Written Answers Nos. 592 - 601
592. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ensure that there is an increased security presence on the DART and particularly at Donaghmede/Howth Junction and Kilbarrack DART stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49058/14]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for Irish Rail 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 reply within ten working days.
593. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost to the Exchequer of planting trees along the Portlaoise and Monasterevin bypasses prior to their opening in 2003 and 2004, respectively, which trees have subsequently been felled apparently without licences for tree felling having been obtained pursuant to the Forestry Act 1946; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49081/14]
View answer594. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost incurred by the National Roads Authority in felling trees adjacent to the N7 in counties Laois and Kildare without having obtained licences for tree felling contrary to the Forestry Act 1946; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49082/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 593 and 594 together.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism & 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 (including the planting of trees) is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question regarding the cost of tree planting for these schemes to the NRA for direct reply.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
595. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will make funds available for road resurfacing on Strand Road in Sandymount, Dublin 4, in view of the fact the current road cannot facilitate the volume of traffic and large trucks which uses it; and his views on placing a speed tracking sign on the road. [49105/14]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads (such as the R131 Strand Road, Sandymount) is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. The selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority.
Dublin City Council was allocated €6.1m in funding by my Department as part of the 2014 regional and local road grant allocations. In 2015, Dublin City Council will be funding its roads programme itself as a result of the adjustments to Exchequer funding arising from Local Property Tax receipts in Dublin City.
I would also add that traffic management in its area is also a matter for the local authority concerned in conjunction with An Garda Síochána.
596. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of staff in his Department currently on a sabbatical-career break broken down by zero to six months, six to 12 months, one to two years, two to three years, four to five years and more than five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49133/14]
View answerThe information as requested by the Deputy is set out in the table.
|
Duration |
0-6 months |
6-12 months |
1-2 years |
2-3 years |
4-5 years |
5 years+ |
Total |
|
Number of staff |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
There are two further staff who have completed their career break and will resume service in my Department on the 5th January 2015.
597. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide, in tabular form, the total photography costs for his Department since coming to office inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance; the occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49148/14]
View answerPhotography costs incurred by my Department are on its website at the following link. It is the policy of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport that photography costs are kept to a minimum and services are provided in-house by staff. Where services are contracted, best value is sought and a number of quotes are obtained. Services are contracted out on an exceptional basis only. http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/photography-costs.
598. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form, the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department since coming to office; the list of uses of the external public relations firm; the internal Department policy with regard to employing external groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49163/14]
View answerThe Department reviewed its procedures in 2012 concerning photography and PR costs incurred by the Department. It was agreed that such costs should be incurred only where essential, and where possible photography should be done in-house.
Full details of all external services engaged by the Department is available on the Department’s website via http://dttas.ie/corporate/english/expenditure-external-services.
599. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total amount spent on external IT consultants by his Department in 2010 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49178/14]
View answerSince the formation of my Department on the 9th March 2011 there has been no engagement with external IT consultants.
600. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has renegotiated external IT consultancy contracts and costs since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49193/14]
View answerMy Department has not engaged in any external IT consultancy contracts since March 2011.
601. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide the number of appointments to State boards under his Department's remit made since March 2011 to date; the number of vacancies on State boards under his Department's remit since March 2011 to date; the number of vacancies on State boards under his Department's remit publicly advertised since March 2011 to date; and the number of appointments to State boards under his remit drawn directly from the public advertisement process. [49209/14]
View answerDetails of appointments to State Boards are available on my Departments website at the following link via http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/state-board-membership-and-approved-fees.
New procedures for the appointments process were announced by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on 30th September 2014.
These procedures came into effect on 1st November 2014 and consequently now all positions for State Board appointments can be viewed through the Public Appointments Service (PAS) portal at www.stateboards.ie.
