Written Answers Nos. 148-154
148. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the rationale behind the decision to terminate the DART underground project; the representations he has received from the business community and from interested groups expressing concerns regarding the abandonment of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32057/15]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my response to Priority Oral Question No 1.
149. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason Iarnród Éireann does not sell five-day tickets; if plans to sell five-day tickets are being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32343/15]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann 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.
150. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an explanation for the decision not to proceed with the DART underground project regarding north County Dublin and as an overall plan for the city transport network. [32368/15]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my response to Priority Question No 1.
151. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for the restriction of a licence applied to a bus company (details supplied) with respect to picking up passengers from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. travelling between Ennis and Arthur's Quay, Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32381/15]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) 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.
152. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has commenced section 11 of the Road Traffic Act 2014; and if not, when he intends to commence this important section. [32393/15]
View answerSection 11 of the Road Traffic Act, 2014 was commenced on 26 November 2014 by Statutory Instrument number 536 of 2014.
153. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will request Transport Infrastructure Ireland, formerly the National Roads Authority, to provide directional signage at Shannon Airport and right along the M18 to the Wild Atlantic Way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32417/15]
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 Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), formerly the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
154. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will restructure commercial vehicle road tax in line with comparable costs in Northern Ireland in order to save jobs in the haulage sector here as Irish hauliers pay €4,000 per annum per truck for a six-axle articulated vehicle whereas in the North they pay £640 per truck and an Irish haulage operator must also contribute £10 per day per vehicle to access Northern Ireland on routes that had no charge prior to 1 April 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32446/15]
View answerAn Interdepartmental Group has carried out a review of the current commercial motor tax regime and consulted with hauliers and other stakeholders. The report is being submitted to me and to the Ministers for Finance and for the Environment, Community and Local Government, for joint consideration. Once agreement is reached, I hope to announce a new, fairer, basis for calculating commercial motor tax.
As an interim measure to reduce the commercial motor tax burden on Heavy Goods Vehicles the Minister for Finance committed in November 2014 to reducing the motor tax rates for HGVs of 12 tonnes plus in Budget 2016, with a tapering of the reduction for vehicles below 12 tonnes.
This Government has recognised the challenges facing the sector and announced the fuel duty rebate for hauliers in 2013, which could result in savings of up to €70million per annum for the haulage sector.
The UK HGV road user levy was introduced in 2014. This Government lobbied actively against the application of the charge to Northern Ireland, in co-operation with Stormont Ministers. Unfortunately the UK Minister for Transport chose to give only very minor exemptions to Northern Ireland from the road user charge. However few Irish hauliers are paying £10 per day to access UK roads. The UK charge is a sliding scale, with rates ranging from £1.70 to £10 per day, or £85 to £1,000 per annum, depending on vehicle type and weight.
