Written Answers Nos. 937-951
937. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Question No. 581 of 7 July 2015 regarding specific road funding allocations, if he will detail the requested information on the local authority funding allocated so that it is listed on the record of Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28860/15]
View answerAs I outlined to the Deputy in my reply to Question No. 581 of 7 July 2015, details of the regional and local road grant allocations and payments to local authorities including Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan and Donegal the period 2012-2015 are set out in the regional and local road grant allocation and payment booklets which are available in the Oireachtas Library. Given the detail involved, the allocation and payment booklets are lodged in the Oireachtas Library to assist Deputies as it is not practicable to set out all allocation and payment details in a response to a Parliamentary Question. To assist the Deputy further, the total payments made to local authorities in the counties mentioned in the relevant years, together with the 2015 allocations, are as follows:
|
Year |
Local Authority |
Regional and Local Road Grant Payment |
|
2012 |
Cavan |
€11,339,731 |
|
Donegal |
€22,595,086 |
|
|
Leitrim |
€7,819,341 |
|
|
Sligo |
€9,974,862 |
|
|
2013 |
Cavan |
€11,951,586 |
|
Donegal |
€23,214,341 |
|
|
Leitrim |
€8,412,915 |
|
|
Sligo |
€10,571,971 |
|
|
2014 |
Cavan |
€9,978,506 |
|
Donegal |
€21,795,823 |
|
|
Leitrim |
€6,622,034 |
|
|
Sligo |
€8,919,915 |
|
|
2015* |
Cavan |
€8,253,198 |
|
Donegal |
€17,711,011 |
|
|
Leitrim |
€6,622,034 |
|
|
Sligo |
€7,909,226 |
*These figures are the 2015 allocations.
938. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide, in tabular form, the sports capital grants awarded to organisations in North Dublin since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28919/15]
View answerListings of sports capital allocations for each year are available on the Department's website. The Department does not collect or compile information on the basis of different geographical areas within counties or on the basis of electoral constituencies.
939. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Luas cross-city utilities diversion works are on schedule to finish in September 2015 as indicated on the Luas cross-city website. [28935/15]
View answer940. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the Luas cross-city main infrastructure works, which according to the Luas cross-city website commenced in March 2015. [28936/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 939 and 940 together.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area, including the Luas Cross City project.
I understand from the NTA that the utility works are approximately 90% complete and are on schedule for completion in September 2015.
I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for an update on the main infrastructure works. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
941. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an exemption from a commercial vehicle DOE test is applicable in a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28966/15]
View answerThe Road Safety Authority has overall responsibility for the operation and delivery of vehicle roadworthiness testing. I have referred the Deputy's Question to the Authority for direct reply. Please advise my Office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
942. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason taxis have been excluded from the list of transportation methods included in Question No. 9 of the survey currently being conducted by the National Transport Authority as part of the Dublin City Centre Transport Study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28984/15]
View answerThe Dublin City Centre Transport Study, which was recently published jointly by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Dublin City Council, comprises a set of proposals to enhance overall movement in the city and to cater for increased usage. It seeks to address the imminent transport issues facing the core city centre area, to facilitate the implementation of the Dublin City Council Development Plan and to safeguard the future growth of the city. A public consultation is currently under way on the Study.
Noting the NTA's involvement in the matter, 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.
943. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the 1,200 homes already registered to the Fáilte Ireland Irish homes classification scheme will receive the new plaque and signage of the new scheme, in addition to the currently displayed approved five-star signs. [29023/15]
View answerThe matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply. Please contact my private office if a response is not received within ten working days.
944. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department is co-operating with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government in engaging with the process that is under way at the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO. to establish a global market-based mechanism for international aviation; the way Ireland is ensuring the ICAO mechanism will have environmental integrity equal to that of the European Union emissions trading scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29043/15]
View answerMy Department is taking the lead role for Ireland in the process that is under way at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and will continue to liaise with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in the lead-up to the planned conclusion of negotiations at the next ICAO Assembly in Autumn 2016. The EU Emissions Trading Scheme is one of a number of such schemes in operation worldwide. Its scope is currently confined to flights operating between EU/EEA airports. While such regional schemes are not intrinsically linked to the current ICAO process to develop a global scheme with the aim of covering a greater level of international aviation activity, the issue of ensuring environmental integrity in a global scheme is a key objective for the EU, a position that Ireland strongly supports. It is not possible at this stage to indicate the nature and scope of the mechanism that will ultimately emerge from the current ICAO process, but it would be the basic expectation of Ireland and the EU generally that it would deliver an enhancement to the prevailing situation.
945. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the State supports a 2025 fuel efficiency standard for cars, vans and trucks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29046/15]
View answerAs the Deputy may know, EU legislation sets mandatory emission reduction targets for new cars and vans with the aim of improving the fuel efficiency of cars sold on the European market. The law requires that new cars registered in the EU must not emit more than an average of 130 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre by 2015. By 2021, phased in from 2020, the fleet average to be achieved by all new cars is 95 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre. In Ireland, the impact of these standards has been reinforced through the implementation of an emissions-based motor taxation system for cars, which was first introduced in 2008.
The effectiveness of the combined national and European measures is very evident from the profile of the new private car fleet in Ireland. In 2007, 1.5% of all new cars were in the A emissions band, while 17.7% were in the combined bands A and B, which are the most efficient bands. In comparison, for the first half of 2014, 67.2% of all new cars were in the A band and 94.8% were in the combined A and B bands. The average emissions of new cars by the end of 2014 was expected to be less than 120 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre, which is well below the 2015 target.
Consequently, from an emissions perspective, there would seem to be significant validity in proposals to introduce more stringent efficiency targets for cars and vans by 2025. Ireland, as a technology taker, would welcome any measures that would seek to stimulate innovation in the car manufacturing sector. Encouraging the development of very low or zero emitting vehicles also has additional clean air and noise reduction co-benefits.
EU-wide action has the capacity to generate much greater change than Member States acting alone. Measures generated at a national level tend to have very high marginal costs. I would be supportive of introducing reduced emissions targets for cars and vans by 2025. I would welcome an examination of the impacts of implementing similar standards for heavy vehicles.
946. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the Boyne Greenway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29048/15]
View answerOfficials from my Department, along with the Minister of State, Deputy Nash, met representatives of the Boyneside Trail group earlier this year to discuss this project. The meeting was constructive in that my officials outlined a clear path to the group to assist in bringing the project to the next step.
At that stage no detailed design work had been done on the project. My officials undertook to arrange for the group to meet the National Transport Authority to pursue NTA funding for the design works through Meath County Council. I understand that a meeting took place with the NTA, which subsequently visited the project site and agreed to provide design and planning funding of €40,000.
This funding, which was drawn down in April or May, will bring the project to a stage where Meath County Council can make a decision on the feasibility of the project and whether they will back the project through an application to the Department for Greenway funding in the normal way.
The NTA is keeping in touch with the project on the design spend and will update the Department on progress. Until this work is complete, there is no viable project backed by the County Council to consider for funding.
947. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the Slane bypass; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29053/15]
View answer948. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the meetings that have taken place between his Department and Meath County Council regarding the Slane bypass; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29054/15]
View answer949. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the meetings that have taken place between his Department and the National Roads Authority regarding the Slane bypass; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29055/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 947 to 949, inclusive, together.
As 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 Slane bypass is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with Meath County Council. Statutory responsibility for traffic management rests with the relevant local authority. Following An Bord Pleanála's decision not to give development consent for the Slane bypass, Meath County Council in liaison with the NRA has been responsible for evaluating traffic management options. The most recent study - the Slane Traffic Management Review - was undertaken by Halcrow Barry on behalf of the Council and published in February this year.
Since I became Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have been at a number of meetings attended by Meath County Council and on two occasions by the NRA to discuss the position in relation to traffic in Slane.
At this point it is a matter for Meath County Council to liaise with the NRA in relation to how best to proceed. The Roads Act 2015 provides for pre-planning consultation with An Bord Pleanála. Given the board's previous decision to refuse permission, it would seem to make sense for Meath County Council to initiate such discussions.
There is no escaping the reality of limited resources. The indications are that funding will remain tight for the next number of years. While I hope I have stabilised the funding position, the scope for any new improvement projects depends on the availability of additional capital funding in the future. Once the new capital plan is published, I will assess what can be done to address particular bottlenecks taking into account development consent requirements.
950. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider increasing the amount of funding that County Meath will receive for road maintenance and upgrading in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29056/15]
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 national road projects in County Meath is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with Meath 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.
Concerning regional and local roads, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in Meath is the statutory responsibility of Meath County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants of €12.2 million in 2015. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the Council.
Decisions on national, regional and local road allocations for 2016 will be made towards the end of the year and will depend on the funding available to my Department.
951. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport 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. [29205/15]
View answerThe current average age of staff in my Department is 48 years. This is a decrease on the average age at the end of 2011 when the average age was 50 years, and 2008 where the average age was 51 years.
Staff retirements and recent recruiting at clerical level have brought the average age down.
In relation to the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department, I have asked the agencies to provide the Deputy with the information requested. If you do not receive a reply from the agencies within ten working days please advise my private office.
