Dessie Ellis
Question:20. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress his Department has made in using the proceeds of the sale of Aer Lingus for a connectivity fund. [39266/15]
View answerSale of Aer Lingus
Questions (20)
Written answers
I understand from the Department of Finance that the connectivity fund established from the proceeds of the State's stake in Aer Lingus is to be a sub-portfolio of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and that ISIF is responsible for the management of the fund. I also understand from that Department that the fund will operate on a commercial basis and therefore not constitute Government expenditure. Insofar as the fund will be used to support connectivity projects, the ISIF has defined connectivity very broadly but to include transport-type projects such as ports and airports and access to such assets.
The recently published Capital Plan references a range of transport projects including, in particular, the new Metro North Scheme. A detailed business case will now be prepared for that project. Funding for initial stages of construction has been provided for under the new Capital Plan but final decisions on potential funding options for the project will only be made following the detailed planning and design work.
Any parliamentary questions in relation to the management of the Fund should be addressed to the Minister for Finance.
Aviation Policy
Questions (21)
Timmy Dooley
Question:21. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the need for a second runway at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39245/15]
View answerWritten answers
The National Aviation Policy (NAP), which was published last August, refers to the need to commence the process to develop a second parallel runway at Dublin Airport, as well as other infrastructure developments, to ensure that adequate runway capacity is available at the airport when it is needed. As the Deputy is aware, the NAP was through two extensive rounds of public consultation with stakeholders.
daa, which has statutory responsibility to operate, manage and develop the airport, is currently examining the various options regarding the delivery of such a runway.
Public Transport Subsidies
Questions (22)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:22. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is necessary to increase the levels of public subsidy to public transport services in order to safeguard public service obligation routes and, more generally, to increase the attractiveness of public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39250/15]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy knows, I have previously stated that one of my key goals was to stop the reduction in PSO funding to our public transport operators. Having protected the level of PSO subvention last year, I am very happy that increased PSO funding of €28 million was announced in the recent Budget, bringing the total PSO and Rural Transport funding in 2016 to €248 million. It will be the responsibility of the National Transport Authority (NTA) to gauge how best to allocate additional funding in response to priorities such as the new Phoenix Park tunnel services and DART service improvements and taking account of the role of the PSO operators under their contracts with the NTA.
As regards the attractiveness of public transport, the NTA is fully committed to continually improving the quality and attractiveness of public transport services and is also engaged in the development and deployment of technologies to make it easier to use public transport. The NTA has delivered a number of significant cross-operator initiatives such as real time information at bus stops, on Apps and online, the National Journey Planner, the Leap Card, investment in the bus fleet and on-board Wi-Fi, improved public transport maps and the reconfiguration of regional city bus services that to date includes Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. Accessibility has also been greatly improved through the addition of on-board displays and announcements of the next bus stop.
In addition, with the launch of the Government's Capital Plan last September, over the next 7 years, I am planning an annual investment in land transport rising from just over €1 billion to €1.9 billion by 2022. Under the Plan the public transport programme will reach €3.6bn to include new and replacement buses, completion of the Luas Cross City project and the reopening of the Phoenix Park tunnel.
Transport Infrastructure Provision
Questions (23)
Thomas Pringle
Question:23. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the transport improvements planned for County Donegal over the next ten years; if these plans will address areas along the Wild Atlantic Way in view of increasing tourist numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39249/15]
View answerWritten answers
As part of the Capital Plan a roads programme totalling €6bn is now proposed over the period 2016-2022. This plan was framed by the conclusions reached in my Department’s Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport. This report highlighted the importance of maintenance and renewal of transport infrastructure together with targeted investment. As maintenance and renewal of the road network continues to be the main priority, €4.4 billion of the road capital budget will be spent on such essential work with targeted investment in new schemes across the country. The Plan has identified, for example, a rolling programme on the N56 as a priority under the Plan.
The Government remains supportive of the A5 project, the timeframe for which is dependent on planning issues which are currently being addressed by the Northern authorities.
The key priority for investment in heavy rail is to protect investments made to date and to maintain safety standards. There is currently no Exchequer funding available to re-open rail lines, or to develop new lines, either for passengers or freight, anywhere on the heavy rail network.
Over the period of the Capital Plan capital funding for land transport, including roads, will be built up from the current relatively low base towards the levels needed to support adequate maintenance and development.
Public Transport
Questions (24)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:24. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views that the unreliability of Dublin Bus services, in terms of meeting timetables or failing to turn up at all, may be related to inadequate time being allowed for bus routes; and that a major review of the time allowed for buses to travel their routes needs to be undertaken, consulting with all relevant stakeholders and experts, and in particular with the bus drivers themselves. [39251/15]
View answerWritten answers
The issues raised are matters 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.
Road Network
Questions (25)
Helen McEntee
Question:25. Deputy Helen McEntee asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for an update on a project (details supplied) in County Meath. [39054/15]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy is aware, 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 Slane Bypass) is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 in conjunction with Meath County Council.
The transport element of the recently announced Capital Plan, provides a total of €6bn for roads over seven years. Of this, €4.4bn of this programme will be devoted to essential maintenance and strengthening works on our network, restoring our roads to the quality levels required. The Plan has provided that a number of schemes (including the Slane Bypass), targeting bottlenecks in the road network, will be progressed subject to planning. TII is in the process of drawing up an implementation programme for the projects included in the Capital Plan and in the case of the proposed Slane Bypass, this will require the submission of the scheme to an Bord Pleanála for consideration.