |
|
|
002333 |
Knockacoller Bog |
Laois |
€380,639 |
|
002340 |
Moneybeg and Clareisland Bogs |
Meath/ Westmeath |
|
|
002342 |
Mount Hevey Bog |
Meath/ Westmeath |
€549,398 |
|
002341 |
Ardagullion Bog |
Longford |
|
|
002346 |
Brown Bog |
Longford |
|
|
002348 |
Clooneen Bog |
Longford |
€202,851 |
|
002343 |
Tullaher Lough and Bog |
Clare |
€618,135 |
Table 2 NHAs
|
Site Code |
Name of raised bog natural heritage area |
County |
Expenditure under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme |
|
000985 |
Lough Kinale and Derragh Lough |
Cavan, Longford and Westmeath |
€1,521 |
|
000993 |
Ayle Lower Bog |
Clare |
€7,605 |
|
000229 |
Ballygar Bog |
Galway |
|
|
000281 |
Keeloges Bog |
Galway |
|
|
000307 |
Lough Tee Bog |
Galway |
€13,689 |
|
000321 |
Raford River Bog |
Galway |
|
|
001227 |
Aughrim Bog |
Galway |
|
|
001254 |
Derrinlough Bog |
Galway |
|
|
000333 |
Anna More Bog |
Kerry |
€3,042 |
|
001405 |
Cashel Bog |
Leitrim |
€3,042 |
|
000691 |
Rinn River |
Leitrim and Longford |
€1,521 |
|
001450 |
Mount Jessop Bog |
Longford |
€1,521 |
|
000565 |
Clonydonnin Bog |
Offaly and Westmeath |
€1,521 |
|
001623 |
Carrickynaghtan Bog |
Roscommon |
€6,084 |
|
000640 |
Arragh More Bog |
Tipperary |
€6,084 |
|
000937 |
Scohaboy Bog |
Tipperary |
|
|
000684 |
Lough Derravaragh |
Westmeath |
€3,042 |
