Written Answers Nos. 607-622
608. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to provide a new driver tester centre in County Galway to cater for all vehicles and which would be more suitable for the purpose than the present centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46305/14]
View answerThe operation of the driver testing service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. This includes the location of and facilities at test centres. I have therefore forwarded 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.
609. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of serious incidents reported by the Irish Aviation Authority in 2013 and to date in 2014; if he is satisfied that the current resources allocated to the IAA are sufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46313/14]
View answerThe question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). I have forwarded his request to the IAA for direct reply. If he does not receive a reply within the next ten days he should contact my private office directly.
The IAA is a commercial semi-State company; it does not receive any State funding. It is a matter for the Board and management of the IAA on how best to allocate the resources it has available at any given time in order to perform its statutory functions.
610. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will extend car-free zones to cities across Ireland on Sunday mornings to promote cycling, walking and casual trading; his views on this year's European mobility week; his Department's expenditure on the week; his views on reverse tolling practices during the week as in Norway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46359/14]
View answerThe responsibility of extending car-free zones is a matter for the individual local authorities in collaboration with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.
My Department has no involvement in the organisation of events related to this year's European Mobility Week (EMW). The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is the lead Department in relation to this issue.
However, my Department administers a number of schemes that are closely aligned to the theme of European Mobility week. Examples of these schemes are:
- Nine active travel town projects currently under development by Local Authorities with the aim of achieving an increase in modal shift from the car to cycling and walking;
- Smarter travel demonstration projects in Limerick, Dungarvan and Westport and the outcomes with these projects will inform the Department’s policy going forward in the whole area of smarter travel:
- Green Schools Programme which is run by the National Transport Authority (NTA). There is a similar programme also run by the NTA and funded by this Department to get Workplace and College campuses to modify their modes of transport away from using the car to public transport, cycling and walking;
- The Department also ran a very successful Bike Week in June with participation by local communities across the country, facilitated through the Local Authorities;
- Galway City launched the Coke Zero bike scheme on 24 November and Limerick and Cork cities are to follow shortly;
- The NTA, an agency of the Department, also runs smarter travel projects in Dublin and the Greater Dublin Area and in the regional cities.
My Department has no knowledge of reverse tolling practices during EMW in Norway.
611. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to create on-street ticket vending machines at high-use bus stops throughout Dublin and Cork cities in order to decrease the volume of cash payments as they can adversely affect scheduled punctuality. [46361/14]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the provision of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA). The Authority also manages the Regional Cities Programme on behalf of my Department which funds the development of sustainable public transport measures in the regional cities of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.
Noting this I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. The Deputy should advise my private office if he does not receive a reply within ten working days.
612. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the plans to electrify the national rail network in order to help meet our carbon emissions targets and increase energy efficiencies. [46362/14]
View answerThere are no plans at present to electrify the national rail network due to the potential costs involved. Analysis has shown that the existing level of funding for the railway network is considerably less than required to maintain the existing network, and there is no possibility of this gap being closed through rail passenger revenues.
Under the current capital plan the focus is on maintaining and extracting the maximum value from existing assets. Furthermore, the key priority over the coming years will be to protect investment made to date and to maintain safety standards. If additional funds are available, which is not certain, there will be many competing projects from all transport modes in all regions. Any additional funds will be prioritised for projects for which there is a clear need, which are affordable, have a sound business case and add value to existing infrastructure.
Subject to funding availability, some projects which are part of the overall DART Underground Programme, and which have capacity benefits in and of themselves, may proceed over the next number of years. One of these projects is the extension of the electrified DART network from Malahide to Balbriggan.
The island of Ireland is exempt from the requirements, under the new EU Ten-T Regulation, to electrify rail networks.
613. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions he will take to address the significant increase in cyclist injuries on our roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46372/14]
View answerWe are all agreed on the need to prioritise safety on our roads. This is particularly the case for vulnerable road users, including cyclists.
The figures for cyclist deaths this year, at 11 as against five for the whole of last year, are concerning. There is of course no single measure or factor which alone will deliver safety on our roads. We are pursuing a range of measures, in line with the Road Safety Strategy (RSS) 2013-2020, in order to ensure greater safety for all users of roads, including cyclists.
The RSS contains a number of measures to ensure greater safety in cycling. These include: education to promote use of personal protection equipment and high visibility clothing; developing a standardised road safety cycling proficiency training programme for schools; and evaluating the cost-benefit of reducing VAT on personal protection equipment.
In addition, the National Transport Authority, which has responsibility for providing sustainable transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area and the regional cities, provides funding to local authorities for a range of schemes to benefit cyclists, including both infrastructure and other measures to improve safety for commuters under the Sustainable Transport Management Grants Programme.
I am keen to encourage cycling as a healthy and environmentally friendly mode of transport. Making cycling safer is an essential part of achieving that goal. As in all areas of road safety, this involves a range of measures, but, ultimately, it is also important that cyclists, like all road-users, take responsibility for their own safety.
614. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of persons currently working in animation studios here; the steps being taken to create job opportunities for graduates here with animation qualifications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45896/14]
View answer616. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to capitalise the recent success of Ireland's animation industry; her views on whether Ireland's animation industry is getting adequate supports from the Government and the Irish Film Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45894/14]
View answer617. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the efforts she has made to support employment in the Irish film industry particularly in animation; if appropriate training and career development programmes are in place in the Munster region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45895/14]
View answerI propose to take Question Nos. 614, 616 and 617 together.
Primary responsibility for the support and promotion of film-making in Ireland, in respect of both the indigenous sector and inward productions, is a matter for the Irish Film Board (IFB). The IFB is the statutorily independent agency responsible for the promotion and development of the Irish film industry, including the animation sector.
Irish animation is a dynamic, growing and highly international sector that is making a significant impact on the global animation scene. Irish media and entertainment companies are becoming more export focused, providing award-winning content that is bought by companies such as Disney, Nickelodeon and the BBC and viewed by millions in over 130 territories worldwide. It is estimated that over 1,000 persons are employed as technical and creative staff in animation studios in Ireland.
The Government remains focused on the development of this sector, with the following supports in place: the recently enhanced 32% Section 481 film tax incentive, which is available for film and television, is in place until 2020; investment in Irish talent and Irish animated film and television content is made through development and production loans from the IFB; strategic company development support is available through Enterprise Ireland (EI); international promotional support is available from the IFB and EI for the industry at major festivals and international markets; investment in training is available from Screen Training Ireland (STI), the training arm of the IFB, as well as through Animation Skillsnet, which is funded from the National Training Fund through the Department of Education and Skills; and support for TV animation projects with an Irish broadcaster is available from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.
The development and promotion of Irish animated content is a priority for the IFB. To this end, the IFB provides a significant level of development funding for home-grown Irish content, which aims to off-set some of the risk in the development of Irish animated content and IP. Since 2009, the IFB has invested almost €1.6 million in the development of Irish animated film and TV projects, which is directly aimed at supporting the growth of the animation sector.
The IFB is the largest funder for animation production activity in the country. Since 2006, the agency has provided almost €11 million in funding for Irish content to the sector. The level of IFB support for the animation sector did not reduce following the economic downturn, despite the overall reduction in IFB funding since 2008.
The IFB, through STI, provides training across all sectors of the industry and is particularly active in the area of digital production, which includes animation. Over the past number of years, STI has trained almost 1,500 professionals at all levels in the animation industry. These ranged from graduates entering the industry to animation CEOs, including animation directors, production managers, producers, storyboard artists and animators, together with a diversity of digital artists specialising in a range of disciplines in animation, including rigging, lighting, texturing and shading.
STI and the IFB have for the past two years supported The Bridge Programme, an initiative of Animation Skillnet and the Dublin Business Innovation Centre, which pairs teams of animation graduates with local studios on active projects, in order to expose them to professional working practices in a studio environment. Many of these graduates have subsequently found employment in animation studios.
615. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding and grant assistance that may be available for the restoration, renovation and refurbishment of churches and cathedrals; the qualifying criteria and application process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45820/14]
View answerIn 2014, my Department was provided with an allocation of €5 million Capital Stimulus funding for a new Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme to assist with works to safeguard protected structures, in private and civic ownership, protected under the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2014. This scheme is funding works to over 100 churches and cathedrals nationwide. The scope to provide additional funding for the protection, conservation and development of the State’s heritage is constrained by the current national economic difficulties and the significant reduction in the public finances. However, my Department will continue to provide funding for the protection, conservation and development of our built and natural heritage, in so far as resources allow. My Department is currently considering the funding available for the protection and conservation of the built heritage in 2015 in the context of its overall allocation and I will publish details of funding schemes for 2015 as soon as these are finalised.
Questions Nos. 616 and 617 answered with Question No. 614.
618. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the provisions in her Department's budget 2015 to provide for additional staff for Killarney House and gardens in support of the €7.1 million investment in the project; when required staff will be appointed; when the facility will be open to the public. [46001/14]
View answerThe staffing requirements for Killarney House and Gardens, as with all other areas of my Department, will remain the subject of on-going consideration in light of the overall business needs and within the pay framework approved for 2015. It is the intention that the facility will be opened to the public in 2015.
619. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of units owned by Údaras in the Dingle area, County Kerry, currently unoccupied; the total wage bill for Údaras at its Dingle office; if he will provide in tabular form the grants paid by the Dingle office of Údaras between 1996 and 2006. [46095/14]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that the details sought by him are extensive and, accordingly, it has not been possible to collate the requested information in the time available. Údarás na Gaeltachta has been requested to supply the relevant data as soon as possible and I can assure the Deputy that it will be forwarded directly to him by An tÚdarás when it becomes available.
620. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a historic structure (details supplied) in County Kerry will be listed as a national monument in State care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46113/14]
View answerWhile the structure referred to by the Deputy is included in the Record of Monuments and Places maintained under section 12 of the National Monuments Acts 1930, as amended, there are no proposals to take it into State care. As referred to in my reply to Question No. 192 on 19 November 2014, the structure is under serious threat from coastal erosion. Overall policy for coastal protection, including coastal flooding and erosion, is a matter for the Office of Public Works, while the identification and addressing of coastal protection measures in any particular area is a matter in the first instance for the relevant local authority concerned. My Department continues to be available to offer advice should any proposals for coastal protection works at the site be brought forward.
621. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps taken by her Department towards the creation of a Liffey Valley national park in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46167/14]
View answerI understand that in 2006 a strategy document entitled ‘Towards a Liffey Valley Park’ was developed under the direction of a steering group, which included the Office of Public Works, Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council, Kildare County Council and South Dublin County Council. The strategy document set out recommendations for the creation of a process towards the establishment of a park with a management framework for the Liffey Valley area. The implementation of those recommendations, or similar steps, is a matter for the local authorities concerned. The strategy document did not recommend the designation of Liffey Valley as a National Park and the position in that regard remains unchanged.
622. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of State board appointments that have been made under the aegis of her Department in 2014 without being advertised; the number that have been made of persons who had not formally applied for consideration of the particular appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46541/14]
View answerThe Government recently agreed on a Revised Model for Ministerial Appointments to State Boards, which complements the existing system with a more structured approach to ensure that vacancies on State Boards are populated in a transparent way by the high-calibre personnel required to successfully fulfil their mandates. Guidelines in this regard have just been published by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and I am now working to implement this revised model in my Department.
With regard to the information sought by the Deputy, I am advised that, during 2014: eight appointments were made where the positions were not advertised; 18 re-appointments were made, the bulk of which related to a single body with an academic focus on which the members serve pro bono; and three people were appointed to boards in an ex-officio capacity on the nomination of an external body. In three instances, vacancies were advertised but were filled by people who had not responded to the public advertisement of the vacancies in question. For completeness, I should say that one appointment was made by the North South Ministerial Council to an agency of a North South Implementation Body, on foot of the process by which such nominations are proposed on a 50:50 basis from each jurisdiction.
