John Paul Phelan
Question:218. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the feasibility report on the new Cabra-Finglas link bus, which is due before end of November 2014. [45661/14]
View answerPublic Transport
Questions (218)
Written answers
The issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) 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.
Tourism Ireland Funding
Questions (219)
Timmy Dooley
Question:219. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied with the current operation of the Dursey Island cable car; if he will provide investment for the cable car to ensure a consistent and quality service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45690/14]
View answerWritten answers
The position is that the Dursey Island cable car is owned and operated by Cork County Council and I have no function in relation to its operation or the provision of investment funding.
Road Safety Authority
Questions (220)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:220. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons who work in the administration and operation of the Road Safety Authority; the amount it cost to fund the RSA from August 2013 to August 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45715/14]
View answerWritten answers
Currently there are 311 staff in the Road Safety Authority with a full time equivalency of 300.33. These staff are deployed in administrative, operational and field based driver testing and enforcement roles in the Authority.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has to date been funded through a combination of Exchequer and non-Exchequer funding. Exchequer funding has decreased from an allocation of €40 million in 2008 to €3.37 million in 2014. The RSA Exchequer allocation for 2014 represents 5% of its projected income for the year. The remaining 95% comes from revenues from the services provided by the Authority such as driver licensing and National Car Testing. The RSA has indicated that it will not draw down any of its Exchequer allocation for 2014.
In the period from August 2013 to August 2014, the Authority has been operating on a self-financing basis and did not draw down any Exchequer funding in this period.
Sports Funding
Questions (221)
Finian McGrath
Question:221. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding non-capital grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45733/14]
View answerWritten answers
There is no grant funding available from the Department for current expenditure by sports clubs. However, the purchase of sports equipment is funded under the Sports Capital Programme. There will be a further round of the Sports Capital Programme in 2015.
Road Improvement Schemes
Questions (222)
Brendan Smith
Question:222. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if specific funding will be allocated to Monaghan County Council to upgrade the Ballybay-Cootehill road R190 in view of constant flooding on that route and the danger to motorists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45765/14]
View answerWritten answers
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads such as the R190 is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
The economic reality of recent years has meant significant reductions in roads budgets across the board and this has resulted in some grant programmes being curtailed, including the Specific and Strategic Grant Programmes, in order to protect funding for road maintenance and repair. However it is open to Monaghan County Council to undertake drainage works on the R190 from its Restoration Improvement or Discretionary Grant programmes.
All funding for regional and local roads in 2014 has been fully allocated. I will announce the 2015 grants early in 2015.
It is important to reiterate that the role of Exchequer grants for regional and local roads is to supplement local authorities in their spending in this area and it is also open to Monaghan County Council to fund this work from its own resources.
Proposed Legislation
Questions (223)
Colm Keaveney
Question:223. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 1142 of 4 November 2014 when the legislation to enable the de-designation of national heritage areas will be introduced to the Houses of the Oireachtas; the title of the legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45591/14]
View answerWritten answers
As referred to in my previous reply, my Department is currently working on proposals for legislation on this issue. The proposals would involve amendment of the Wildlife Acts, but specific details have yet to be considered by Government.
It is expected that the matter will be brought to Government in early 2015.
Arts Council Funding
Questions (224)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:224. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on an issue raised by Creative Spark Louth Craftmark (details supplied) regarding funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45615/14]
View answerWritten answers
Although the Arts Council is funded by my Department, it is statutorily independent in its day-to-day operations, as provided for in the Arts Act 2003. This specifically includes independence in its decisions on what it funds and the amounts it allocates. Full information on the Council's funding decisions is made available on its website at www.artscouncil.ie.
As a public body, the Arts Council is required to adhere to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and other practices of good governance and transparency. Disbursal of funding is required to be fully in line with public service financial and accountability requirements. I understand that the Arts Council also requires the organisations it funds to comply with similar standards.
The Deputy will note that, on its website, the Arts Council commits to operating to the highest standards of corporate governance and has adopted a corporate governance regime in accordance with best practice, which includes a section on conflicts of interest.
I am confident that the Arts Council continues to discharge its duty as the principal State agency for the promotion and development of the arts in Ireland, in a strategic but transparent manner.