Written Answers Nos. 922-936
922. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will include the Ballyhoura area of County Limerick, which has a rich ancient cultural heritage and a thriving rural tourist product, in the Ireland's Ancient East concept. [28547/15]
View answerWhile my Department provides the capital funding for investment in tourism projects such as Ireland's Ancient East, it is not directly involved in developing or managing these. The development of Ireland's Ancient East 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.
923. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on Metro North; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28558/15]
View answerThe implementation and development of public transport infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), such as metro and light rail projects, comes under the remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA). Noting this I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
924. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the meetings he has had with the board of Ireland West Airport, Knock, County Mayo since his appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28571/15]
View answerIt is not normal practice for Ministers to meet with the Boards of all companies that do business with my Department. However, my Departmental officials have had intensive engagement with IWA Knock, particularly in relation to the EU Guidelines on State-aid for airports and airlines and in preparation for the implementation of the new Regional Airports Programme 2015-2019. It is my intention to visit IWA Knock over the coming months.
925. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide, in tabular form, details of the meetings he has had with the boards of airports on the island of Ireland since his appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28572/15]
View answerI have met with representatives of all the Irish State airports since coming to Office. However, I have not formally met with their full Boards. It is, however, my intention to do so over the coming months.
926. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current position in relation to his Department's discussions with the European Commission in relation to funding for Ireland West Airport, Knock, County Mayo; the timeframe for the successful conclusion of those discussions; his Department's plans for funding the airport, pending a successful outcome to these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28573/15]
View answerFollowing an extensive and detailed pre-notification consultation process over the past year between my Department and the EU Commission, the 2015-2019 Regional Airports Programme has been formally notified to the Commission for approval which is expected shortly. This Programme sets out future funding supports for the four regional airports, including IWA Knock. Once approved, my Department will engage with the four airports to identify the specific level of Exchequer supports to be made available to each airport in strict accordance with the criteria set out in the 2014 EU Guidelines on State aid to airports and airlines.
That Programme establishes a definitive framework for the future development of Ireland's regional airports, including IWA Knock. It will be a matter for the Airport to formally submit a comprehensive business case for funding supports for consideration by my Department.
927. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of taxi permits issued by the Dublin Airport Authority to taxi drivers in 2014 to collect customers at Dublin Airport; the criteria required to obtain a taxi permit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28594/15]
View answerThe issue referred to by the Deputy is an operational matter for daa, which has statutory responsibility to operate and manage Dublin Airport, including the issuing of taxi permits. This question has therefore been referred directly to daa for reply to the Deputy. If a response has not been received within 10 working days, please advise my private office.
928. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has received any request for financial assistance from Galway City Council and Sligo County Council in respect of costs associated with the recent visit of members of the British royal family; if his Department had budgeted for the visit; the funding his Department plans to provide to Galway City Council and Sligo County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28632/15]
View answerMy Department has not received any requests for financial assistance from Galway City Council or from Sligo County Council in respect of costs associated with the recent British Royal Family visit and my Department has not made any funding available to those Councils for that purpose.
929. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied that, as funder of the Irish Sports Council, and, therefore, of its sub-organisations, including the Athletics Association of Ireland, that the Athletic Association of Ireland has adopted and implemented the code of ethics and good practice for children in athletics; when it was adopted; and if it is binding on clubs under its remit since then. [28646/15]
View answer930. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of developments, or lack thereof, regarding the complaints on matters including child abuse and the complaints procedures within one of the clubs grant-aided by the State and under the remit of the Athletics Association of Ireland, between one family of runners (details supplied) and the club management, which has highlighted failures in the internal complaints procedures, pre-hearing bias, failure to keep records of complaints and processes, lack of parental and governing body oversight, and lack of engagement or of an independent appeal mechanism; the steps that will be taken to ensure full compliance in the future; and the way existing complaints will be finalised. [28647/15]
View answer931. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware that a family (details supplied) has asked specific questions of the Irish Sports Council regarding the role of the national governing body in trying to set the family's complaints as being historic; that appeals against failure go unheeded regarding the proper application of the code of ethics and good practice for children in athletics; that the right of appeal was set aside and that concerns were raised on 9 January 2013 by a club's children's officer to the Irish Sports Council, Leinster Board and Dublin Board of the Athletics Association of Ireland; and his views that the role of his Department and the Irish Sports Council is more than a role of guidance in relations to matters which fall under the code of ethics and good practice for children in athletics, and where child abuse is alleged. [28648/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 929 to 931, inclusive, together.
Sporting organisations are independent, autonomous bodies with their own governance and competition rules and I have no role in their day to day operational matters. Nor do I have any role in relation to internal disputes or complaints between clubs and individuals. However, in relation to the particular case referenced by the Deputy, my officials met with members of the family in question in June 2014 and I was then briefed on the details of the matter. On the basis of my understanding of the case, I wrote to the Irish Sports Council expressing my view that the case should be referred, by the Athletics Association of Ireland, for arbitration to Just Sport Ireland.
I have had enquiries made with the Irish Sports Council and I am informed that the matter has been recently settled through binding arbitration using Just Sport Ireland and that both parties have signed up to the decision.
I am further informed that it is required within the articles of association of the Athletics Association of Ireland that all of its affiliated members agree to be bound by the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children's Sports.
932. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on cross-Border disparity in charges payable by haulage firms, which are placing Irish operators at a disadvantage that may result in job losses; his plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28692/15]
View answerMy Department is currently chairing an Inter-Departmental Group on HGV user charges, which was established in January 2014 to consider the introduction in Ireland of a 'pay-as-you-go' road tax system for HGVs. The group has been examining the technical, regulatory and economic dimensions of introducing a HGV road user charge in Ireland. The work of the group was expanded to include a full review of commercial motor tax, which has led to the group taking longer than anticipated to finalise its proposals. The group held a targeted stakeholder consultation which concluded last February, and has held meetings with stakeholders, including representatives of hauliers and their customers. The report of the group is currently being finalised for submission to me and to the Ministers for Finance and the Environment, Community and Local Government. I expect to receive this report shortly.
933. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will approve funding for urgent works to the Poulavoune Roundabout on the N22 in Ballincollig, County Cork (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28783/15]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and 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 N22 in Ballincollig, Co. Cork 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 do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
934. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding delays experienced in the provision of the National Car Test, with particular reference to insurance implications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28806/15]
View answerThe Road Safety Authority (RSA) has overall responsibility for the operation and delivery of the National Car Testing Service and as a result of capacity enhancements put in place by the NCTS earlier this year, I understand that the vast majority of test centres have either no waiting list or a very short one. I also understand that, while it is a legal requirement to be in possession of a valid NCT certificate, an NCT does not confer any warranty regarding the condition of a vehicle at any time other than at the time of the test and is not therefore expected to affect the exclusions in relation to motor insurance policies. However, I have referred the Deputy's Question to the RSA for direct reply. Please advise my Office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
935. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the economic importance of the Ringaskiddy area, and recent approval by An Bord Pleanála for the Port of Cork to relocate its operations to Ringaskiddy, subject to improvements to the road network, if he will prioritise the upgrading of the N28 in the Government’s capital plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28812/15]
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. Once the proposed capital plan is published I will assess what scope there is to progress new improvement projects.
936. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 580 of 7 July 2015, regarding sports capital funding, if he will detail the requested information in the order that it is listed on the record of Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28859/15]
View answerAs previously indicated, all sports capital allocations are available on the Department's website. For the record, in the years 2011-2014 €1.64m in Sports Capital funding was allocated to projects in Cavan, €2.21m to projects in Donegal, €0.83m to projects in Leitrim and €2.32m to projects in Sligo.
