Mattie McGrath
Question:258. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the investment in railway safety in each year from 2011 to 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38866/15]
View answerRail Network Safety
Questions (258)
Written answers
My Department provides funds to Irish Rail for the maintenance and renewal of the heavy rail network nationwide. Funding was provided under the Railway Safety Programme up to 2013. This has now been replaced by the Multi Annual Infrastructure Manager Contract (IMMAC) as required under EU Directive 2012/34/EU for the provision of state funding for the maintenance and improvement of railway infrastructure.
The table below shows the funds spent on railway safety each year from 2011 to 2015.
|
Year |
Funding |
Programme |
|
2011 |
€119.08m |
Railway Safety Programme |
|
2012 |
€101.97m |
Railway Safety Programme |
|
2013 |
€105.4m |
Railway Safety Programme |
|
2014 |
€140.69m |
IMMAC |
|
2015 |
€135.17m |
IMMAC |
Public Transport
Questions (259)
Pat Deering
Question:259. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a bus shelter will be erected on the R448 at Bypass Store, Leighlinbridge, County Carlow. [38876/15]
View answerWritten answers
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for developing public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA). In addition, its functions have been extended to include securing or providing bus stops, bus shelters, bus stations, stands and bus fleets throughout the country.
Therefore, 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 ten working days.
Swimming Pool Programme Status
Questions (260)
Joanna Tuffy
Question:260. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the procedures in place for the planning, approval and financing of swimming pools; if they were applied to all projects approved in the most recent funding; if they will apply if the programme is reopened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38894/15]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme grant aid to a maximum of €3.8 million is provided to local authorities towards the capital costs of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. The document "Procedures for the Planning, Approval and Financing of Swimming Pools and Technical Guidelines" was published by the then Department of the Environment and Local Government in January 1998 and is available from my Department. A copy will be forwarded to the Deputy for her information. The current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme was closed to new applicants on 31 July 2000. Since 2000, 58 projects have or are being dealt with under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme of which 50 have been completed and the other 8 projects are at various stages of the Programme. The procedures mentioned above are applied for these projects.
I wish to commence the process of opening a new limited round of swimming pool allocations and I have asked my departmental officials to report back to me on this proposal as soon as possible.
Road Improvement Schemes
Questions (261)
Brendan Smith
Question:261. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if specific funding will be provided to Monaghan County Council in respect of the urgent need to upgrade the R190 Ballybay to Cootehill road, as there is serious concern locally about consistent flooding on particular stretches of the road which is a danger to motorists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38907/15]
View answerWritten answers
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads (such as the R190) is the statutory responsibility of Monaghan 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 initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
While in the past it was possible to seek grant funding for road improvements under a Specific Grant Scheme, given the challenging financial climate, this grants scheme was curtailed from 2014 in order to maximise the funding available for repair and strengthening work on the existing road network. In this context, it is important to reiterate that the purpose of Exchequer funding is to supplement local authorities' own resources. In this context €7.2 million in grant funding was provided to Monaghan County Council at the start of the year and an additional €629,000 was provided in July. There is sufficient flexibility within the grant programme for local authorities to focus expenditure on drainage works if they wish to do so.
I have also been emphasising to local authorities the importance of prioritising expenditure on roads when allocating own resources, including revenue from Local Property Tax receipts.
Sports Capital Programme Applications
Questions (262)
Brendan Smith
Question:262. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if urgent consideration will be provided to a request from a club (details supplied) to have its application under the sports capital programme for 2015 reviewed; if he will ensure that all the issues raised in correspondence of 16 October 2015 to his Department will be given urgent consideration, with a view to having the application approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38908/15]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that the application, under the 2015 Sports Capital Programme, referred to by the Deputy has been reviewed and that all the issues raised in the organisation's correspondence of 16 October 2015 have been considered. A detailed reply has issued to the organisation.
There is no appeals process for the Sports Capital Programme and all the funding under the 2015 Sports Capital Programme has now been allocated. No decision has been made on the timing of any future rounds of the Programme.
Public Transport
Questions (263)
Róisín Shortall
Question:263. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status on the proposed bus rapid transit for the Swords to Drumcondra corridor; the funding that has been provided; and the time frame for completion. [38912/15]
View answerWritten answers
Following consideration of the Fingal/North Dublin Transport study and the recommendations of the National Transport Authority (NTA) arising from this study, the Government has decided that a light rail link is the optimum long term public transport solution on the City Centre/Airport/Swords corridor. Accordingly, funding will be made available under the new Capital Plan (2016-2022) for planning, design and construction of a new Metro North scheme, as detailed in the Fingal/North Dublin Transport Study, with a view to delivering the link by 2026/2027.
The NTA has recently published a draft Transport Strategy for Greater Dublin Area (GDA) which provides a framework for the planning and delivery of transport infrastructure and services in the GDA for the next two decades. For the purposes of the NTA transport strategy, Swords and Drumcondra are both located within a wider transport corridor which also includes Drogheda and Balbriggan in North Dublin. In addition to the new Metro North project the eastern part of this transport corridor will benefit from the extension of the Dart to Balbriggan, which will also progress to construction stage under the new Capital Plan.
Given the demand projections in the corridor overall, I have requested the NTA to keep the capacity issues on the Swords/Airport/City Centre route under review. In the draft GDA strategy the NTA indicates that bus-based measures will be considered for this part of the corridor with any final arrangement designed to be complementary to the new Metro North Project. The question of funding does not arise until the proposed solution has been fully considered and decided on.
The draft transport strategy for the GDA is subject to a statutory public consultation and all interested parties are invited to review the proposals, and the supporting documentation, on the NTA's website (www.nationaltransport.ie) and to make submissions to the Authority, before the deadline of Friday November 13 2015.
Afforestation Programme
Questions (264)
Tom Fleming
Question:264. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will expedite the clarification process for forestry planting on hen harrier land and eliminate any unnecessary restrictions to enable the affected farmers get approval for the locally led agri-environment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38739/15]
View answerWritten answers
Afforestation licences and the terms, conditions and timing of the Locally-Led Agri Environment Scheme are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
An Inter-Departmental Steering Group was convened in July 2014 to assist in the development of a Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan. In this regard, the Group is examining all of the issues at hand, including forestry and financial supports for farmers, with a view to determining the appropriate course of further action. A Consultative Committee with representatives from all the relevant sectors was also set up, including agriculture and forestry.
This year my Department undertook a survey of Hen Harriers in Ireland. Such surveys are carried out every 5 years. 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. The Steering Group and Consultative Committee will reconvene very soon to continue development towards the first draft of the Plan.
Departmental Staff Data
Questions (265)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:265. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of applicants awaiting transfer in her Department to locations other than their present location; the number of applications, by location; the rules that apply for such transfers; if an applicant has a defined position on the list for transfer; the grounds that apply to applicants being moved up or down on the list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38750/15]
View answerWritten answers
My Department does not maintain a formal transfer list. I can advise the Deputy, however, that two members of staff of my Department have applied for transfer to a different location. Both requests are being considered in light of the business needs of my Department.
National Monuments
Questions (266, 267)
Clare Daly
Question:266. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht whether the purchase of the 1916 national monument at Nos. 14 to 17, Moore Street in Dublin 1 has been completed; the terms of the purchase; by whom it was surveyed, assessed and valued prior to purchase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38863/15]
View answerClare Daly
Question:267. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht whether the purchase of the national monument at Nos. 14 to 17, Moore Street in Dublin 1 was subject to a compulsory purchase order; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38864/15]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 267 together.
The Government decided to acquire the national monument at Nos. 14–17 Moore Street because of its historic association with the events of Easter 1916. This decision demonstrates and acknowledges the historical importance of the site in a clear and substantive way and ensures that the long-term future of this historical landmark will be preserved and safeguarded. Bringing the monument into public ownership will also allow the development of a 1916 Commemorative Centre on the site.
The legal steps to bring the national monument into my ownership as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht have been completed. The issue of a compulsory purchase order did not arise. The purchase from the previous owner was effected with the assistance of NAMA and the consideration of €4 m was arrived at in the normal commercial manner.
I am pressing ahead as a priority with arrangements to implement the Government’s decision in full and I expect to make a further statement on the progress of the project in the coming days.