Tuesday, 3 Mar 2015

Written Answers Nos. 611-626

Rural Transport Programme Funding

Questions (611)

Jack Wall

Question:

611. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total funding budget provided by his Department to Bus Éireann in each of the past five years; the percentage of such funding in each year allocated for rural transport activities; if there is a commitment that Bus Éireann must provide a social dividend to the communities that it serves from such a budget; if so, those who determine such a social dividend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9033/15]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

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 reply within ten working days.

Rural Transport Services Provision

Questions (612)

Jack Wall

Question:

612. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a submission (details supplied) regarding bus routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9034/15]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I am aware of the strong public concern locally about the likely impact of the reduced services as a result of the proposed changes to Bus Éireann's Route 7 services and also JJ Kavanagh's Route 717 services.  At the community meeting in Castlecomer on Monday 22nd February, Bus Éireann agreed to postpone the changes to its licensed Route 7 services until the summer.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) is examining what might be an appropriate PSO service to put in place if funding was made available.  Funding has not been secured at this time but the NTA are preparing the tender documents and plan to procure the services subject to funding.  At the above meeting it was decided to set up a working group comprising local representatives and members of the local community to explore options for the continuation of public transport services in the area.  The NTA and Bus Éireann will actively participate in this process.

The NTA has also been contacted concerning changes on the Expressway Route 5 service from Waterford.  In view of these changes Bus Éireann plans to extend  Route 4 (Dublin–Waterford) to New Ross in order to maintain a link between New Ross and Waterford. Separately, the NTA in conjunction with Bus Éireann, is examining options to re-configure existing subvented services in the south-east in order to maintain socially necessary services to the affected areas following the withdrawal of Route 5.

The Free Travel Pass Scheme comes under the remit of my colleague, An Tánaiste and the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, T.D.

Public Transport

Questions (613)

Jack Wall

Question:

613. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of passengers carried each day of each week for the past three years by Bus Éireann on routes (details supplied) from each stated town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9035/15]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The issue raised is a matter for Bus Éireann 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 response within ten working days.

Sports Events

Questions (614)

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

614. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a ban on alcohol sponsorship for sporting events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9052/15]

Written answers

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

I support the proposals recently approved by Government to reduce alcohol consumption and tackle alcohol misuse. The proposals are outlined in the Heads of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, published by the Minister for Health on 3 February. They include measures relating to pricing, availability, information and marketing of alcohol.

I had previously expressed concerns that a ban on sponsorship of sporting events by the alcohol industry would have negative impacts on the development and availability of sport and consequently on our efforts to maintain and increase sporting participation at local level.   

The Bill does not propose a ban on alcohol sponsorship of sporting events. It provides for the making of regulations governing such sponsorship.  I am happy to support this amended proposal.

Road Projects

Questions (615)

Noel Grealish

Question:

615. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the original route for the Galway city outer bypass cannot be considered again; if he will provide details of the European Court of Justice's judgment on the reason this route cannot be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9055/15]

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, including the N6 Galway City Outer Bypass 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, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NRA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

Driver Licences

Questions (616)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Question:

616. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way a lost or stolen licence can be reported to the national driver licence service from abroad; the reason there is no telephone number to contact the service from abroad on its website; the procedure to be followed when a licence is lost or stolen when abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9127/15]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The operation of the National Driver Licensing Service 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.

Legal Costs

Questions (617)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

617. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department or State bodies or agencies under the aegis of his Department use solicitors firms (details supplied); the amount paid to these solicitors each year from 2011 to 2014 by his Department or State bodies or agencies under the aegis of his Department; the date until which his Department or State bodies or agencies under the aegis of his Department are contracted to use these solicitors firms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9202/15]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The details requested by the Deputy regarding my Department can be found on my Department's website at the following link http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/expenditure-external-services. The awarding of contracts by agencies is a matter for the agencies themselves; I will forward your query to the agencies under the remit of my Department for direct reply to you.

Please contact my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Question No. 618 answered with Question No. 610.

Road Projects

Questions (619)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

619. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the M50; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9230/15]

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.

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.

As operational responsibility for managing traffic on the M50 rests with the NRA, I have referred your question to the NRA for further direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Road Traffic Offences

Questions (620)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

620. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding modified cars; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9238/15]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

While I have no proposals to make the use of modified cars illegal, any modification undertaken must comply with existing Road Traffic legislation.

It is the responsibility of the owner / driver of a vehicle to ensure that their vehicle is roadworthy and does not present a danger to any road users.

The RSA is working to ensure that minimum safety standards apply to any modifications carried out on a vehicle and in this regard two initiatives have already emerged.

The NCT Regulations introduced last July require that, where safety critical modifications have been made to a vehicle since its last NCT, the owner must present a Modifications Report in a particular format completed by the manufacturer or a suitably qualified individual.

The RSA is also engaging with key stakeholders in order to implement a scheme for post registration modifications of M1 vehicles (passenger cars) to N1 (goods) vehicles. It is envisaged that the scheme will require that each modified vehicle must be checked by an NSAI approved test centre. It is proposed that this will initially be a pilot scheme and, if successful, may be extended to cover other categories of vehicle conversions.

Taxi Regulations

Questions (621)

Eoghan Murphy

Question:

621. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will support changes in regulations and-or legislation to permit the introduction of new specialist tourism vehicles in Dublin (details supplied). [9285/15]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector is the responsibility of the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.

Under the 2013 Act the NTA may make regulations for SPSVs and their drivers and may set different requirements and conditions in relation to the licensing and operation of different categories of SPSVs and their drivers.

I am advised that the NTA has made a determination against introducing a licensing category to cover specialist tourism vehicles that would include the type referred to.

Rural Transport Programme

Questions (622)

Seán Kyne

Question:

622. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is a mechanism for supporting the transport co-ordination units in extending their services for specific purposes, such as providing transport for persons availing of a cycling tourism business, and other opportunities, which the units could pursue on a collaborative basis. [9345/15]

Written answers

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

It is the function of Rural Transport Programme (RTP), under which the Transport Co-ordination Units manage rural transport services on behalf of the National Transport Authority (NTA), to address social exclusion in rural areas arising from unmet public transport needs. While it is envisaged that the newly established TCUs will play an important role in embedding integration within transport services planning, primarily by co-ordinating requirements for access to employment, health, social and education opportunities, this would not extend to providing transport services for commercial tourism businesses.

Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Payments

Questions (623)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

623. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of persons who received compensation in the Barroughter, Cloonmoylan and Ardgraigue bog complexes; the number that are individual plot owners; and if one, or more, family members are claiming on the same turf bank. [8891/15]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Some 80 applicants from Barroughter Bog special area of conservation have received payments under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme administered by my Department. 5 applicants have received deliveries of turf. 74 applicants have indicated that they are land owners or turbary right holders and 11 claim to have been cutting with the consent of a land owner or turbary right holder.

74 applicants from Cloonmoylan Bog special area of conservation have received payments under this scheme. 2 applicants have received deliveries of turf. 71 applicants have indicated that they are land owners or turbary right holders and 5 claim to have been cutting with the consent of a land owner or turbary right holder.

21 applicants from Ardgraigue Bog special area of conservation have received payments under the scheme. 19 applicants have indicated that they are land owners or turbary right holders and 2 claim to have been cutting turf with the consent of a land owner or turbary right holder.

These details are summarised in the table.

Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme

Raised Bog Special Area of Conservation	Number of applicants in receipt of payments under the scheme	Number of applicants in receipt of deliveries of turf under the scheme	Number of applicants who have indicated that they are land owners or turbary right holders	Number of applicants who claim to have been cutting turf with the consent of a land owner or turbary right holder
Barroughter Bog	80	5	74	11
Cloonmoylan Bog	74	2	71	5
Ardgraigue Bog	21	0	19	2

Details regarding the familial relationships of people claiming from the same turf bank would not be readily available to my Department.

Legal Costs

Questions (624)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

624. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department or State bodies or agencies under the aegis of her Department use solicitors firms (details supplied); the amount paid to these solicitors each year from 2011 to 2014 by her Department or State bodies or agencies under the aegis of her Department; the date until which her Department or State bodies or agencies under the aegis of her Department are contracted to use these solicitors firms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9188/15]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Since its establishment on 2 June 2011, my Department has not engaged the firms of solicitors to which the Deputy refers and consequently, no payments have been made to them.

With regard to bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group, the Deputy will appreciate that the matters raised are part of the day-to-day operational responsibilities of the bodies in question. Accordingly, the terms of the Question have been transmitted to the heads of relevant bodies with a request that they provide information, to the extent feasible, directly to the Deputy.

Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Applications

Questions (625)

Joe Carey

Question:

625. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if, under the terms of the turf cutting compensation scheme, an applicant may continue to cut turf until 2017 or must cease immediately on payment by her Department, as it may pertain to the case of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9250/15]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

An application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question was received by my Department on 18 February 2015 and has been acknowledged. This application is being assessed and once the assessment is completed my Department will be in contact with the applicant.

The Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Area Network, published in January 2014, which is available to download from my Department’s website, provides detail on future arrangements regarding turf cutting on each of the 75 current raised bog natural heritage areas. The Review has concluded that Ireland could more effectively achieve conservation of threatened raised bog habitat through focused protection and restoration of a reconfigured network. This will entail the phasing out of turf-cutting on certain natural heritage areas by 1 January 2017 and the partial or complete de-designation of certain natural heritage areas.

The individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question claims to have been cutting turf on a bog in a natural heritage area which is one of the bogs on which turf cutting must cease by 1 January 2017. Turf cutting may continue on this bog until that date, on plots that had been cut in the five year period prior to 14 January 2014.

To ensure that cutting does not intensify prior to 1 January 2017 owners of plots or turbary rights who had cut during the five year period must obtain consent from my Department in advance of cutting turf on this site from 2014 - 2016.

The cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been extended to this natural heritage area since 2014. Individuals, who had been cutting turf on this site during the 5 year period prior to 14 January 2014, may decide to cease turf cutting on the site prior to 1 January 2017 and to enter into the scheme at that time. Once an applicant has entered into the scheme it will no longer be possible for the applicant to cut turf on the site or on another site which is remaining as a raised bog natural heritage area.

Arts Funding

Questions (626)

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy

Question:

626. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to consider the provision of additional funding to that already granted, but not drawn down, to a project under Access II (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9323/15]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

In 2007, a capital grant of €2 million was approved in principle for the project referred to in the Deputy's Question. The offer of the grant was subject to a number of conditions, including a condition that my Department's contribution to the project would not exceed €2 million. There are no additional funds available to my Department to increase the level of grant at this time.