Written Answers Nos. 325-336
325. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views that a postal notification for a national car test renewal (details supplied) would increase the number of motorists with certificates that are not expired and therefore assist with road safety for road users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29295/15]
View answerThe Road Safety Authority (RSA) has overall responsibility for the operation and delivery of the National Car Testing Service and I have referred this Question to the Authority for direct reply to the Deputy. Please advise my Office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
326. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Dublin Bus has any official or unofficial policy of asking apparently older customers to avoid taking seats on the upper decks of buses; if any policy of segregating customers on buses exists for health and safety or other reasons; if bus drivers are briefed on the need to avoid targeted age discrimination in the implementation of any segregation policy on buses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29322/15]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for Dublin Bus and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
327. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide funding for a project (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29355/15]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads such as the R352 is the statutory responsibility of Clare County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the local authorities' 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. Given the challenging economic climate, the Specific Improvement Grants Scheme has been curtailed in order to maximise the funding available for repair and strengthening work. Applications were sought last year from local authorities for funding in 2015 for my Department's Low Cost Safety Programme. While Clare County Council submitted an application for funding in respect of 10 projects, a roundabout at this location was not among them.
It is a matter for the local authority to select, prioritise and agree the works to be funded and progressed each year as part of its annual works programme. In addition, the purpose of Exchequer funding is to supplement the own resources of the local authority, not to meet the full cost of schemes. I have been emphasising to local authorities the importance of own resource spending in this area including revenue from Local Property Tax receipts.
It is however open to Clare County Council to liaise with my Department regarding the inclusion of the roundabout on the Tulla Road among the projects to be considered under the Low Cost Safety Scheme in 2016. Alternatively, it is open to Clare County Council to consider funding this project from its Discretionary Grant.
328. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the Scherzer bridge at the North Wall Quay in Dublin 1 will be next opened by Córas Iompair Éireann; the cost of opening the bridge; the reason it cannot be opened more frequently to facilitate boat and canal users and to fully utilise the potential of our canals as a tourism and leisure activity hub; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29374/15]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and the overall funding of public transport.
Issues relating to the opening of the particular Bridge by Iarnród Éireann are a matter for the Company in the first instance.
Noting this I have referred the Deputy's question to Iarnród Éireann for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
329. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current position of a road project (details supplied) in County Donegal; if he will ensure that funding is allocated to this project in order to improve the infrastructure in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29388/15]
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 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. such as the N15 Ballybofey/Stranorlar Bypass 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.
330. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is an offence for a driver not to produce a driving licence when disqualified in court, in the same way that it is an offence to fail to produce a driving licence in court on conviction of a penalty point offence; if so, if he will report which section of the legislation covers this offence, and if the Courts Service has been provided with this direction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29400/15]
View answerI would refer the Deputy to my response of 9 July 2015. Section 22(1) of the Road Traffic Act 2002 requires a person charged with an offence under the Road Traffic Acts to produce both their licence (or learner permit) and a copy of same when appearing in court which the court shall require and retain for the purposes of establishing and recording the driving licence or learner permit details to which it relates. Section 22 (1) of the Road Traffic Act 2002, as amended by section 63 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 was commenced on 28 October 2011.
However, the remainder of Section 22, that is subsection 2 and 3 have not been fully commenced to date. In particular, section 22(2) which makes it an offence to fail to produce a licence has been commenced by different orders in respect of certain penalty point offences only.
The Department has sought legal advice on how best to commence this section in full and I will make any necessary Order or Orders to commence the remainder of the section when the legal advice has been received.
331. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the projects under the remit of his Department that received European Union funding in 2014 and to date in 2015; the amount of European Union funding that was allocated to each project; if applications have been submitted and approved for same in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29410/15]
View answerA number of Organisations under the remit of my Department were successful in obtaining EU Funding in 2014 and 2015. Consideration will be given, as appropriate, to submitting applications for any future EU calls for projects for co-funding later this year and in 2016. The detail of the funding received is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy within 10 days.
332. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will investigate the poor service provided by Irish Rail to commuters on the Sligo to Dublin line (details supplied). [29430/15]
View answerThe issues raised are a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with Irish Rail and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
333. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the yearly cost of the Road Safety Authority; the numbers employed by same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29552/15]
View answerThis is a matter for 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 is not received within 10 days.
334. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of persons affected by the cessation of turf cutting and who have applied for compensation in the Carrickynaghtan Bog national heritage area (details supplied) in County Roscommon under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme for national heritage areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29238/15]
View answerThe cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has applied to part of Carrickynaghtan Bog national heritage area since 1 January 2014. 12 applications under the scheme for this site have been received and acknowledged by my Department. A total of 9 payments have been made in respect of the applications received. Turf cutting must cease by 1 January 2017 on the part of Carrickynaghtan Bog national heritage area which is to be conserved. Turf cutting may continue until that date on this part of the bog on plots which had been cut in the five year period prior to 14 January 2014.
335. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a detailed reply will issue in relation to correspondence sent by this Deputy some considerable time ago in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Limerick; the reason for the delay in replying; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29296/15]
View answerFollowing the receipt of the representation referred to of 9 June last, a designated land site pack, including the relevant maps, issued to the landowners referred to in the Deputy’s Question earlier this week. I have also been advised that officials from my Department will make contact with the landowners with a view to arranging a meeting with them.
336. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures being taken to encourage increased enrolment in Irish colleges and the learning of Irish, with reference to the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29311/15]
View answerUnder the Irish Language Learners Scheme (Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge), my Department provides assistance to Gaeltacht households which accommodate students attending Irish colleges in the Gaeltacht. While my Department does not provide direct support for students attending Irish colleges in the Gaeltacht, I am aware that scholarships are provided from time to time by various Irish language, cultural and sports organisations, as well as by several local authorities. I am also aware that some of the Irish colleges themselves offer part scholarships. The report entitled Tionchar na gColáistí Gaeilge ar an Teanga agus ar Phobal na Gaeltachta contains an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats relating to the Irish colleges in the Gaeltacht. The findings of the study, which was published earlier this year, are mostly positive regarding the impact of the Irish colleges. My Department will be examining the report’s conclusions, in cooperation with the Department of Education and Skills, in the context of future policy with regard to the Irish colleges. In addition, my Department will be engaging in discussions with Comhchoiste Náisiúnta na gColáistí Samhraidh (CONCOS), the federation of Irish colleges, regarding the report's recommendations, including ways to improve access to the Irish colleges.
