Brendan Griffin
Question:714. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of efforts related to the 2023 Rugby World Cup for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45921/15]
View answerSports Events
Questions (714)
Written answers
On 5 December 2014 the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, the First Minister and Deputy First Minister announced their joint support for the IRFU's bid to host Rugby World Cup 2023.
The process of assembling a Bid Team and procuring advisors for key areas of expertise started shortly afterwards and that team is now in place and compiling the bid. In that regard, the compilation of the bid will require extensive Government involvement and support and the Bid Team are engaging with administrations in both jurisdictions in this regard. Inter-Department/Agency Groups have also been set up in both jurisdictions to help co-ordinate this engagement. Initial work has also taken place on branding for the bid and the scoping of potential venues.
An Oversight Board was also appointed by both Governments last May to oversee the bid process and give strategic direction. Dick Spring, former Tánaiste and Irish rugby international, was appointed as Chair of the Bid Oversight Board, and Dr David Dobbin, Group Chief Executive, Dale Farm was appointed as Vice-Chair. The Bid Ambassador is former Ireland rugby captain, Brian O'Driscoll. The remaining members include representatives of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland, the IRFU and the GAA as well a number of prominent business people. The next meeting of the Oversight Board is in January 2016 in Belfast.
World Rugby will open the bidding process for the 2023 RWC in May 2016 with the final decision regarding the winning bidder will be taken in November 2017. It is a very competitive process with South Africa, France and Italy also expected to bid.
Road Improvement Schemes
Questions (715)
Pearse Doherty
Question:715. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding package for improving the condition of rural roads for 2016. [46014/15]
View answerWritten answers
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' 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.
The Department's 2016 current allocation for regional and local roads is €43.683 million and the overall capital allocation is €250.4 million. I expect to announce grant allocations to local authorities to supplement their own resources spending early next year.
Rail Network Safety
Questions (716)
Jack Wall
Question:716. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has had representations regarding major concerns at the present condition of a railway bridge (details supplied) in County Kildare that was damaged in 2013 and has still not been repaired; if there is an insurance issue in having this matter resolved; if he has discussed this with Iarnród Éireann or the local authority with a view to having the matter resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46036/15]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that my Department has not had representations regarding the railway bridge at Caragh, Naas, Co. Kildare. Matters relating to repair of bridges on the rail network are operational matters for Iarnród Éireann. I have referred your question to Iarnród Éireann for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
Road Projects Expenditure
Questions (717)
Barry Cowen
Question:717. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost of completing the A5 road; the cost to the State to date and in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46105/15]
View answerWritten answers
In "A Fresh Start - the Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan" which was concluded on 17 November the Irish Government reaffirms its commitment to provide funding of £50 million for the A5 project and has committed to provide an additional £25 million to ensure that Phase 1 of the project (Newbuildings to north of Strabane) can commence as soon as the necessary planning issues have been resolved by the Northern Ireland authorities. It is envisaged that construction of Phase 1 of the A5 will start in 2017 with a view to completion in 2019. In keeping with the revised project timeline, the Government funding is to be provided in three tranches of £25 million in the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively.
In light of the Fresh Start Agreement, it will be a matter for the Northern authorities once the planning process is concluded to review the scheme costs taking into account the proposed phased delivery of the scheme.
To date the Irish Government has contributed £22 million towards the cost of the A5 project.
Cross-Border Projects
Questions (718)
Barry Cowen
Question:718. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost of completing the Narrow Water bridge; the cost to the State to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46106/15]
View answerWritten answers
The 'A Fresh Start - Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan', concluded in November indicates that the Government remains committed to the concept of the Narrow Water Bridge. Under the Agreement, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Government have agreed to undertake a review of the project with a view to identifying options for its future development, for consideration by the North South Ministerial Council in June 2016.
Until that review is completed it is not possible to provide any further details.
Departmental Agencies Funding
Questions (719)
Barry Cowen
Question:719. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost of operating Transport Infrastructure Ireland, by wages, by administration and the number of staff employed, in 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46114/15]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, the National Roads Authority and the Railway Procurement Agency were merged to become Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in August 2015.
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to 2014 is contained in the National Roads Authority Annual Report and Accounts 2014, a copy of which is available under the Library Section of the TII website www.tii.ie.
I note that the Deputy has requested similar information for 2015 and in that regard I have referred the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
Road Safety Authority
Questions (720)
Barry Cowen
Question:720. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of money spent on the Road Safety Authority in each year from 2011 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46119/15]
View answerWritten answers
Details of Exchequer funding for the Road Safety Authority (RSA) for the years requested are as follows: 2011 - €12.2m; 2012 - €13.9m; 2013 - €6.5m; 2014 - Nil; and 2015 - €0.139m (pension contribution).
Details of the RSA's income and expenditure can be found in the Authority's Annual Reports, available on the RSA website www.rsa.ie.
Road Safety Authority Campaigns
Questions (721)
Barry Cowen
Question:721. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of money spent by the Road Safety Authority on safety programmes in primary, secondary and third level institutions of education in each year from 2011 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46120/15]
View answerWritten answers
This is a matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
Vehicle Clamping
Questions (722)
Billy Timmins
Question:722. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the options and recourse available to those who believe they were incorrectly clamped by a private company in a parking area where they reside and where they are satisfied they followed all the necessary requirements; if there is a regulator to deal with the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46138/15]
View answerWritten answers
Currently, there is no statutory regulation of clamping activities on private land.
However, following commencement, under the Vehicle Clamping Act 2015 it will be the function of the National Transport Authority (NTA) to regulate clamping activities wherever they take place.
The main areas which may be regulated are clamp release charges, the provision of appropriate advisory signage in areas where clamping is carried out and the establishment of a two-tier clamping appeals process. The Act also provides for a separate complaints procedure to consider complaints from members of the public in relation to clamping as well as the establishment of a code of practice.
Ports Facilities
Questions (723)
John Deasy
Question:723. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the discussions he has had with the management of the Port of Waterford Company regarding accessing regional development funding through the European Union or through State-sponsored capital infrastructural funding. [46168/15]
View answerWritten answers
The Port of Waterford is recognised as a Port of National Significance (Tier 2) in National Ports Policy. While there is no exchequer funding provided to ports, ports are encouraged to explore all other avenues of funding available to them.
As the Deputy is aware, at a European level, the Port fulfilled the criteria for recognition as a 'comprehensive Port' in the comprehensive network of the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T) - a planned set of road, rail, air and water transport networks in the European Union. Waterford Port is eligible to apply for funding through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), a key EU funding instrument to promote growth, jobs and competitiveness through targeted infrastructure investment at European level.
Officials from my Department have met recently with Waterford Port Company to advise and encourage them to explore projects that might qualify for CEF funding.
In December, the Department facilitated a meeting between the port and officials from the Commission, the European Investment Bank and INEA (the Executive agency for CEF). In addition, the port attended a recent information session on Motorways of the Sea (MOS), a horizontal priority of the Connecting Europe Facility, hosted jointly by the Department and the European Coordinator for Motorways of the Sea. Once again, an individual meeting was facilitated between the port and the European Co-ordinator. My Department is aware that the Port of Waterford is actively exploring a joint venture with a number of partners in preparation for an application for Motorways of the Sea funding.
Waterford Port is within the South East Region for EU Structural Funding purposes and the managing authority for the Regional Operational Programme is the Southern Regional Assembly.
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) co-financed Regional Operational Programmes (2014-2020) approved by the Irish Government and agreed with the European Commission in December 2014 were formally signed in Brussels in February 2015.
The regional programmes focus on five thematic areas: research and innovation, enterprise development, broadband infrastructure, energy efficiency and integrated urban development. Port infrastructure was not identified as a thematic priority for co-funding under the 2014-2020 programmes. However, the Southern Regional Assembly have advised that they are available to provide additional information and advice to the port in relation to potential future funding through the regional programmes.
State Airports
Questions (724)
John Deasy
Question:724. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the discussions he has had with the management at Waterford Regional Airport regarding accessing State or European Union funding to extend the runway at the airport. [46169/15]
View answerWritten answers
Funding support for capital expenditure under my Department's Regional Airports Programme is confined to safety and security related projects. The projects being funded at Waterford airport under the Programme include the runway end safety area (RESA) as required by the IAA and safety standards. This project involved the purchase of land to facilitate the work.
Development projects, however, such as any capacity expansions, are a commercial matter for the airports themselves and should only be contemplated if they can be financed commercially. In the case of the proposed runway extension at Waterford, the airport authorities are fully aware of this position and I understand that they are pursuing local interests in relation to that project.
My Department invited all airports and other transport bodies to an Information Seminar earlier this month on the financing options under the European Union's European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI), the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and the EIB. The seminar was organised by the European Commission, the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency and the European Investment Bank. A representative from Waterford Airport attended that Seminar and also met separately with the agencies.
Road Improvement Schemes
Questions (725)
Brendan Smith
Question:725. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be allocated to the National Roads Authority for 2016 in respect of the necessary upgrading of the east-west route from Cootehill through Shercock and Carrickmacross to Dundalk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46208/15]
View answerWritten answers
Cavan County Council was provided with over €2m in the period 2007-2014 by my Department in connection with this project under the Strategic Non National Road Grants Scheme in order to bring this 75 km route to preliminary design stage.
Due to budgetary constraints it is not possible to progress the project further at this point as the priority for available funding remains the repair and maintenance of regional and local roads. The construction cost for a scheme of this magnitude would be in excess of €150 million.