Written Answers Nos. 907-921
907. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of houses in County Meath that have availed of the better energy homes scheme and the warmer homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29057/15]
View answerThe Better Energy Homes and Better Energy Warmer Homes schemes are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department. Since 2009, the two schemes have supported the renovation of 263,636 homes in Ireland. The table below sets out the number of homes in County Meath that have benefited from these schemes to date:
|
Scheme |
Total number of homes 2009 to date |
Number of homes in 2015 |
|
Better Energy Homes |
4691 |
155 |
|
Better Energy Warmer Homes |
2920 |
100 |
The Deputy can also contact the SEAI directly at oireachtas@seai.ie for on-going updates. Queries to this e-mail address allow the SEAI to respond quickly to members of the Oireachtas on any queries they might have.
908. Deputy Helen McEntee asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the relevant sections of Acts under his Department that specify a public service obligation on service providers or allow for such an obligation to be specified by secondary legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29137/15]
View answerIn relation to energy, the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy is the method through which customers support the national policy of ensuring security of our energy supplies and the development of renewable electricity in Ireland. It is charged to all customers and is designed to compensate suppliers for the additional costs they incur by meeting obligations to purchase electricity from indigenous (i.e. peat), sustainable and renewable sources. The legal basis and method of calculation for the PSO levy are set out in the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (Section 39) and its operation is outlined in S.I. 217 of 2002. The Communications and Postal sectors use the Universal Service Obligation concept. The European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Universal Service and Users’ Rights) Regulations 2011 (SI 337/2011) confer a statutory authority on the Commission for Communication Regulation (ComReg) to designate one or more electronic communications service providers as a Universal Service Provider/s (USP/s). The designation of a USP/s ensures public access to basic telephony services, including voice, fax and functional internet access, at any fixed location and associated support services including access to directory services and geographically averaged pricing. Additional USP obligations apply to provide equivalence of access to these basic services for disabled users. Eircom is the currently designated universal service provider.
Under section 17 (1) of the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Act 2011, An Post is designated as the universal postal service provider in Ireland for a period of 12 years.
909. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the current average age of permanent staff employed within his Department; and the agencies under his Department's remit; the way this varies from the end of 2008 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29193/15]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in relation to my Department is outlined in the table below:
|
2008 |
2011 |
2015 |
|
|
Average Age |
43 |
45 |
46 |
Information relating to the average age profile of staff in the agencies under my Department is a matter for those bodies.
910. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm that driving licences are free for persons over 70 years of age; the circumstances in which a person over 70 years of age would be charged in relation to a driving licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28508/15]
View answerApplicants for a driving licence who are over 70 must renew their licence every 3 years, subject to medical certification of their fitness to drive. There is no driver licence fee for people over 70 years of age.
911. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to upgrade the N28 road as part of an expansion of Cork Port, which has the support of the two local authorities, local industry and businesses, and other institutions, as a vital project in supporting local recovery. [28241/15]
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 implementation of individual road projects such as the N28 is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Due to the major cutbacks in Exchequer funding for roads, priority has had to be given to the maintenance and upkeep of existing infrastructure rather than new projects. The capital allocations proposed for my Department in 2016 and 2017 indicate that the NRA will be continuing to operate within a very constrained budget for the next number of years. The scope for any new improvement projects will depend on the availability of additional capital funding in the future.
912. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to include the new Eircode postcode in all schemes and administrative roles operated by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28323/15]
View answerEircodes will impact on systems, databases and processes in my Department. Systems must be able to accept and validate Eircodes through online and other interfaces. They must also be able to display Eircodes on screens, websites etc and be able to print them. Pre-population of the larger national databases with Eircodes including the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) in my Department is being carried out on behalf of the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources who are responsible for the overall Eircodes project. However it is the responsibility of individual Departments/Offices to undertake postcodes enablement projects which as well as integrating the encoded databases will embrace other elements including those already mentioned. A project to deliver the necessary NVDF software and other operational adjustments is underway in tandem with pre-encoding schedules with a view to making the NVDF system fully capable of accommodating and processing Eircodes by year end through phased implementation. It will be appreciated that this is a large project insofar as NVDF is concerned where, in addition to the substantial ICT implications, there are significant other enablement tasks such as stationery changes, bulk print/mail management implications all of which must be implemented without risk to core business delivery.
913. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the projects that have been financed under the Fáilte Ireland tourism capital investment programme in the past two years; and the amount each project received. [28367/15]
View answerWhile my Department provides the capital funding for investment in tourism projects, it is not directly involved in developing or managing these. The development of projects under the tourism capital investment programme is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly I have referred the question to the agency for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
914. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown, by county, of the funding allocated under the Fáilte Ireland tourism capital investment programme since its inception to date in 2015. [28368/15]
View answerWhile my Department provides the capital funding for investment in tourism projects, it is not directly involved in developing or managing these. The allocation of funding under the tourism capital investment programme is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly I have referred the question to the agency for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
915. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received plans from Donegal County Council to fund the widening and resurfacing of the Woodlands to Silver Tassie Hotel stretch of the R245 road from Letterkenny to Ramelton in County Donegal; and if he will provide the funding for same. [28394/15]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads (such as the R245) is the statutory responsibility of Donegal County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority. In February this year, I announced the 2015 Regional and Local Road allocations, of which Donegal County Council was allocated €17.7m. It is a matter for the local authority to select, prioritise and agree its regional and local road work programme for the year and the purpose of Exchequer funding is to supplement the own resources of local authorities.
I understand the Woodlands project on the R245 has been progressed over a number of years through grants from my Department, including funding of €119,116 for this scheme in 2014. My Department has indicated to Donegal County Council that it is open to the Council to complete surfacing works in 2015 on the understanding that the amount required can subsequently be recouped from the Departmental grants.
916. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received plans from Donegal County Council for a new bypass at Bonagee in Letterkenny in County Donegal; and if he will provide the funding for same. [28395/15]
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 implementation of individual national road projects in Donegal is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with Donegal County Council. Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for the NRA in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
Noting the above position, 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.
917. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received plans from Donegal County Council for the upgrade of the Letterkenny to Lifford N14 road; and if he will provide the funding for same. [28396/15]
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 implementation of individual road projects such as the N14 is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for the NRA in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act. Noting the above position, I have referred 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.
918. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding cyclists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28485/15]
View answerCycling on a footpath is an offence under road traffic legislation. Following consultation with An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority, I decided not to include this offence in the first phase of fixed charge notices for cycling offences. I did however introduce a fixed charge notice for cycling without reasonable consideration. This would include cyclists cycling recklessly on footpaths. The introduction of a fixed charge notice for this and other cycling offences is intended to give An Garda Síochána an additional enforcement measure in assisting them to enforce road traffic law and so that these offence may be dealt with swiftly without recourse to the courts.
The aim in the long term is not to penalise, but to change the culture and spread awareness that road traffic law applies to all and exists for the safety of all.
919. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will support the deferred Irish airlines (general employees) superannuation scheme pensioners before the Aer Lingus extraordinary general meeting on 16 July 2015. [28486/15]
View answerThe purpose of the Aer Lingus EGM to be held on 16 July 2015 is to seek shareholder approval for a number of resolutions linked to IAG's takeover offer for Aer Lingus. The EGM has no bearing on Aer Lingus pension arrangements. 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.
This solution was put in place following prolonged efforts by all concerned to find the fairest way to distribute the burden, while addressing a range of other impediments. The solution was based on the recommendations of an Expert Panel established by my Department, along with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, IBEC and ICTU. The agreed solution includes a further €20m to the €40m already being made available for deferred members, bringing the full amount for this group to €60m.
920. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1166 of 9 June 2015, if he will enquire from Irish Rail the reason for the delay in issuing a reply to this Deputy. [28498/15]
View answerMy Department has been in touch with Irish Rail about this matter and the company expects to respond to the Deputy by close of business on 14th July.
921. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on discussions between the Railway Procurement Agency and Transdev, regarding Transdev's power to appoint Luas security staff as authorised officers, under Section 66B of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001. [28504/15]
View answerI understand from the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) that discussions are still ongoing between Transdev and the Railway Procurement Agency in relation to the practicalities, advantages and disadvantages of appointing Authorised Officers pursuant to section 66B of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001.
