Written Answers Nos. 263-275
263. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost of increasing funding for the rural transport programme by 15%, and of expanding the service to areas currently neglected, or under-serviced, by ensuring at least once-daily services are in operation in all rural areas. [40961/15]
View answerI have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to the Rural Transport Programme (RTP). I am pleased to say that as part of Budget 2016 current funding from my Department to the RTP is being increased to €11.556 million from €10.046 million this year, an increase of 15%.
Responsibility for the management of the RTP was assigned to the National Transport Authority (NTA) with effect from 1st April 2012, including responsibility for service provision. I have therefore forwarded your question to the NTA for further response to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
264. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a section of roadway (details supplied) in County Kerry will be prioritised for works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40973/15]
View answerI understand the stretch of road in question refers to the N22 at Minish, Co. Kerry. As 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, such the N22 is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with Kerry County Council. 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.
265. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding tourism potential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41017/15]
View answerThe role of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national policy. The development of individual tourism sectors such as that raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply.
Please contact my private office if a response is not received within ten working days.
266. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the new regulations regarding the need for tachograph machines to be fitted to vehicles that are pulling a heavy load, in respect of the weight pulled and the distance travelled; if there are any exemptions; the impact analysis that was carried out before making the changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41023/15]
View answerIt is unclear what new regulations the Deputy is referring to. The only new regulations relating to tachograph that my Department is in the process of drafting, in consultation with the Road Safety Authority, are in relation to the implementing act for the smart tachograph and its annexes according to Article 11 of Regulation (EU) No 165/2014. These regulations relate to the technology of smart tachograph machines which are to replace the existing generation of machines in the coming years. The new regulations will not affect the scope of the provisions of the current regulations in terms of vehicle weight or classification.
267. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for details, in tabular form, of all instances from 1 January 2000 to 2015 to date where legislation introduced by him or on his behalf that is enacted and still in force contains a provision amending the Data Protection Acts to allow for the transfer of personal or other data collected, retained and processed by the State for a particular purpose for another specific purpose; the financial cost of creating and administering such databases, by case; the projected financial cost for databases not yet complete; the specific legislative provision that enabled such data transfers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41144/15]
View answerSince the establishment of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in March 2011, I have not introduced any legislation to amend the Data Protection Acts, and nor has any such amendment been introduced on my behalf.
268. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of new State bodies and agencies under his remit that have been established since February 2011; the number of such bodies subject to a sunset clause; the number of new public bodies currently being planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41275/15]
View answerSince 2011 there have been no new agencies created; however a number have been merged or abolished.
Dundalk Port Company was merged with Dublin Port Company on 12 July 2011, while Tralee and Fenit Harbour Commissioners transferred to the control of Kerry County Council on 1 October 2011. On 1st January 2012 both Baltimore and Skibbereen Harbour Commissioners and Kinsale Harbour Commissioners transferred to the control of Cork County Council along with Arklow Harbour Commissioners which transferred to the control of Wicklow County Council. The final Harbour Commission, Bantry Bay merged with the Port of Cork Company on 1 January 2014. The transfer of Dundalk Port Company to Dublin Port Company was on foot of a financial review of Dundalk Port Company while the transfers of the Harbours Commissioners were in line with the National Ports Policy 2005 which recommended the transfer of Regional harbours, operating under the Harbours Act 1946, to Local Authority control.
In 2012 Dublin Tourism merged with its parent body Fáilte Ireland on 1 January. Shannon Airport separated from the Dublin Airport Authority on 31 December 2012 to merge with a restructured Shannon Development to form a new integrated Shannon entity in public ownership with Shannon Group being established on the 5th September 2014.
Coaching Ireland merged into the Irish Sports Council on 1 January 2013.
The National Roads Authority and the Railway Procurement Agency merged to a single entity called Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) on the 1 August 2015.
The Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority merged on 1 October 2015 to a single entity called Sport Ireland.
The Harbours Bill 2015 which is currently at committee Stage in the Dáil will facilitate the transfer of five Ports of Regional Significance to Local Authority control.
None of these bodies is subject to a sunset clause.
269. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén uair a chuirfear ar fáil an tuarascáil a lorgaíodh ó údaráis an Gharda Síochána maidir le saincheisteanna oibríochta a ardaíodh i dtaca le cur i ngníomh Ionstraim Reachtúil Uimh. 398 de 2015, na Rialacháin fán Acht um Thrácht ar Bhóithre, 2010 (Alt 13) (An Fhoirm Fhorordaithe agus an Modh Forordaithe maidir le Ráitis), 2015, arna síniú ina dlí le gairid ag an Aire Iompair, Turasóireachta agus Spóirt; an bhfuil baol ann idir an dá linn go dteipfidh ar chúiseanna a thógfar in aghaidh tiománaithe de bharr gan tairiscint ghníomhach de cháipéisí a bheith ar fáil i nGaeilge i ngach cás le linn don Ionstraim Reachtúil seo a bheith á feidhmiú; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [40907/15]
View answerIs é príomhchuspóir an athbhreithnithe ná measúnú a dhéanamh ar an struchtúr agus an grádú ag leibhéal na bainistíochta sinsearaí in Údarás na Gaeltachta, ag féachaint do ról, d’fheidhmeanna, do bhuiséad agus do fhreagrachtaí na heagraíochta, i gcomparáid le heagraíochtaí eile sa tseirbhís phoiblí, agus ag tabhairt san áireamh na feidhmeanna breise a tugadh don Údarás faoi Acht na Gaeltachta 2012. Tá an t-athbhreithniú ar siúl i gcomhpháirtíocht leis an Údarás.
Is iad seo a leanas téarmaí tagartha an athbhreithnithe:
- An struchtúr foirne ardbhainistíochta is fearr a oireann do riachtanais na heagraíochta agus lena mbaintear an úsáid is éifeachtaí agus is éifeachtúla as na hacmhainní atá ar fáil;
- A áirithiú go bhfuil an struchtúr molta ailínithe go hiomlán leis an trí réimse is mó de ghnó na heagraíochta, is iad sin Fiontraíocht agus Fostaíocht, Pleanáil Teanga agus Forbairt Pobail, agus Rialachas Corparáideach;
- Na scileanna agus an taithí is gá chun tacú leis na cuspóirí straitéiseacha a bhaint amach;
- Sainchuntas mionsonraithe poist a ullmhú le haghaidh gach ceann de na poist shinsearacha, rud a chothóidh feidhmiú níos éifeachtaí agus a éascóidh caighdeáin feidhmíochta a leagan síos agus measúnuithe a dhéanamh;
- A áirithiú go ndéanfar próifílí daoine aonair agus foirne comhtháite a fhorbairt ag leibhéal na hardbhainistíochta chun ceannaireacht éifeachtach an struchtúir nua a éascú;
- A áirithiú go bhforbrófar cultúr agus creat bainistíochta feidhmíochta, go bhforbrófar na scileanna agus an saineolas agus an taithí a bheidh de dhíth sa struchtúr comhtháite, agus go bhforbrófar straitéis thacúil oiliúna don lucht bainistíochta agus don fhoireann.
I gcomhréir leis na Rialacháin um Soláthar Poiblí, bronnadh an conradh don athbhreithniú ar an gcomhlacht Public Affairs Ireland. Is é €15,800, gan CBL san áireamh, luach an chonartha. Bhí sé mar choinníoll den chonradh go ndéanfaí an obair trí Ghaeilge leis an Údarás agus an Roinn agus tuigtear dom gur comhlíonadh an coinníoll sin.
Tuigtear dom go bhfuil an tuarascáil curtha ar fáil don Údarás. Tá plé ar bun faoi láthair idir mo Roinnse agus an tÚdarás maidir le cur i bhfeidhm mholtaí na tuarascála. Ní dhéanfar cinneadh faoi fhoilsiú na tuarascála go dtí go mbeidh an próiseas sin thart.
270. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén uair atá sé i gceist ag an Aire Stáit Mc Hugh casadh le toscaireacht ó Inis Meáin chun an cheist maidir le forbairt Chéibh an Chalaidh Mhóir a phlé; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [40908/15]
View answerMar atá mínithe don Teachta i bhfreagraí ar roinnt ceisteanna Dála ar an ábhar seo, is cúram do Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe Cé an Chalaidh Mhóir. É sin ráite, tá curtha in iúl agam go bhfuil mé sásta bualadh le toscaireacht ón oileán maidir leis an gcé ach dáta do chruinniú dá leithéid a aontú leo. Tá sé sin curtha in iúl agam d'ionadaithe Inis Meáin. Is ceart a rá arís nach bhfuil ciste ar fáil do mo Roinn chun tabhairt faoi fhorbairt ar an gcé seo.
271. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to implement the recommendations in the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht on Shannon flooding, published in 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41051/15]
View answerI am advised that the Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Study on the River Shannon (CFRAMS) is currently being carried out on behalf of the Office of Public Works (OPW). Work on the study started in January 2011 and will be completed in 2016 with the publication of Catchment Flood Risk Management Plans. In the meantime, the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department and Waterways Ireland remain fully supportive of the work of the OPW as the lead State agency for the coordination and implementation of Government policy in relation to the management of flood risk in Ireland, including in relation to Shannon flooding.
272. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the date and time when the weir at Meelick was fully opened to facilitate the maximum flow of water, following the recent heavy rainfall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41054/15]
View answerI have been informed by Waterways Ireland that the sluices at Meelick Weir were fully opened to facilitate the maximum flow of water following the recent heavy rainfall at 9am on Tuesday 10 November 2015.
273. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for details, in tabular form, of all instances from 1 January 2000 to 2015 to date where legislation introduced by her or on her behalf which is enacted and still in force contains a provision amending the Data Protection Acts to allow for the transfer of personal or other data collected, retained and processed by the State for a particular purpose for another specific purpose; the financial cost of creating and administering such databases, by case; the projected financial cost for databases not yet complete; the specific legislative provision which enabled such data transfers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41131/15]
View answerI am advised that no such legislation amending the Data Protection Acts has been introduced in the period since my Department was established in June 2011.
274. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of new State bodies and agencies under her remit that have been established since February 2011; the number of such bodies subject to a sunset clause; the number of new public bodies currently being planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41264/15]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that no agencies or State bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group have been established since 2011 and I have no plans to establish any additional such bodies.
275. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of defined benefit pension schemes currently listed for employees under her remit; the number that are in deficit; her plans to consolidate any of these schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41284/15]
View answerPermanent staff employed in my Department are either in the established pension scheme, the non-established scheme or the single pension scheme for civil servants. These schemes are not in deficit and there are no plans to consolidate them.
Ten bodies operating under the aegis of my Department have a defined benefit pension scheme. None of these schemes is in deficit and there are no plans to consolidate them. Staff employed in the North/South bodies under the aegis of my Department are in the North/South Pension Scheme.
