Written Answers Nos. 225-233
225. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when works will commence on a project (details supplied); its estimated timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35034/15]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads, is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII - formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Last week I announced the transport elements of the Capital Plan in the period to 2022. The N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom road project is among the schemes listed. The proposed scheme will involve the upgrade of main road link between Cork and South Kerry. A project implementation programme will be drawn up in respect of the proposed scheme, taking into account annual budget allocations and I understand TII has allocated €5m in 2015 to this scheme for land and property acquisition.
In view of the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question regarding timeframe for delivery of this scheme to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
226. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the proposed Laytown-Bettystown link road in County Meath, as announced in his Department's capital plan; the expected time frame for tendering, planning, etc; the costs involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35056/15]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in Co. 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 the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. The Capital Plan, announced last week, outlined that a number of schemes targeting bottlenecks in the road network will be progressed subject to planning approval. Among those schemes is the Laytown to Bettystown Link Road. It is a matter for Meath County Council to progress this scheme through the planning process. Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s questions concerning costs, current preparations for this scheme and timeframe for its delivery to the Council for direct reply.
227. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding Bus Éireann fares; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35081/15]
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.
228. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views that the penalties and interest charged by e-Flow for non-payment of toll charges are acceptable; if he has discussed the matter with the National Roads Authority; and if not, if he will do so in order to have a fairer pricing regime put in place. [35177/15]
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 is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Furthermore, the statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads is vested in Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Roads Act 2007).
The introduction of barrier-free tolling in 2008 and the substantial investment made in the upgrade of the M50 to make junctions free-flowing, and expand the carriageways from two to four lanes, has been of significant benefit to drivers. Of necessity, an enforcement process has to be part of the barrier-free toll operation and TII is responsible for that, including assessing appropriate penalties for non-payment of tolls. I have, therefore, asked TII to respond on how penalties and charges are set. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
229. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the up-to-date position on her efforts to bring about a fair deal for owners of hen harrier designated lands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35040/15]
View answerAs I have stated on a number of occasions, significant funding is provided through the Rural Development Programme (operated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) to assist farmers in meeting the requirements of the Birds and Habitats Directives. It is wise in my view that the Programme, co-funded with the EU, is used for such purposes. Farmers in Hen Harrier Special Protection Areas are given priority access to the GLAS scheme and can receive the higher GLAS + payment. It should also be noted that participation in the Single Payment scheme requires farmers to abide by the statutory requirements relating to Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation.
Work on the Threat Response Plan for Hen Harrier is continuing. It was agreed by all parties in the Consultative Committee that the results of the 2015 Hen Harrier survey should be incorporated into the Plan. The survey work has recently been concluded and the results are presently being compiled. The final survey data is expected later this month. At that point, the Steering Group and Consultative Committee will reconvene to continue development towards the first draft of the Plan.
230. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon has not received a payment under the turf cutting compensation scheme; when payment will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35048/15]
View answerAn application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question.
A payment of €1,500 in respect of Year 1 of 15 (2012), a payment of €1,518 in respect of Year 2 of 15 (2013) and a payment of €1,521 in respect of Year 3 of 15 (2014) have been made to this applicant. I am advised that a payment of €1,521 in respect of Year 4 of 15 (2015) will be made to this applicant shortly.
231. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will urgently address the condition of the roads in Killarney National Park; if patching works will be carried out immediately as a matter of health and safety in advance of more substantial works to fully resurface the roads; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35050/15]
View answer232. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide details, of expenditure on the roads in Killarney National Park in each year since 2004; of where precisely this money was spent; if she will request supplementary funding for the roads in 2015, given the gravity of the current situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35051/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 232 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department was established in June 2011. Since 2011, my Department has expended some €356,000 on works to roads within Killarney National Park. This included expenditure of some €26,700 in 2013 on repairs to a roadway in the Killarney Demesne area (from the Deenagh Lodge to the White Bridge) and some €175,000 in 2014 on repairs to roadways in Muckross and in the Reen area of the Demesne.
Future works on the roads will be considered within the context of both the management priorities for Killarney National Park and the limited funding resources available for the management of National Parks and Nature Reserves across the country.
233. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the interdepartmental steering group established by her Department to help in developing a threat response plan for the hen harrier was set up; when the group is expected to issue its recommendations, particularly on wind farms and afforestation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35063/15]
View answerThe Inter-Departmental Steering Group convened was convened in July 2014. The Group is examining all of the issues at hand, including forestry, wind farms and financial supports for farmers, with a view to determining the appropriate course of further action. Additionally, a Consultative Committee compromising of representatives from relevant sectors was set up. The Steering Group has met on five occasions to date and the Consultative Committee met three times.
It was agreed by all parties on the Consultative Committee that the results of the 2015 Hen Harrier survey should be incorporated into the Plan. The survey work has recently been concluded and the results are presently being compiled. It is expected that the final survey data will be available later this month. At that point, the Steering Group and Consultative Committee will reconvene to continue development towards the first draft of the Plan.
