Written Answers Nos. 542-559
542. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown of the pay scale of the management at Irish Rail; and the other benefits received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35782/14]
View answerDetailed information regarding CEO remuneration is available in the annual report and accounts of Iarnród Éireann. The remuneration of senior management is a matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
543. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans that the vehicle clamping Bill will address the penalty charge for interfering with a clamp which is levied by clamping companies despite a lack of clarity concerning the term interfere; if limits will be placed on the charge amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35794/14]
View answerUnder section 101B, subsection (7)(b), of the Road Traffic Act 1961 (as inserted by section 9 of the Dublin Transport Authority (Dissolution) Act 1987), a person who without being authorised to do so under that section, removes or attempts to remove from a vehicle an immobilisation device fixed to it under that section, shall be guilty of an offence. This offence is being maintained in section 30 of the Vehicle Clamping Bill 2014 which was published by my predecessor in June last and which I will introduce to the Oireachtas in the coming weeks.
544. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reasons Bus Éireann is reducing its service to towns in south Kildare given the importance of such services in regard to employment, hospital appointments, and so on; if he has had or is planning any meetings with Bus Éireann in regard to vital discussions in regard the national issue of supplying services to urban and rural communities to ensure a continuity of service between such urban and rural areas and Dublin and the many services in intermediary towns that the buses service such as hospitals, local authorities, employment and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35816/14]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with Bus Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
545. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether the county-based system for the area knowledge test for taxi, hackney and limousine licences is fair, appropriate and equally applied across the country particularly given the major differences in county size with reference specifically to the division of Galway into areas such as Connemara, Galway city and east Galway. [35886/14]
View answer546. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport with regard to the area knowledge test for taxi, hackney and limousine licences, the reason applicants for the test are not supplied with results which show which questions were answered incorrectly in order that applicants would have direction into further study prior to re-sitting and paying again for the test. [35887/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 545 and 546 together.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of the small public service (SPSV) industry under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013, including responsibility for administering the SPSV Entry Test which includes the Area Knowledge test.
I have referred your questions to the NTA for direct reply. If you do not receive a reply within ten working days please notify my private office.
547. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide funding for the construction of the proposed Ballincarrig roundabout on the outskirts of Carlow town in view of the design work having been undertaken, lands acquired and the project ready to commence. [35900/14]
View answerAs 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 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 (such as the proposed roundabout on the N80 referred to by the Deputy) 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 question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
548. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will, as part of the national tourism policy, designate Cork Airport as a convention and conference gateway for business tourism, as such a move would complement the Government's decision to support and part fund the development of an event centre in Cork. [35906/14]
View answer549. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will include as part of the national tourism policy the creation of a specific tourism marketing fund for new south of Ireland connectivity and inbound tourism growth. [35907/14]
View answer550. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will, as part of the national tourism policy, develop a more integrated approach to inbound tourism marketing and co-ordination of tourism development in the south-west region, including references to developing structures around tourism co-ordination to be aligned and revised, set specific bednight growth targets by market to be agreed and published and ensure a better focus on marketing spend. [35908/14]
View answer551. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will, as part of the national tourism policy, include designation and marketing support of Cork Airport as a gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way and the emerging Fáilte Ireland's south east heritage trail. [35909/14]
View answer552. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will include as part of the national tourism policy a stronger focus on development of strategic transport links to and from Cork Airport. [35910/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 548 to 552, inclusive, together.
The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop Dublin and Cork airports. In relation to Cork airport, DAA has put in place arrangements for Cork Airport to be run as a stand-alone business unit within the Company, properly resourced at management level locally, with the ability to make decisions locally with the assistance of the DAA group if necessary. A high level stakeholder body – the Cork Airport Development Council – has also been established to provide a forum for stakeholders from a range of sectoral and geographic backgrounds who have an interest in the development of the airport to engage with airport management and to help contribute to traffic and route growth. I consider therefore that the structures are in place for Cork Airport to explore options for growing its business in conjunction with other regional bodies if appropriate.
From a tourism perspective, all of my Department's allocation for tourism is provided for the use of the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, and I do not have discretionary funding available for individual marketing initiatives. Fáilte Ireland is the agency with responsibility for the development of the tourism sector in Ireland. In this respect, Fáilte Ireland works with local authorities and other regional stakeholders to maximise the tourism potential in their areas. Tourism Ireland, with responsibility for the overseas marketing of Ireland as a tourist destination, undertakes significant cooperative marketing activity with carriers serving Cork Airport to promote flights to Cork and boost travel to the wider region. The agency will continue to monitor developments at Cork airport and work with the airport and relevant stakeholders to maximise the numbers using existing services and to help to make the case for additional new services with potential tourism benefits for the region.
I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland and to Tourism Ireland for further information in this regard. Please contact my private office if a reply is not received within ten working days.
553. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the remuneration package for each chief executive officer of State or semi-State organisations under the aegis of his Department; the changes made to such remuneration in the past two years; the remuneration package for each acting CEO if such exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35955/14]
View answerThe detailed information requested by the Deputy regarding CEO remuneration is available in the annual report and accounts of each agency.
554. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will take the necessary steps at the Council of the European Union this year so that the derogation on the status of the Irish language is ended in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35501/14]
View answerAs indicated in replies to a number of Parliamentary Questions on this matter (Question Nos. 316 and 319 on 24 June 2014, Question No. 114 on 26 June 2014 and Question 264 on 1 July 2014), a decision on whether or not to extend the derogation for the use of Irish in EU institutions for a further period of time is required by December 2015 at the latest. In this context, my Department, in conjunction with the Department of the Taoiseach, is engaged in discussions with various stakeholders, including the EU institutions, in order to formulate specific proposals on the optimal approach to the derogation. This matter will be brought forward for consideration by Government in due course. Furthermore, as part of the Government's strategy to ensure that a sufficient number of qualified personnel are available to meet the needs arising from the recognition of Irish as an official and working language of the EU, my Department continues to provide substantial funding for a range of specialised third-level courses and for the development of Irish language terminology for the EU terminology database, InterActive Terminology for Europe (IATE).
555. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position in relation to a person (details supplied) in County Cork who wishes to re-roof and maintain a thatched cottage; her views on the level of funding under the built heritage job leverage scheme and the thatching grant administered by her Department. [35598/14]
View answerThe architectural conservation officer in the local authority, in this case Cork County Council, will generally be able to advise of funding available for conservation works to thatched buildings in the area and it is advisable for interested parties to remain in contact with their local authority on an on-going basis. Officials from my Department have also given direct advice in 2014 to persons acting for the owner of the particular thatched structure referred to by the Deputy.
A number of State financial supports provide for the conservation and preservation of heritage structures in general. For example, in 2014 my Department made available a fund of €5 million under the Built Heritage and Jobs Leverage Scheme for the repair and conservation of protected structures under the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2012. This scheme, which is operated and administered by the local authorities, is supporting works to approximately 600 protected structures nationally, including works to over 50 thatched structures. I understand that the owner of the thatched structure in question has made an application to Cork County Council in this regard, which the Council is currently assessing.
My Department does not administer a funding scheme specifically for thatched structures. However, the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government administers a grant scheme for the renewal or repair of thatched roofs of owner occupied houses. I am informed by my colleague, the Minister for Environment Community and Local Government, that under this grant scheme a grant of €6,350 has been provisionally approved in this case and is now awaiting final inspection by that Department's inspector.
The Heritage Council, which my Department also funds, administers a heritage management community grants scheme. Whilst I understand that applications have closed for their 2014 scheme, the Council may be able to advise if the structure would be eligible for funding now or in the future. The Heritage Council's website is www.heritagecouncil.ie.
The level of funding available in 2015 and future years for these schemes will be subject to the normal Budgetary and Estimates processes. As the Deputy can appreciate, the scope for additional funding for the conservation of the built heritage is constrained by the significant reduction in the public finances and subject to competing priorities within the sector.
556. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress on plans for investment in Pearse's Cottage, Rosmuc, County Galway in advance of the 1916 centenary. [35648/14]
View answerI refer the Deputy to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 431 of 15 July 2014 in relation to this matter. As stated in that reply, under the Capital Stimulus Package announced in the Budget, funding of €6m was provided in 2014 in respect of the 1916 Commemorations Programme. A number of flagship capital projects come under the scope of this programme, including Kilmainham Courthouse, the GPO, the Military Pensions Archives and Teach an Phiarsaigh. As part of this programme, an allocation of €0.5m has been provided in my Department's Vote in 2014 to advance the development of a cultural centre at Teach an Phiarsaigh in Ros Muc. The Deputy will also be aware that in May 2014 the Government announced as part of the Phase 4 Infrastructure Stimulus an allocation of €22m in 2015 for the Commemorations Programme. This funding will help, inter alia, to finance the costs associated with the flagship commemoration projects in 2015, including Teach an Phiarsaigh.
The development of a cultural centre at Teach an Phiarsaigh is being progressed by a steering group comprising the various stakeholders, including Údarás na Gaeltachta, Galway County Council, the Office of Public Works, Fáilte Ireland and my own Department. The project has been developed through a collaborative process with all stakeholders with regard to linguistic, social, sustainable and economic considerations. I understand that all the stakeholders have indicated their full support to ensuring that the project is brought to fruition.
With regard to the progress made to date, I can confirm that an economic appraisal of the project has been completed. I can also confirm that the procurement of the services of a project management team and design team for the project has been completed and that they have commenced work.
In addition to being one of the flagship projects of the Commemorations Programme, I am advised that the project location has been chosen by Fáilte Ireland to be a key 'discovery point' on the Wild Atlantic Way project. I am also advised that Teach an Phiarsaigh is afforded special recognition in Fáilte Ireland's Connemara Destination Plan and Connemara Driving Tour and is a key component of its strategy to develop the tourism sector in Connemara.
557. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the moneys paid to Bullrush in full under the turf compensation scheme and if this 200 plus acres of bog is now officially the property of National Parks and Wildlife Service. [35918/14]
View answerUnder the provisions of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 and the Wildlife Acts, compensation is payable in certain circumstances where activities must cease for the conservation of a designated site. The company referred to in the Deputy’s Question was compelled to cease commercial peat extraction operations within certain designated sites and applied for compensation for the losses that it incurred.
As indicated in the reply to the Deputy to Question No. 93 of 17 May 2012, under the terms of a settlement, my Department agreed to purchase a large holding of land from the company (circa 350 acres) for €150,000. Compensation amounting to €2.35m was also paid for the losses arising from the requirement to cease commercial peat extraction operations within the sites.
The sale was completed in June 2012 and registration of title to the land to the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has been finalised.
558. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of turf deliveries to Mouds Bog, including the amount in tonnage; the number of persons who received these deliveries; and the number of persons in Mouds Bog who have been paid €1,500 for year three of a 15-year turf compensation payment. [35919/14]
View answer148 applications for compensation from Mouds Bog special area of conservation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme have been received and acknowledged by my Department. A total of 76 payments have been made, to date, in respect of these applications for year 3 of 15 (2014). Details of turf deliveries which have been made in respect of applicants from Mouds Bog are set out in the following table.
|
Number of turf deliveries to individuals |
44 |
56 |
12 |
112 |
|
Tonnes |
689 |
798 |
180 |
1,667 |
|
Mouds Bog |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
Total |
559. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the remuneration package for each chief executive officer of State or semi-State organisations under the aegis of her Department; the changes made to such remuneration in the past two years; the remuneration package for each acting CEO if such exists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35941/14]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in respect of the current remuneration of the relevant CEOs is set out in the following table. These remuneration levels changed in the period specified by the Deputy through the application of the terms of the Haddington Road Agreement which came into effect on 1st July 2013. Details of the Haddington Road Agreement are available on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Website at www.per.gov.ie.
|
Body |
Annual Remuneration of CEO |
|
Arts Council |
€85,750 |
|
Irish Film Board |
€97,981 |
|
Crawford Art Gallery |
€72,124 |
|
National Library of Ireland |
(Acting Appointment) €81,080 |
|
National Archives |
(Acting Appointment) €81,080 |
|
Chester Beatty Library |
€90,591 |
|
National Museum of Ireland |
€96,148 |
|
Irish Museum of Modern Art |
€85,720 |
|
National Concert Hall |
€102,522 |
|
National Gallery of Ireland |
€93,297 |
|
Heritage Council |
€109,451 |
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
€126,200 |
|
Foras na Gaeilge |
€113,429 |
|
Ulster-Scots Agency |
£49,244 |
|
Waterways Ireland |
£61,217 |
