Michael Colreavy
Question:253. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the discussion he had on hydraulic fracturing at the recent climate change conference in Peru. [48638/14]
View answerClimate Change Negotiations
Questions (253)
Written answers
I had no discussions on hydraulic fracturing during my participation in the recent climate change conference. At a national level the position remains as outlined to the House on a number of occasions, no decisions will be made on any proposal for the use of hydraulic fracturing in exploration drilling as part of an unconventional gas exploration programme, until there has been time to complete and consider the outcome of a major research programme, directed at examining the potential environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing, which has been commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Road Traffic Legislation
Questions (254, 270)
Paul Murphy
Question:254. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will introduce legislation on the regulation of the sale of quad bikes and their use in public parks (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48620/14]
View answerPaul Murphy
Question:270. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the legislation on the regulation of the use and sale of quad bikes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48621/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 254 and 270 together.
It is not clear from the Deputy's questions as to what aspect of use and sale of quad bikes he is referring. The Road Traffic Acts set out the legislation which must be complied with by users of mechanically propelled vehicles in a public place.
For the purposes of road traffic legislation a “public place” means any public road, and any street, road or other place to which the public have access with vehicles whether as of right or by permission and whether subject to or free of charge.
Public parks come under the management and control of the relevant local authority or the Office of Public Works and are covered by separate statutory provisions. If the parks are places where the public do not have access to with vehicles, it is a matter for the management body concerned to provide for, and enforce, relevant governing legislation or bye-laws (including the use of quad bikes) to ensure that all persons comply with the permitted use of the park.
There is no legislation under the Road Traffic Acts preventing the sale of quad bikes for exclusive off-road use.
Local Improvement Scheme
Questions (255)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:255. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will reinstate a budget and make it available to Kerry County Council to restart a programme to deal with local improvement scheme applications of which there are 140 on a priority list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48634/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Local Improvement Scheme remains in place and it provides funding for roads and laneways that Councils have not taken in charge. However, the maintenance and improvement of these is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowner. There is no separate allocation for the LIS. Instead, local authorities may use up to 15% (up from 7% in 2013) of their initial Discretionary Grant towards local improvement schemes should they wish to do so. The local contribution for these schemes remains at 20% of the total cost of the project. Furthermore, it is open to local authorities to supplement the percentage of their Discretionary Grant that they can use for the LIS with their own resources. This position is likely to extend into 2015.
Some local authorities want a ring-fenced LIS allocation for private roads while others prefer to put the funding into public roads. I think this decision is best made at a local level.
Road Safety Authority Campaigns
Questions (256)
Clare Daly
Question:256. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the members of the Road Safety Authority driver certificate of professional competence, CPC, review groups which sat in 2013 were overlooked at the RSA Leading Light Awards in both 2013 and 2014, when a precedent had been set in 2012 when members of the RSA driver CPC groups, prior to that, received special recognition awards at the Leading Light ceremony for their voluntary efforts in sitting on the review committees. [48535/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Leading Lights in Road Safety Awards are organised and presented by the Road Safety Authority to celebrate the outstanding efforts of people to improve road safety in their communities. Neither I nor my Department has any role in the operation of the system or in the selection of Award recipients.
I have referred the Deputy's 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.
Driver Safety
Questions (257)
Clare Daly
Question:257. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of professional bus drivers, category D and category D1, who were issued with a driver certificate of professional competence, CPC, card in September 2013 and the number of those drivers who completed a relevant module of their periodic training prior to 9 September 2014. [48536/14]
View answerWritten answers
The operation of the Certificate of Professional Competence system is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred this 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.
Driver Safety
Questions (258)
Clare Daly
Question:258. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of professional truck drivers, category C and C1, who were issued with a driver certificate of professional competence, CPC, card in respect of those categories before 9 September 2014. [48537/14]
View answerWritten answers
The operation of the Certificate of Professional Competence system is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. 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.
Driver Safety
Questions (259)
Clare Daly
Question:259. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of candidates who sat and successfully passed the transport management certificate of professional competence, CPC, by venue to date in 2014. [48539/14]
View answerWritten answers
The information for 2014 is set out in the following table.
|
CPC Centre - 2014 |
No. of Candidates |
No. of Passing Candidates |
|
Bus Éireann |
10 |
10 |
|
Galway |
30 |
24 |
|
Athlone |
7 |
6 |
|
Birr |
26 |
22 |
|
Mullingar |
6 |
6 |
|
Letterkenny |
24 |
17 |
|
Cavan |
6 |
4 |
|
Dublin (Green Isle) |
110 |
86 |
|
Dublin (Sheldon Park) |
64 |
45 |
|
Limerick |
30 |
22 |
|
Cork |
37 |
31 |
|
LIT Limerick Students |
42 |
22 |
|
DIT Students |
13 |
4 |
|
Curragh (Armed Forces) |
16 |
15 |
|
Enniscorthy |
6 |
6 |
|
Maynooth |
15 |
14 |
Public Transport Provision
Questions (260)
Clare Daly
Question:260. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of specific road passenger service route licence applications received, rejected and granted during 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will provide details of same. [48540/14]
View answerWritten 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.