Arthur Spring
Question:580. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the provision of funding to a project (details supplied) in County Kerry. [39477/15]
View answerDepartmental Funding
Questions (580)
Written answers
My Department ran the Active Travel Towns competition in 2013 and Kerry County Council was successful in securing funding under this Programme for the town of Tralee. In 2014, my Department awarded €1,363,000 in funding for this project. The project is progressing with approximately €200k being spent to date. As work progresses, Kerry County Council will continue to submit claims for work done to my Department. The project is due for completion next year.
Aviation Issues
Questions (581)
Robert Dowds
Question:581. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when each of the runways at Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Ireland West-Knock, Kerry, Shannon, Sligo and Waterford airports last had their numbers redesignated because of the movement of the magnetic North Pole; and if it is currently known when each will next need to be re-designated. [39007/15]
View answerWritten answers
The issues raised by the Deputy are matters for the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA).
I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the IAA for direct response. If the Deputy does not receive a response within 10 days, he should contact my office directly.
Commencement of Legislation
Questions (582)
Jerry Buttimer
Question:582. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of consultations with the National Transport Authority regarding the Vehicle Clamping Act 2015; when he expects the Act to be commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39023/15]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Vehicle Clamping Act 2015, the National Transport Authority (NTA) will be the national independent regulator for clamping activities wherever clamping is used as a means of parking control. My Department is in contact with the NTA concerning the resourcing requirements to enable the legislation to commence soon and to allow the new arrangements to operate effectively. Progress is being made on the resourcing requirements relating to the Act, which require the approval of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Driver Licences
Questions (583)
Jack Wall
Question:583. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for the change to the driving licence of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39062/15]
View answerWritten answers
The operation of the National Driver Licensing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and I have no role in individual cases. I have therefore referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
Noise Pollution
Questions (584)
Billy Kelleher
Question:584. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the noise mitigation measures that are being taken by Transport Infrastructure Ireland to prevent noise pollution or disruption for the residents of housing estates (details supplied) in County Cork; if due consideration will be given to the erection of sound barriers in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39097/15]
View answerWritten answers
On the basis of the location of the housing estates referred to by the Deputy, I presume that the noise pollution issues in question concern the M8 motorway. As 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) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for TII in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
Road Projects
Questions (585)
Billy Kelleher
Question:585. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the proposed Cork north link road from Glanmire to Ballincollig; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39106/15]
View answerWritten answers
As 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 (such as the Cork North Link Road) is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
Hotel Accommodation
Questions (586)
Seán Kenny
Question:586. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of inspections that took place in 2013 and 2014 to ensure full compliance with maximum chargeable rates for hotels and guest house accommodation; the number of cases of non-compliance identified in both years; the action that is taken in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39168/15]
View answerWritten answers
These are operational matters for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland and are not matters in which I, as Minister, have any role or function. I have referred the Deputy's question to the agency for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
Road Traffic Legislation
Questions (587)
Ruth Coppinger
Question:587. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department regularly reviews the operation of legislation in relation to driving under the influence of alcohol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35289/15]
View answerWritten answers
My Department keeps road traffic legislation under constant review, and this includes legislation on driving under the influence of alcohol.
There have been major changes to drink driving legislation in recent years, particularly as a result of the Road Traffic Act 2010 which was the last time a major revision and consolidation of the primary road traffic legislation in relation to intoxicated driving was undertaken. This legislation, which provided for lower drink driving limits and for the introduction of mandatory alcohol testing among other measures, has equipped An Garda Síochána with better tools to combat drink driving, and has helped to raise public awareness of the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol. There was further strengthening of the law in relation to intoxicated driving in the Road Traffic Act 2011 and in the Road Traffic Act 2014.
As you may be aware, work is progressing on the Road Traffic Bill 2015. The main focus of this Bill is to strengthen the law on driving under the influence of drugs. The drafting of this Bill is being finalised and it is my intention that this Bill will be published before the end of this year.
My Department holds regular meetings with representatives of the Garda National Traffic Bureau, at which all aspects of road traffic legislation are open to discussion, and I am always ready to respond where difficulties in the law are identified.