Thursday, 26 Mar 2015

Written Answers Nos. 260-269

North-South Interconnector

Questions (260)

Sean Conlan

Question:

260. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason the North South Interconnect Project did not have the same methodologies applied as grid west when considering viable underground route options, despite the fact that the independent expert panel had requested additional information in relation to underground options, and in particular the findings of the Tobin Report, which indicated that a trench of 1.1 metre wide and 1.35 metre in depth was required in comparison with the Parsons Brinckerhoff Power Report, which showed the necessity for a 20 to 22 metre working swathe, which meant that the local and regional roads were not wide enough; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12662/15]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

I am advised that in June 2014 EirGrid provided the Independent Expert Panel with a description of the comparative analysis carried out by EirGrid of the underground cable and the overhead line options considered for the North South project. This description included information specifically requested by the Panel in respect of EirGrid's consideration of the suitability of public roads as a routing option for the underground cable options. In July 2014 the Panel provided its opinion to the Minister on the compatibility of the methodologies to be employed on the Grid West and Grid Link projects with what has already been done on the North South project. The Panel found that the methodologies employed were compatible and that no material differences arose.

Departmental Contracts Data

Questions (261)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

261. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a list, in tabular form, of all contracts and tenders awarded by his Department to a company (details supplied) since 1 January, 2004, including any such awarded singularly or as a joint bid or consortium including said company; if he will indicate which Department, Agency or semi-State company was the contacting party in each case; the value in each case; the purpose of each contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13108/15]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

My Department has not awarded any contracts to the company referred to in the Deputy's question since the establishment of the Department in 2007.

It is not possible from the information supplied to fully confirm whether a contract was awarded to a joint bid or consortium including the said company. Only the lead contractor in such a case would appear on the Department's financial records and I can confirm that the company referred to in the Question does not appear as a lead contractor.

I have asked the Agencies under the aegis of my Department to supply the requested information, where relevant, in respect of those Agencies, directly to the Deputy.

Emergency Services Personnel

Questions (262, 266)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

262. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he will report on the current situation regarding drivers of emergency response vehicles attending to emergencies in relation to their rights, insurance coverage, right- of-way and responsibilities while on duty; the way this may affect their personal rights and insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12477/15]

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

266. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he has been in contact with the Minister for Justice and Equality, and the Road Safety Authority to address the issues surrounding the drivers of emergency response vehicles attending to emergencies; if he will report on their rights, insurance coverage, rights-of-way and responsibilities while on duty; the way this may affect their personal rights and insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12478/15]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 and 266 together.

Road traffic legislation provides that vehicles driven by members of emergency services during the course of their duties are exempt from a range of traffic laws.  This applies to An Garda Síochána, as well as fire and ambulance services, and is set out in section 87 of the Road Traffic Act 2010, as amended by section 23 of the Road Traffic Act 2014. 

The reference to sections from which the organisations concerned are not exempted includes intoxicated driving (sections 49 and 50 of the Principal Act, 4 and 5 of the 2010 Act), driving without reasonable consideration (section 51A of the Principal Act), careless driving (section 52 of the Principal Act), dangerous driving (section 53 of the Principal Act), obligations to provide breath, blood or urine samples as required (sections 12, 13 and 15 of the 1994 Act, 12 and 14 of the 2010 Act).   

I am satisfied that road traffic legislation in respect of the use of emergency response vehicles as set out above is satisfactory and I have not been in contact with either the Minister for Justice and Equality or the Road Safety Authority regarding the matters raised.

Insurance Costs

Questions (263)

Michael McGrath

Question:

263. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the change in the cost of motor insurance as measured by the Central Statistics Office in each year following the introduction of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board; his views on the operation of the motor insurance market here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12634/15]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The Injuries Board (previously known as the Personal Injuries Assessment Board) was set up under the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003, and commenced operations in 2004. The Board's first annual report was published for 2004. Percentage changes in the cost of motor insurance as quantified by the Central Statistics Office, and available from the CSO StatBank, are set out in the table below.

As can be seen from this table there has been a significant fall in the cost of motor insurance since the Injuries Board was established showing a reduction of over 24% from 2003 to 2014. 

I consider that the PIAB Acts and the Injuries Board have had a significant positive role in reducing the processing costs of many motor insurance claims with a consequential beneficial effect in reducing motor insurance premiums and in encouraging insured driving.  I would support any further measures which would encourage claimants to pursue their claims through the more cost-effective Injuries Board route rather than through incurring unnecessary processing costs through the courts.   

There has been a recent trend towards increasing motor insurance costs. While I am concerned with increasing motor insurance costs, the setting of prices in that area is a matter for the industry and I have no role in the regulation of insurers.

Affordable motor insurance is an important element in the delivery of road safety in Ireland and I would be concerned that increasing insurance costs could lead to an increase in uninsured driving to the detriment of all road users.

Motor Car Insurance

YEAR	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC	ANNUAL
2001	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	100	-
2002	99.7	99.6	103	109	108	106	105	106	106	107	106	106	105.1
2003	106	107	108	108	108	108	107	106	103	97.9	94.9	94.5	104
2004	94.1	94.2	93.6	93.6	93.5	92	92.7	92.8	87.2	87.3	87.1	86.4	91.2
2005	86.2	85.7	84.2	82.4	82.4	82.5	81.5	81.5	81.5	81.8	79.8	79.8	82.4
2006	78.2	78.3	78.5	78.5	78.3	78.3	77.2	77.2	74	74	74	71.2	76.5
2007	70.9	70.5	70.3	66.1	66.1	66.3	66.7	66.3	66.7	65.8	65.8	64.4	67.2
2008	64	64.1	64.2	64.2	64.6	64.6	65	65.1	65.1	65	65.5	66	64.8
2009	68.3	69.4	71.2	72.5	72.6	73.3	73.8	74.6	74.7	74.4	74.1	72.7	72.6
2010	73.3	74.6	71.8	72.4	72.4	72.8	73.4	74.2	74	74.9	75.6	77.3	73.9
2011	75.5	76.3	76.3	77.3	77.9	78.8	79	78.2	78	78	77.9	77.9	77.6
2012	79.7	80.1	79.4	79.3	79.5	80	80.3	80.5	80.5	81.8	81.8	81.8	80.4
2013	74.1	73.8	74.3	75.2	73.4	73.2	74	74	74.1	73.8	73.8	74.2	74
2014	74.2	75.5	77.7	77.9	78	78.2	78.3	78.4	79	81.7	82.3	83	78.7
2015	85.3	87.4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Tourism Promotion

Questions (264)

Dan Neville

Question:

264. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a commitment that an adequate Fáilte Ireland office will be provided in the Adare Heritage Centre, Adare in County Limerick in view of the fact that Adare is a large tourist town and there is a need for an adequate tourist information function in the centre to assist the many tourists who come in to Adare daily. [12366/15]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

Arrangements for the provision of Tourist Information are an operational matter for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland.  Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to them for further information and direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Legislative Process

Questions (265)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

265. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of pieces of legislation that were submitted for pre-legislative scrutiny by his Department since 2011; his plans to allow pre-legislative scrutiny for any upcoming pieces of legislation from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12420/15]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

A list of legislation that was submitted for pre-legislative scrutiny by my Department since 2011 is contained in the table.

Bill Name	Date	Pre-Legislative Scrutiny
Road Traffic (No. 2) Act 2011	Published 16 September 2011	Pre-legislative scrutiny JOC July 2011
Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Act 2012	Published 3 April 2012	Pre-legislative scrutiny by JOC July 2011 as part of Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2011 (the original Road Traffic No. 2 Bill 2011 was subsequently split into two Bills)
Number 139 of 2013 Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013	Presented 19 December 2013 Published 23 December 2013	General Scheme of the Bill was sent to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications on 17 October 2012.
Roads Bill 2014	Initiated in January 2014	The Bill was subject to the pre-legislative scrutiny procedure in March 2013.
Vehicle Clamping Bill 2014 (No. 51 of 2014)	Published June 5th 2014	Pre-legislative scrutiny was undertaken. Report of the Joint Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht on the Regulation of Vehicle Clamping (March 2012, Prn. A12/0504)
State Airports (Shannon Group) Act 2014 (No. 27 of 2014)	enacted on the 27th July 2014.	The bill was subject to the pre-legislative scrutiny procedure
No. 85 of 2014 Sport Ireland Bill	Initiated on 26 August 2014	The Bill went through the pre-legislative scrutiny procedure in the Oireachtas in Q1 2014
Harbours Amendment Bill	Expected publication date Q1 2015	The bill was subject to the pre-legislative scrutiny procedure in June 2014
Road Traffic Bill 2015	Expected publication Summer 2015	Sent to JOC for pre-legislative scrutiny 25 Feb 2015
Public Transport Bill 2015	Expected publication date Q2 2015	It is intended that the draft Bill will be sent to Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications shortly.

Question No. 266 answered with Question No. 262.

National Car Test

Questions (267)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

267. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the location of driving test centres; the number tested for each year since 2012; the pass rate per test centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12509/15]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The operation of the driver testing service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority.  I have therefore referred the 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.

National Car Test

Questions (268)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

268. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff based in each driving test centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12511/15]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The operation of the driver testing service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority.  I have therefore referred the 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.

National Car Test

Questions (269)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

269. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the annual expenditure, by location, for each of the driving test centres, including staffing and other costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12512/15]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The operation of the driver testing service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority.  I have therefore referred the 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.