Written Answers Nos. 295-303
295. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form the number of rural hackney licence applications that have been received by the National Transport Authority; the number approved and rejected by county in the years, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10783/15]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013, including responsibility for the issuing of rural hackney licences.
I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
296. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will examine and intervene regarding the restoration and continuation of the Dingle to Ballydavid, County Kerry, bus service, whereby Ballydavid village was taken off of the route because of the perception of an inadequate turning point, and the local committee, Coiste Fobairt an Phobail Ceanntar Baile na nGall, in conjunction with Kerry County Council will rectify the problem, if this is the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10884/15]
View answerThe 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.
297. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the new sports capital programme will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10921/15]
View answerI was delighted to announce the opening of the 2015 round of the Sports Capital Programme on Tuesday. I would advise all those who are interested to ensure that they are registered on the online system before 5pm on Friday 10 April 2015 (if not already registered) and to submit their online applications well in advance of the deadline of 5pm on Friday 24 April 2015.
298. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to support the campaign to return bus services to the Castledermot, County Kildare, and the R448 route following recent moves by private providers to stay on the M9 instead of passing through the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10952/15]
View answer300. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of the passenger numbers on Bus Éireann route Nos. 4 and 7; where it is stated by Bus Éireann that a route is unprofitable to travel through regional towns; the measures his Department has taken to investigate before considering a public service obligation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10956/15]
View answer301. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to support efforts to adequately cover bus services for Athy town, County Kildare, following the recent announcement by Bus Éireann to curtail services in that area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10957/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 298, 300 and 301 together.
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question No. 115 which I answered on 10 March 2015 (copy below).
The issues raised are matters for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for securing the provision of public transport services, including the provision of PSO subvented services. I ensured that PSO funding was maintained at current levels in the last Budget, the first time this has happened since 2008. I was also able to secure an additional €101 million in funding for our public transport companies in a Supplementary Estimate.
Expressway services are commercial services operated in competition with private operators on main trunk routes and are licensed by the NTA. These commercial services do not receive any PSO funding from the Exchequer.
I am acutely aware of the concerns of many people regarding recent decisions to withdraw services to a number of intermediate locations on major routes into Dublin. Major improvements to the national roads network have provided the opportunity for commercial bus operators to offer improved journey times between Dublin and the regional cities in particular, with the consequent effect of reducing the level of service provided to a number of intermediate locations.
I should make it clear that there are two routes - not hundreds, as reported in the media - that are currently at issue. These are routes 5 and 7.
At a recent community meeting in Castlecomer, Bus Éireann agreed to postpone the changes to its licensed Route 7 services until June. A working group comprising local representatives and members of the local community and with the active participation of NTA and Bus Éireann will explore options for the continuation of public transport services in the area. The NTA is examining what might be an appropriate PSO service to put in place subject to funding.
Separately, the NTA, in conjunction with Bus Éireann, is examining options to reconfigure existing PSO services in the south-east in order to maintain socially necessary services to the affected areas following the withdrawal of Route 5.
I assure the Deputy that I will continue to work with the NTA on wider issues around transport in rural Ireland over the coming weeks.
299. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount his Department has provided to Bus Éireann in each of the past three years; the way this money is broken down, and the requirement there is for Bus Éireann to have a social conscience regarding its routes in view of the State funding received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10955/15]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for 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.
302. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason funding under the regional and local roads investment programme to Louth County Council has been reduced for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10975/15]
View answerFunding for the national, regional and local road network has been reduced significantly across the board in recent years; in 2008 funding was €2.3 billion while funding this year is around €730 million. Regional and local road allocations in 2015 have seen an overall reduction of 11% on the 2014 start of year figure (this 2014 figure included €50 million in one-off stimulus funding). Louth has not incurred a disproportionate reduction in regional and local road allocations. When allowance is made for the fact that €21.7 million of the reduction is due to certain local authorities becoming self-funding the net reduction in regional and local road grants is 5%.
When the one-off €50 million start of year stimulus boost in 2014 is excluded, the 2015 allocation to Louth, sees a 15% increase on the 2014 allocation across the three main grant categories (Restoration Maintenance, Restoration Improvement and Discretionary Grant). The 2015 regional and local road allocation to Louth was boosted by almost €200,000 in Specific Grants in respect of the R166 Station Road Drumleck-Castlebellingham and the R132 Bridge of Peace in Drogheda. These schemes also received funding totalling €300,000 in 2014. (Most counties did not receive any Specific Grant funding in 2014 or 2015 as this Grant was curtailed).
303. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total amount in legal fees paid by the Road Safety Authority to solicitors' firms each year from 2009 to 2014; the amount paid to each firm in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10998/15]
View answerThe subject matter of this particular question is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and I have referred the question to it for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten days.
