Written Answers Nos. 569-591
570. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason the board of the Inland Fisheries Ireland does not include representation for coarse, pike and sea angling, which generates 79% of the total angling revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49221/14]
View answerThe principal functions of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) are set out at Section 7 (1) of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010, which are the protection, management and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. The Act, in defining the membership of IFI provides that the persons to be appointed shall have experience or capacity in one or more areas defined in the Act; and that they shall be appointed with a view to representing the public interest.
The current Board was appointed in accordance with the provisions of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources appoints members as follows: 3, including the Chairperson, on his own nomination; 1 nominated by the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government; 1 nominated by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs; and 3 nominated on the advice of the Joint Oireachtas Committee relevant to my Department.
The Act also provides that one Board member is appointed following election by the staff of IFI and that the Chief Executive Officer shall be an ex officio member of the Board.
While the board is appointed to act in the public interest, the Deputy will be aware that the National Inland Fisheries Forum in accordance with Section 7 (4) of the Act, makes specific provision for stakeholder input to policy formulation. The Forum is designed to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to contribute to management and development policies and is a valuable channel of communication between the stakeholders and management in this regard.
571. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason Lough Corrib is a special area of conservation, yet Inland Fisheries Ireland has gillnets on this lake to remove pike; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49230/14]
View answer572. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason Inland Fisheries Ireland has increased the size of a pike for the table from 50 cm to 85 cm on trout lakes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49236/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 571 and 572 together.
I am advised that following extensive consultation with both Trout and Pike angling interests, that Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has introduced new Brown Trout and Pike policies and in line with these policies is proposing a change in relation to the size of pike which can be retained on the specific named managed Trout waters.
A small number of waters in the State are selectively managed as wild Brown Trout fisheries where management of the competing species takes place. Pike in these waters are actively managed by IFI and I understand that the proposal is to increase the size of a pike that can be retained from 50 cms to 85 cms. The rationale is that the tourist and domestic angling sector would benefit from the opportunity for anglers to retain one pike per day up to the new proposed size limit and generate a significant positive contribution to the local tourism economy.
Lough Corrib has been managed as a Trout fishery since the 1950s and in that regard certain fish species are managed in order to maximise wild Brown Trout production and survival. The lake continues to be a managed Trout fishery in line with the IFI agreed Brown Trout and Pike policies adopted in 2014.
573. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide, in tabular form per annum from 2009 to date in 2014, the total number of freedom of information requests received by his Department; the total refused; total granted; total part-granted; total appealed; total successful appeals; total part-successful appeals; total refusals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49240/14]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following tables:
|
Number of FOI Requests |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Received |
52 |
55 |
54 |
70 |
39 |
72 |
|
Granted |
22 |
17 |
9 |
16 |
2 |
*2 |
|
Part -Granted |
12 |
22 |
21 |
23 |
13 |
*27 |
|
Refused |
9 |
11 |
4 |
22 |
9 |
21 |
While the table includes all requests received, those requests withdrawn prior to decision are not included. Hence the variance between the total received and the total determined in each decision category
*These figures do not include requests currently under consideration.
|
Number of Internal Review Requests |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
|
1 |
Received |
6 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
|
2 |
*Affirmed Original Decision |
6 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
5 |
|
3 |
*Varied Original Decision |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
4 |
*Withdrawn |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
*Outcomes of Appeals reflect the cases reviewed in the relevant year.
|
Number of FOI Requests to OIC |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
|
1 |
Appealed |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
*1 |
*1 |
|
2 |
**Successful Appeals |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
3 |
**Part Successful Appeals |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
4 |
**Refused |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
*Withdrawn
**Outcomes of Appeals reflect the cases reviewed in the relevant year
574. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide, in tabular form per annum, all external consultant reports commissioned by his Department since March 2011; the costs per report; the company involved; the title of the report; and the publication date. [49255/14]
View answerDetails of the external reports commissioned by my Department are set out in tabular form. My Department administers a very diverse, complex and extremely technical brief across critical and strategic sectors of the Irish Economy. While it has a total complement of around 250 full time equivalent staff of whom a number are technical personnel, the technical, commercial, legal complexity and evolving nature of sectors with which the Department deals requires access to external professional expertise to assist in discharging its functions. In procuring these specialised services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and that these professional services contribute to project delivery and informed, robust and evidence based policy making.
The bulk of the studies are technical and specialist in nature and were necessary to address specific issues as they arose and enable the Department to discharge its policy and project responsibilities in the areas concerned.
|
Consultancy Name |
Purpose of Consultancy |
Cost |
Date of commission |
Date or expected date of publication |
|
Environ UK Limited |
Corrib gasfield project – monitoring compliance with the Conditions of the Department’s Letter of Consent dated 25 February 2011 |
€705,297* (to date) |
June 2011 |
On-going |
|
Dr Michael Johnson |
Silvermines Vegetation Study |
€5,848 |
August 2011 |
This Report will not be published until completion of land purchase |
|
Camp Dresser McKee CDM |
Sampling of Gortmore and Silvermines Vegetation |
€13,890 |
July 2011 |
This Report will not be published until completion of land purchase |
|
Purvin & Gertz |
Strategic Case for Oil Refining requirements |
€193,997 |
August 2011 |
July 2013 |
|
PA Consulting Group |
National Digital Research Centre |
€29,040 |
July 2011 |
This report was not published. The report is commercially sensitive as it is a Strategic Review of the NDRC to inform decisions about the future of the NDRC after the Concession Agreement expires in 2013. |
|
OHH Energy Ltd |
Independent Commission on Meath Tyrone Power Line |
€41,120 |
July 2011 |
17/1/2012 |
|
Elimark |
Independent Commission on Meath Tyrone Power Line |
€38,786 |
July 2011 |
17/1/2012 |
|
2B Energy |
Independent Commission on Meath Tyrone Power Line |
€32,284 |
July 2011 |
17/1/2012 |
|
SLR Consulting |
Core Library Holdings Review |
€39,688 |
Sept 2011 – Dec 2011 |
Jan 2012 |
|
Jenny Deakin |
Preparation for the Graigue Group Water Scheme Report |
€1,750 |
April 2011 – Sept 2011 |
Sept 2011 |
|
Indecon Economic Consultants |
Economic/Socio-Economic Analysis of options for rollout of next generation broadband |
€28,167 |
May 2012 |
This Report will not be published as it is commercially sensitive and may impact on Government procurement in Broadband provision. |
|
Analysys Mason |
Analysis of options for potential State intervention in the rollout of next generation broadband |
€30,522 |
May 2012 |
This Report will not be published as it is commercially sensitive and may impact on Government procurement in Broadband provision. |
|
Thornton’s Chartered Surveyors |
Provision of land valuation and negotiation services |
€3,690 |
July 2012 |
This Report will not be published until completion of land purchase. |
|
Indecon International Economic Consultants |
Assessment of Economic Contribution of Mineral Exploration and Mining in Ireland |
€53,690 |
October 2012 |
Published September 2013. |
|
Indecon (Ireland) |
Provision of a Macro-Economic Research Exercise under the National Digital Strategy to Determine the Value of Internet/Digital to the Irish Economy |
€72,474 |
November 2012 |
Published July 2013 |
|
CDM Smith Ireland Limited |
Environmental Monitoring at former mining areas of Silvermines, Co. Tipperary and Avoca, Co. Wicklow |
€226,142 |
December 2012 |
On completion of scheduled reports |
|
AMEC Earth & Environmental (UK) Ltd |
Expert Services to Monitor Mining Activities and Compliance with terms of State Mining Leases/Licences. |
€63,116 |
December 2012 |
This Report will not be published as it is commercially sensitive |
|
PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd |
Scheduled review of INFOMAR Project |
€59,505 |
Dec 2012 – May 2013 |
Published September 2013 |
|
BEC consultants |
Assistance with statutory assessment of Environmental Statements and Natura Impact Statements accompanying applications for (1) a 2D regional seismic survey and (2) an offshore exploration well (Dunquin) (2 reports received) |
€11,211 |
February 2013 |
Reports published on the Department’s website |
|
Det Norske Veritas |
Expert technical advice to the Department in connection with offshore drilling |
€52,088 |
March 2013 |
Not published. Commercially sensitive |
|
Neary Marketing & Communications |
Review of Irish Geoscience Sector |
€10,000 |
March 2013 – June 2013 |
This Report will not be published as it is commercially sensitive. |
|
BEC consultants |
Assistance with statutory assessment of Environmental Statements and Natura Impact Statements accompanying applications for geophysical surveys including 2D/3D offshore Seismic Surveys and exploration drilling applications (six reports completed in 2013) |
€18,266 (€3,044 fee payable for each report received) |
April 2013 |
Reports published on the Department’s website |
|
Norcontel (Ireland) Ltd |
Market analysis of backhaul infrastructure in Mayo and Galway |
€10,500 |
May 2013 |
Published June 2013 |
|
Selgovia Limited |
Offshore exploration well technical assessment |
€4,429 |
July 2013 |
Not published. Commercially sensitive |
|
Environ UK Ltd |
Establishment of an Administrative Framework for the Conduct of an Irish Offshore Strategic Environmental Assessment |
€23,247 |
November 2013 |
Not published. Commercially sensitive |
|
Environ UK Ltd |
Establishment of an Administrative Framework for the Acquisition of Baseline Information on Marine Species |
€21,973 |
November 2013 |
Not published. Commercially sensitive |
|
AECOM Ltd. |
Economics and Financial Consultancy |
€52, 988 |
November 2013 |
This Report will not be published as it remains confidential. |
|
Indecon (Ireland) |
Economic Analysis of the Advertising Market in Ireland |
€71,438 |
December 2013 |
Ongoing |
|
BEC consultants |
Assistance with statutory assessment of Environmental Statements and Natura Impact Statements accompanying applications for geophysical surveys including 2D/3D offshore Seismic Surveys and exploration drilling applications (five reports completed to date in 2014). |
€33,247 (€3,653 fee payable for each report received) |
February 2014 |
Reports published on the Department’s website |
|
Wood Mackenzie |
Review of Ireland’s Oil and Gas Fiscal System |
€212,873 |
12/3/2014 |
Published June 2014 |
|
Neary Marketing & Communications |
Review of Geoscience Ireland Business Cluster |
€5,000 |
March 2014 – July 2014 |
This Report will not be published as it is commercially sensitive. |
|
PA Consulting |
Post Project Evaluation of the Tellus Border project |
€24,750 |
March 2014-July 2014 |
Published July 2014 |
|
Perspective Associates Ltd |
The provision of independent expert advice relating to the identification of an appropriate framework for determining whether a compilation of programme material offered by a contractor under s. 71 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 has the ‘character of a public service’. |
€5,000 |
18/07/2014 |
This process is ongoing. |
|
Environ UK Ltd |
Assistance with the Production of the Irish Offshore Strategic Environmental Assessment (IOSEA) 5 |
€217,164 |
October 2014 |
Ongoing |
|
KN Network Services |
To provide a due diligence assessment on the current status of the Galway-Mayo telecoms duct. |
€62,500 |
2014 |
The report will not be published, it will be used to assist with the appointment of a Management Services Entity for the duct. |
|
Gemserv |
To provide an interim privacy impact assessment on the implementation of the National Postcode System |
€42,446 |
August 2014 |
Interim report and the process is ongoing |
|
Ricardo - AEA |
REFIT 3 Review |
€4,500 (excl VAT) |
2014 |
This document remains part of the deliberative process and contains commercially sensitive information. |
* These costs are recouped from the Operator of the Corrib gasfield project.
575. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide, in tabular form, the total amount spent per annum in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014 on staff subsistence payments and taxi payments; if his Department has been audited for tax compliance on these payments and other benefits-in-kind; if these processes have been revised in view of Revenue Commissioners' concerns over practices in other State bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49321/14]
View answerThe table outlines the amount paid in subsistence and taxi payments in my Department from 2011 to date.
|
2011 (000) |
2012 (000) |
2013 (000) |
2014 (to date) (000) |
|
|
Subsistence payments |
197 |
214 |
187 |
191 |
|
Taxi payments |
24 |
26 |
35 |
30 |
All travel and subsistence payments made to staff in my Department are made in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regulations. In respect of vouched expenses, for example, taxis, receipts are required and staff are required to keep them and have them available for inspection if required. Furthermore, costs claimed are in respect of expenses already incurred. As part of their annual audit, the Comptroller and Auditor General carries out an audit of payments, including subsistence payments, to ensure compliance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regulations. There are no benefit in kind payments made to staff in my Department.
In relation to the tax compliance, the Revenue Commissioners have not undertaken an audit of my Department in relation to these payments.
576. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total legal costs incurred by his Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and estimated in 2014. [49336/14]
View answerMy Department administers a very diverse and complex brief. Its remit includes oversight of very complex policy areas and direct procurement of major services where protection of the State’s interest must be paramount. This situation necessarily requires my Department to procure specialist external professional advice in legal areas to enable it to discharge its responsibility to deliver quality services and protect the interests of the State and the taxpayer. The table sets out the total legal costs incurred by my Department in the years 2011 to 2014. There was no expenditure on legal fees in 2013. Estimated legal expenses in 2014 amount to €78,200.84
DCENR Legal Costs
|
2011 € |
2012 € |
2013 € |
2014 (estimated) € |
|
335,335.74 |
102,222.88 |
0.00 |
78,200.84 |
My Department always seeks to obtain value for money in procuring specialised legal services.
577. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied with the current arrangements surrounding the position of chairperson of An Post in view of that person's change in employment location; the way this new arrangement will operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49364/14]
View answerWhile I am aware of the forthcoming changes in relation to the employment status of the Chairman of An Post, I am assured that this will not affect the carrying out by the Chairman of his current role in relation to An Post. The current arrangements will continue to apply and any future practical or operational arrangements will be a matter for the Board and the company to settle if or when such arise.
579. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has published its annual report for 2013. [48778/14]
View answerAs stated to the Deputy in Dáil Question No: 744 of the 15th July 2014 my Department's Annual Report for 2013 was published on 25th June.
580. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the inability of persons to make appointments for car testing with the National Car Test, more than three months prior to the date of their intended appointment; if he will supportive of increasing the time limit such that appointments will be made within six months prior to the test being required. [48794/14]
View answerUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has responsibility for the delivery of the National Car Test. The RSA has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight, development, quality assurance and delivery of vehicle testing arrangements.
In anticipation of the current strong demand for tests arising from the recent changes the penalty points regime, the RSA has run a campaign over the past few months to encourage people to book their test early. As the Deputy is aware, an NCT test may be undertaken up to 90 days in advance of the due test date without affecting the expiry date of the new certificate. This system is there to ensure that owners have ample time to have their vehicle tested before their current NCT certificate expires.
I have no proposals to extend this advance period. I would however, encourage people to avail of the advance booking facility. The RSA informs me that the advance booking period of 90 days does not, in itself, present any problems; any hurdle to be overcome arises from getting more people to use it.
581. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current waiting time for an appointment for the national car test in the test centre in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48825/14]
View answerThe Road Safety Authority (RSA) has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight and delivery of the National Car Test and as such, statistics relating to NCT waiting times at any particular test centre is a matter for the Authority.
I have therefore referred this Question to the RSA for direct reply. Please advise my Office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
582. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding bus services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48903/14]
View answer584. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48908/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 582 and 584 together.
The issues raised are matters for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with the bus transport providers and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive responses within ten working days.
583. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address the serious concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the national car test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48905/14]
View answerChanges to the penalty points regime which came into effect on 8th December last were legislated for under the Road Traffic Act 2014. Those changes relate to a range of measures, including the National Car Test (NCT) system, which contribute to making our roads safer for all users and I do not propose to revisit them. It has, for some years, been an offence to use a vehicle on public roads without a valid NCT certificate. Prior to the recent change, this offence involved a direct summons to court and the assignment of 5 penalty points on conviction. The provisions in the 2014 Act brought this offence within the fixed charge notice system. An alleged offender will now be issued with a fixed charge notice and, on payment of the €60 charge, will have 3 penalty points assigned to their licence. The driver will, of course, continue to have the option of going to court where 5 points will still apply on conviction.
I understand from the Road Safety Authority that any car owner should receive an NCT appointment within 28 days and that in order to meet this standard, in some cases, the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) holds requests on a waiting list until a suitable slot is found. In the majority of cases, customers are given a slot within the required timescale.
The RSA has run a campaign over the past few months to encourage people to book early, as the test may be undertaken up to 90 days in advance of the due test date without affecting the expiry date of the new certificate. This system is to ensure that owners have ample time to have their vehicle tested before their current NCT certificate expires.
Enforcement of the relevant legislation is a matter for An Garda Síochána. If a person’s NCT test date is imminent, it will be a matter for the Gardaí to use their discretion. However, responsibility rests with owners and users of vehicles to ensure their vehicles are in compliance with the law.
585. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the stated view of Dublin City Council that primary legislation is required to regulate the carrying of passengers by rickshaws in the city of Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48931/14]
View answerRickshaws are pedal cycles pursuant to road traffic legislation and fall subject to the requirements applying to pedal cycles when used on the road.
Local authorities regulate many activities at local level through bye-laws made under local government legislation in keeping with Government policy on the devolution of responsibility for local services and functions to local government at a local level. Rickshaws by their nature operate at a local level. I am advised that one local authority has introduced bye-laws which prohibit the operation of rickshaws in its administrative area.
I am aware that Dublin City Council has identified concerns that the powers available to it to make by-laws relating to rickshaws pursuant to local government legislation. The question of whether it is necessary to amend those powers in local government legislation is one for my colleague the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government.
586. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding road traffic legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48944/14]
View answerThe Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014 is currently before the Houses of the Oireachtas. When passed into law it will provide that all penalty points incurred following the payment of a fixed charge notice since 1 August 2014 will be endorsed on a person’s licence record.
I am advised by the Attorney General that the proposals being put forward in this Bill are compatible with the Constitution. The Bill does not introduce any new offences or make any behaviour an offence which was not an offence at the time. Furthermore, the fine paid under the fixed charge system was and is the punishment under the law for the offence. The endorsement of penalty points on a licence record is an administrative consequence following on commission of the offence and payment of the fixed charge penalty. The new legislation addresses a flaw in the legislation regarding this consequence.
The passing of this legislation will not preclude a person from taking any legal challenge regarding the endorsement of penalty points on their licence record.
587. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the legislation that outlaws cycling on the footpath; his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the Garda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49007/14]
View answerFootpaths are restricted to pedestrians only, as defined in section 2 of the Roads Act 1993. By definition, cyclists are therefore excluded from using footpaths.
Under the terms of section 87 of the Road Traffic Act 2010, as amended, Gardaí, fire and ambulance services are exempt from a range of road traffic legislation while using vehicles. While the definition of ‘vehicle’ in this context includes bicycles, the legislation from which the exemption applies is the Road Traffic Acts from 1961 onwards. It does not provide an exemption from the Roads Act 1993.
588. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding overcrowding on the DART; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49011/14]
View answerThe issues raised are matters for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann. I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA and Iarnród Éireann for direct replies.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive replies within ten working days.
589. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the priorities in his Department for the remainder of the term of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49030/14]
View answerIn addition to the commitments under the Programme for Government that fall within the responsibility of my Department, the additional priorities of my Department are the:
- Further development of our public transport network and services on a sustainable basis, including completion of the Cross City LUAS project
- Proper maintenance of our local, regional and national roads network with improvements such as the Newlands Cross Junction upgrade.
- Continuing efforts to reduce road fatalities by promoting road safety awareness and legislating against drug driving.
- Implementation of the National Ports Policy 2013 to support the sustainable growth of our ports and harbours.
- Development and implementation of a National Aviation Policy to ensure the right conditions exist for a flourishing aviation industry in the future.
- Publication of New Tourism Strategy to drive tourism revenue, building on the continued success of the Wild Atlantic Way and specifically targeting growth in visitor numbers to Dublin, through the Grow Dublin Tourism Alliance, and to the South and East regions.
- Delivery of National Sports Campus and the continued provision of sports facilities at local level through the Sports Capital programme.
- Department's Annual Report, Departmental Statistics, Statement of Strategy and the Programme for Government Reports.
These priorities are already published on my Department's website at the following link Departments of Transport, Tourism and Sport Priorities.
590. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to approve further funding to Galway County Council for storm remedial and prevention works sent to the directorate for fire and emergency management on 7 April 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49040/14]
View answerThere were a number of severe weather events from late 2013 into 2014. After the December/January damage the Government acknowledged that the budgets of Local Authorities and relevant Departments/Offices did not provide for the estimated direct financial costs for clean-up and infrastructure repair and restoration works. The Government agreed that additional funding (€16.2m) would be made available to Local Authorities for regional and local roads via the Vote of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
The Department was in contact with local authorities at various points during the year in relation to progress on works required to repair damage caused to roads by severe weather and to establish what funding would be drawn down this year. Based on the responses from local authorities a Supplementary Estimate for €14.1 million was approved in mid-December for the Department to cover expenditure on roads related to severe weather damage. Under this Supplementary Estimate a payment was made in 2014 to Galway County Council for works to the value of €1,442,405.
In addition to the €14.1m, works to the value of some €2.1 million (including a carryover of €730,000 for Galway County Council) are due to be undertaken in 2015.
Regarding the later phase of severe weather from 27 January 2014 to 17 February 2014, no decision has been taken by Government regarding funding to repair damage to roads. Local authorities will have to manage repairs by prioritising works from within existing resources in 2015. I will announce the 2015 grants early next year.
591. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding allocated to construct bus shelters for Dublin Bus over the past three years; his plans for new bus shelters for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49056/14]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for developing public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA). In addition their functions have been extended to include securing or providing bus stops, bus shelters, bus stations, stands and bus fleets in the State.
Noting this I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
