Written Answers Nos. 22 - 31
22. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied with the current provision of public transport in County Wexford, in particular his views that it is adequate to serve rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23481/15]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for securing the provision of public transport services, including the provision of PSO subvented services. Responsibility for the integration of local and rural transport services, including management of the Rural Transport Programme (RTP), was also assigned to the NTA with effect from 1st April 2012. This includes responsibility for implementing the restructuring of the RTP announced on 9th July 2013.
The re-organisation of the Rural Transport Programme and the establishment of Transport Co-ordination Units will allow Local Link Wexford to play a greater role in the provision of public transport services to rural areas.
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.
In relation to the withdrawal of Expressway Route Number 5, the National Transport Authority (NTA) published their 'Review of the Withdrawal of Bus Éireann's Licensed Route 5 Expressway Service' on the 19th March 2015. This outlines the new and reconfigured services to be put in place to meet the transportation needs of the towns affected by the proposed withdrawal of route 5.
The announcement of changes to existing services and provision of new rural transport links to respond to the impact of the withdrawal of Number 5 is welcome. This reflects Government's commitment to maintaining access within rural communities.
I assure the Deputy that I will continue to work with the NTA on wider issues around transport in rural Ireland.
23. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1186 of 9 June 2015, if consideration was given at any stage of the process to using a percentage of the proceeds of the sale of the State's shareholding in Aer Lingus to alleviate the hardship being faced by the Irish airlines (general employees) superannuation scheme's deferred and current pensioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23462/15]
View answerAs I said in my reply to the Deputy on the 9th June in relation to this issue, an agreed solution was implemented at the start of this year to address the funding difficulties in the Irish Airlines (General Employees) Superannuation Scheme (IASS). This agreed solution is a matter for the Trustee, the companies participating in the scheme, the scheme members and the Pensions Authority.
Any proceeds from the sale of the State's minority shareholding in Aer Lingus will be paid into the Exchequer and the Government has indicated that such proceeds should be used to establish a new 'Connectivity fund', as a sub-portfolio of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF).
Under Eurostat rules, the proceeds arising from the sale of the State's shares in Aer Lingus, representing a sale of a financial asset, will have no beneficial impact on Ireland's General Government Balance (GGB).
Accordingly, the money received will not provide any capacity for additional Government expenditure on a GGB neutral basis.
It was for this reason that the Government has decided to allocate the proceeds to a special fund, which will operate on a commercial basis and therefore not constitute Government expenditure, but will facilitate the re-use of the proceeds for productive purposes within the economy, on a GGB neutral basis.
For this reason, the monies generated by the sale cannot be used for the reasons proposed by the Deputy.
24. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has had discussions with the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government regarding proposals to allow for motor tax to be paid in monthly instalments by direct debit; if he is satisfied that the current system, in which taxpayers are incentivised to pay an annual rate of motor tax, does not unfairly burden those on lower incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23480/15]
View answerWhile the computer systems associated with the National Vehicle and Driver File in my Department facilitate the collection of motor tax, including, in particular through the online motor tax channel, arrangements regarding the payment of motor tax fees are a matter for Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and I have no role in the matter. I have not had any discussions with my colleague in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the matters mentioned.
25. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way the proposed sale of Aer Lingus to the International Airlines Group will benefit Cork Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23240/15]
View answerThe Government considers that a sale of the State's minority shareholding to IAG, on the basis of the terms offered, would be the best means of securing and enhancing Ireland's connectivity with the rest of the world and maintaining a vibrant and competitive air transport industry in Ireland. It would also best serve the interests of the travelling public, Aer Lingus and its employees, the Irish tourism industry and the Irish economy as a whole. IAG has stated its willingness to offer commitments in relation to Aer Lingus's Heathrow slots and connectivity, which would also cover services between Cork and Heathrow. I have given full details on these commitments to the House very recently during the debate on the general principles of the proposed disposal of the State's shareholding.
Furthermore, in relation to Cork, IAG has indicated its plans are that the Cork-Paris and Cork-Amsterdam routes will be maintained and that growth opportunities with tourism and business interests in the Munster region will be pursued to exploit the potential that exists in all the short haul routes currently operated by Aer Lingus from Cork. Aer Lingus has indicated that a combination with IAG would also underpin a planned Cork-Germany service.
26. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way his Department liaises with other relevant State agencies to use the arts to attract visitors from overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16825/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, Tourism Ireland is the agency with responsibility for the overseas marketing of Ireland as a tourist destination. Decisions on how the arts are used to attract visitors from overseas are matters for Tourism Ireland and these decisions are not subject to my approval. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to Tourism Ireland for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
27. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on plans to address concerns over a shortfall in funding in the National Roads Authority to maintain the roads network, due to the decision by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to require the funding of public private partnerships from capital budgets; and if he is satisfied that the authority has adequate funding for maintenance and small capital project spending. [23473/15]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware the Government decided in 2010 that future PPP projects would be funded from capital budgets and this means that expenditure related to the current tranche of PPP projects will be drawn from NRA's capital budget together with other calls on that budget. As availability payments are contractual commitments, the onus is on the NRA is manage the balance of its budget taking account of this. It is the case that in order to address the national finances there had to be sharp reductions in the roads capital budget. I hope the position has now been stabilised and as I have indicated previously it is important to restore over time the capital budget to allow the maintenance and renewal of the roads network in support of economic development.
28. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the status of the active towns smarter travel scheme; if this scheme will be open to new applications; the funding programmes available for initiatives that would meet the criteria of the scheme, such as improvements to pedestrian facilities, including footpaths and bridges beneficial to varied groups in communities, including schoolchildren; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23466/15]
View answerThe Active Travel Towns Programme (ATT) is designed to achieve modal shift from the car to either walking and/or cycling and to secure greater public transport use through facilitating greater walking and cycling access to public transport. This objective is being achieved in a planned and co-ordinated way in towns around the country. My Department, in conjunction with the relevant local authorities, is responsible for implementing the programme in small and medium sized towns outside Dublin and the Greater Dublin Area (GDA). My Department provides grants to local authorities, under competitive process, to build the necessary infrastructure. €13m was allocated to this programme from an overall multi-annual smarter travel budget of €65 million to be distributed between 2012 - 2016. Funding under the ATT programme is being provided under two rounds. Round 1 of the programme was successfully completed at the end of 2013 and a new funding round was launched in 2014. 9 towns were awarded funding under this round following a competitive process. Two small towns were selected (Birr and Claremorris) and seven medium/large towns were selected (Ennis, Cavan, Sligo, Tralee, Wexford, Thurles and Clonmel) to develop walking and cycling infrastructure and softer measures to support behavioural change. This programme is currently underway and will be completed at the end of next year. There are no immediate plans to fund new towns while this programme is underway. It is anticipated however that the evaluation of the Smarter Travel Programmes, including the Active Travel town programme when completed, will inform future policy in this area and provide direction to where future investment in smarter travel should be focused to yield the best impact on modal shift from car to either walking or cycling.
29. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the steps being taken to reduce the backlog for those drivers waiting to obtain a national car test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23232/15]
View answerThe Road Safety Authority has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight, development, quality assurance and delivery of the National Car Testing Service (NCTS). As a result of capacity enhancements put in place by the NCTS earlier this year, I am informed by the RSA that the vast majority of test centres have either no waiting list or a very short one.
There are now 584 Vehicle Inspectors, more than ever before. Testing facilities were extended at the centres in Mullingar, Blarney, Portlaoise and Naas. Longer opening hours, in the form of a third shift, are in place at Galway, Enniscorthy, Killarney and Ballina providing testing from 7 am to 11.30 pm The majority of test centres have late openings on three days per week until 10 pm and ten centres have extended opening on four days per week. Since early March, 24-hour testing is available in Dublin and Cork.
The NCTS tested record numbers of vehicles in 2014 and in the current year, to date, the number of vehicles tested each month is an average 9% higher than in the corresponding months of last year.
The RSA would also remind customers that an NCT may be undertaken up to 90 days in advance of the test due date without affecting the expiry date of the new certificate. This system is in place to ensure that owners have sufficient time to have their vehicle tested before their current NCT certificate expires.
30. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the issue of dangerous traffic at a school crossroads (details supplied) in County Donegal; his plans in the event that the issue is not addressed at a local level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23469/15]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and operation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
I will, therefore, refer the Deputy’s question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
31. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a decision will be made on any changes to the knowledge test for small public service vehicle licensing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23238/15]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including issues pertaining to the skills tests for applicants for a taxi licence, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. 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.
