Tuesday, 3 Feb 2015

Written Answers Nos. 1-140

Climate Change Negotiations

Questions (132)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

132. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport now that the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill has been published, his Department's response in terms of the preparation of a sectoral emissions reduction plan; if he plans to prepare a draft plan in anticipation of the national adaptation plan; if such a plan will be left until the latter end of the 2017 timescale envisaged in the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4337/15]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill creates a statutory obligation to develop a National Mitigation Plan for Ireland.  My Department is in the process of preparing our contribution to the Plan and, in keeping with commitments under the Aarhus Convention, my officials intend to invite stakeholders to a consultative workshop over the coming weeks on the transport elements of the Plan.  As the Deputy will know, the National Plan will also incorporate input from the key sectors of electricity generation, built environment and agriculture. 

In terms of the overall timeframe for the development of the National Mitigation Plan, it will be necessary to ensure compliance with the principles and requirements of EU Directives and Regulations associated with Strategic Environmental and Appropriate Assessments.   Not only will these assessments include statutory consultative phases but the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill also provides for a consultation process on the draft National Mitigation Plan. I understand the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Minister Alan Kelly, proposes to allow a significant period of time for the public and stakeholders to feed into the continued development of the Plan.

As the Deputy refers, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill also creates a statutory obligation for my Department to develop a Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the Transport Sector.  Good progress has been made to date and, subject to the level of obligation required in relation to Strategic Environmental and Appropriate Assessments, I would hope to be in a position to publish the Plan by the end of this year.

Land Acquisition

Questions (133)

Seán Kyne

Question:

133. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the model being used, including issues such as the land acquisition and access, to develop greenway projects. [4346/15]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

With regard to the various models used to deliver individual projects it is a matter for the County Council in charge of delivering a specific project to consider access to land on a case by case basis and take a multi-criteria approach in the route selection process.  In the event of a proposed route traversing private land there are a number of options that can be considered by the authority, the first being the permissive access model.  This is a worthy mechanism for certain cycling and walking projects, particularly on a local level.  It is a low cost community based model that provides access to the natural environment without interfering with the property rights of the landowners.

While I fully support the need to consider negotiated financial agreements or, if required, CPO, I certainly recommend that all other options are considered before land purchase is decided on. There is no one size fits all approach to this.

As stated above, negotiated permissive access from the perspectives of cost and public ownership has value but, for projects of national scale, consideration must  be given to land purchase by agreement or if necessary by CPO.   In the context of developing major cycling infrastructure projects that traverse long sections of privately owned land and involve major state investment, it would be precarious to rely on permissive access where the associated agreements may be withdrawn at any time without recourse to the State. 

Sale of Aer Lingus

Questions (134)

Paul Murphy

Question:

134. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the sale of Aer Lingus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4360/15]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I refer the Deputy to my reply to today's Priority PQs 123 and 124  concerning the State's shareholding in Aer Lingus and recent approaches from IAG.  

Sale of Aer Lingus

Questions (135)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

135. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the take-over bid by IAG for Aer Lingus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4362/15]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I refer the Deputy to my reply to today's Priority PQs  123 and 124 concerning the State's shareholding in Aer Lingus and the recent approaches from IAG.  

Sports Capital Programme Administration

Questions (136)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

136. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of plans his Department may have for a sports capital scheme in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4286/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

In 2012 I was pleased to make allocations totalling €31m under the 2012 round of the Sports Capital Programme.  The 2012 round of the SCP was the first round of the Programme since 2008.  The absence of an SCP between 2008 and 2012 meant that there was a huge level of demand for grants. As a result there were a record number of applications in 2012 with a total of 2170 applications. I also made changes to the Programme in 2012 to make it accessible to more clubs and organisations than ever before.  I believe that these changes also led to the record number of applications in 2012. 

I was very pleased to announce a total of €40.5 million last year under the 2014 round of the Sports Capital Programme.  A total of 2,036 applications were received under the 2014 Programme, the second highest number ever received. A total of 821 of the successful allocations were towards local sports clubs and organisations, with the remaining 59 allocated to regional or national projects.

I am delighted that I was successful in receiving enough money for 2015 to launch another round of the SCP this year. This will be the third round of the Programme since this Government came into office, a very significant achievement by any standards, particularly against the backdrop of the continuing economic challenges facing the country and it shows this Government’s commitment to the excellent work being done by sporting organisations throughout the country. 

Detailed preparations are being made at present in my Department for the 2015 SCP. I expect to make an announcement in the near future.

Dublin Bus Services

Questions (137)

Dessie Ellis

Question:

137. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the plans for the Swiftway rapid bus services; and if he will make a commitment to keep the service under the operation of Dublin Bus. [4341/15]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The National Transport Authority's Integrated Implementation Plan 2013-2018 has proposed three Swiftway BRT schemes, Blanchardstown to UCD, Clongriffin to Tallaght and Swords/Airport to City Centre.  The NTA have held two non-statutory public consultations regarding the Swiftway BRT, one  focused on introducing BRT as a new public transport mode for Dublin and the second related to the preferred route for the Swords/Airport to City Centre route. 

The NTA has been progressing some of the technical arrangements for the Swords BRT route and will submit a preliminary Business Case in February. In relation to the Blanchardstown to UCD proposal work is ongoing on the identified route corridor with a view to producing a Final Route Option Report later this year. Work on the  Clongriffin to Tallaght  BRT is at an earlier stage but it is hoped to have the Route Option Report finalised next year. 

No decision will be taken on the Swords/Airport BRT proposal  pending the completion of the Fingal/North Dublin Study which will advise on the best rail project to address the long term needs of the Swords/Airport corridor. I expect to receive this report at the end of March.

It is accepted that BRT will not, on its own, replace rail-based solutions where a higher capacity solution is required in the long-term, such as on the  Swords/Airport corridor.

I will carefully consider  the results of the various reports having regard  to the costs and benefits of each project, affordability and  availability of funding including from non exchequer sources. My aim is to recommend the project that gives best value for money over an appropriate time period.

With regard to the operation of any BRT service, the NTA has entered into a new contract with Dublin Bus for the period up to December 2019.  They have advised that Dublin Bus will undertake the operation of any of the three proposed BRT services that become operational during the period of this public service contract. 

Tourism Promotion

Questions (138)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

138. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a tourism initiative similar to The Gathering is not being developed around the centenary of the 1916 Rising; his plans to commemorate the Rising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4350/15]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The development of the national commemorative programme in 2016 is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.  This programme is being developed in conjunction with relevant stakeholders, including my Department.    In regard to a specific tourism initiative, I will examine the prospective appeal of the programme of events to overseas visitors but I am acutely aware of the commemorative, solemn and respectful nature of many of these events.  I believe that it is fundamental to ensure that is not compromised.  Accordingly, when the programme is finalised, the tourism agencies will integrate information about appropriate events  into their promotion activities so that visitors to Ireland are well informed of the opportunities to experience these events, without prejudicing these sensitive matters.  

The new Tourism Policy Statement, which is due to be published shortly, includes a policy objective to examine how The Gathering or other similar project might be repeated in the future without diluting its impact and to develop the tourism opportunities arising from themed years in other areas of Government.  Specific initiatives to boost tourism, both overseas and domestic, can be considered in that context.  However, any decision on how best to focus supports will be based on overall tourism prospects and development opportunities, underscored by the need to maximise returns on limited resources.

Traffic Management

Questions (139)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

139. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way he plans to address the increasing congestion on the M50; the current capacity reached at rush hour on the M50; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4354/15]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

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, such as the M50 is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.  

A substantial  upgrade of the M50 was completed in 2010. This resulted in the addition of a third lane in both directions from the M1 to Sandyford and a fourth auxiliary lane in places together with the development of freeflow junctions and the introduction of barrier free tolling.  This major investment has significantly enhanced the capacity of the motorway.  There are no proposals at present for further investment in additional capacity. 

One of the conditions attached to an Bord Pleanála's approval of the upgrade was the publication of a scheme of demand management measures. The NRA in conjunction with the relevant local authorities published its M50 Demand Management Report in April 2014.  

Looking to the future and increased travel demand  as the economy recovers further we will need to address congestion across the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and not just on the M50.  In this context I have asked the National Transport Authority, as the agency responsible for strategic traffic management in the GDA, to work with the NRA and the GDA local authorities to prepare a report on congestion and to outline actions and investment that might be required in the short, medium and long term.  I expect the report to be completed within a few months.

Air Navigation Orders

Questions (140)

Mick Wallace

Question:

140. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details on his Department's role in the processing of exemptions for the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973; the arrangements between his Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in this regard; the number of such exemptions granted by his Department in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4348/15]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The carriage of weapons and munitions by civilian aircraft is prohibited under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order, 1973, as amended, unless an exemption has been obtained from the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. My Department's role in the processing of exemptions is to examine and administer applications for exemptions and to issue exemptions to airlines where appropriate, taking account of aviation and other public policy considerations.    

As part of this procedure the views of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are sought in relation to foreign policy issues. The Department of Justice and Equality and the Irish Aviation Authority are also consulted.  A copy of each application is also sent to the Department of Defence for information. There were 606 exemption applications in 2014. 584 permits were issued, three were withdrawn and 19 were refused.