Written Answers Nos. 726-738
726. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of subvention granted and the percentage this represents of total revenue, by public transport company, in each of the past five years. [46220/15]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter 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 reply within ten working days.
727. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of appointments to State boards under the aegis of his Department and the number of appointments that have been advertised on his Department's website since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46261/15]
View answerThe details requested by the Deputy are available on my Department's website at the following link http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/state-board-membership-and-approved-fees.
728. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of chairpersons appointed to State boards under the aegis of his Department who have appeared before the relevant joint Oireachtas committee since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46276/15]
View answer27 Chairpersons have been appointed to State boards under the aegis of my Department since March 2011. The new system regarding board appointments established in 2011 and the subsequent procedures announced by Minister Howlin in November 2014 require all persons being proposed as Chairpersons of State boards to appear before the appropriate Oireachtas committee prior to their formal appointment.
The only exception under the aegis of my Department was Mr Tom Wall who was appointed as Chairperson of the former Railway Procurement Agency on an interim basis in 2012, given the short nature of his appointment it was not considered necessary for him to appear before the committee.
The Deputy can view details of all State Boards under my Department's remit on my Department's website at the following link http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/state-board-membership-and-approved-fees.
729. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the Acts currently in force for which he has lead responsibility and that have parts or sections yet to be formally commenced, including the purpose of same, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46291/15]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following table.
|
Sea Pollution (Hazardous Substances) (Compensation) Act 2005 |
6 – 27 inclusive and Schedule 1 which contains the text of the 1996 HNS Convention |
Sections of the Sea Pollution (Hazardous Substances) (Compensation) Act 2005 providing for the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, 1996, were not commenced as this Convention did not enter into force internationally. When the 2010 Convention enters into force internationally, it is intended that the remaining sections of the Act will be commenced. |
|
Aer Lingus Act 2004 |
Section 2 |
Certain repeals provided for involving the Air Companies Act 1966 and the Air Companies (Amendment) Act 1969 will not be effected as long as the State remains a shareholder in Aer Lingus |
|
Tourist Traffic Act 1957 |
5(1) (iii) |
Unauthorised use of titles protected by the Tourist Traffic Acts |
|
Tourist Traffic Act 1970 |
6 (d) |
Unauthorised use of titles protected by the Tourist Traffic Acts |
|
Tourist Traffic Act 1983 |
7 (4) |
Unauthorised use of titles protected by the Tourist Traffic Acts |
|
RSA Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Act 2012 |
Sections 36 |
Detention of vehicles, etc., by authorised officers and CVR inspectors. |
|
Section 43 |
Amendment of Second Schedule to Act of 1961 — consequential disqualification |
|
|
Section 45 |
Amendment of section 41 of Road Traffic Act 1994 — detention of vehicles. |
|
|
Road Traffic Act 2010 |
Sections 3 and 5 (with the exception of Sections 48 and 55 |
Part 3. Fixed Charge Offences and Notices Part 5. Penalty Points |
|
Part 4, Sections 50-52 |
Payment deposit from non-resident drivers in respect of certain offences. |
|
|
Part 9, Sections 75, 82, 85 (d) |
Miscellaneous provisions |
|
|
Road Traffic Act 2014 |
Section 6 |
In relation to Driver Licensing |
|
Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Act 2014 |
Whole Act other than section 69 |
The main purpose of the Act is to replace and update the Mercantile Marine Act 1955, as amended, and provide a legal framework for the establishment and regulation of a modern and comprehensive ship registration system that will be more efficient, user friendly and accessible for ship owners. |
|
Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 |
Section 61 |
Road User information system |
|
Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 |
Section 114 |
Disposal of CIE property |
|
Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 |
Section 17(22) |
Appointed day for establishment of National Transport Authority Advisory Council. |
|
Taxi Regulation Act 2013 |
Section 49 |
Fixed payment following service of a summons in order to pre-empt a court hearing |
|
Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 |
Section 17(22)* |
*Section has been commenced but the required Order appointing day for establishment of National Transport Authority Advisory Council has not been made.
730. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost of restoring the local improvement scheme programme funding to the level that last pertained before this Government took office. [46325/15]
View answerThe allocation and payment booklets for regional and local roads are available in the Dáil library and these contain details of the State grant allocation and expenditure towards the LIS in the period before this Government took office.
731. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost of implementing a living wage of €11.50 for all employees directly employed by or in agencies funded by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46413/15]
View answerPolicy making in relation to the terms and conditions, including determination of salary rates, for all public servants including staff in the State agencies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
732. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding allocated to Culture Ireland in each of the past ten years and the proposed funding for 2016. [45695/15]
View answerThe funding allocated to Culture Ireland for the promotion of Irish arts worldwide is outlined in the following table.
|
Year |
€m |
Notes |
|
2005 |
2 |
|
|
2006 |
3 |
|
|
2007 |
4.5 |
|
|
2008 |
4.75 |
|
|
2009 |
4.553 |
|
|
2010 |
5.07 |
€4.083m core, plus €0.987m once-off provision for Imagine Ireland initiative |
|
2011 |
6.997 |
€3.997m core, plus €3m once-off provision for Imagine Ireland initiative |
|
2012 |
4.31 |
Including EU Presidency funds of €0.77m |
|
2013 |
3.997 |
Including EU Presidency funds of €0.811m |
|
2014 |
3.15 |
Including €0.65m for Ceiliuradh concert celebrating President's visit to Great Britain |
|
2015 |
2.5 |
|
|
2016 |
5 |
Including €2.5m for 2016 Centenary Programme |
733. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount her Department has received in fees from freedom of information requests in 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45753/15]
View answerIn 2014, fees and charges totalling €708 were received by my Department in respect of requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 2014 and its antecedent legislation. In 2015, fees and charges totalling €232 have been received to date.
734. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of political staff working in her Department, including the role and salary of each staff member. [45780/15]
View answerI presume the Deputy is referring to appointments that are coterminous with my own term of office as Minister and those of the Ministers of State at my Department. Details of such appointments at my Department, including the role title and the salary scale in each case, are set out in the following tables.
For completeness, I would point out that both Ministers of State at my Department also hold Minister of State responsibilities at other Departments. In such cases, one of the Departments acts as the lead Department for the purposes of recording and accounting for the matters that are the subject of the Deputy's Question. As my Department is the lead Department in one case, details are provided below only in relation to one of my Department's two Ministers of State.
Office of Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
|
Grade/Role |
Number of Staff (WTE) |
Salary Scale |
|
Special Advisor |
1 |
2nd Point Principal Officer Scale |
|
Special Advisor |
1 |
2nd Point Principal Officer Scale (PPC) |
|
Personal Secretary |
1 |
11th Point Personal Secretary to Minister/Minister of State Scale |
|
Personal Assistant |
1 |
5th Point Personal Assistant to Minister/Minister of State Scale |
|
Civilian Driver |
1 |
Civilian Driver (one scale point) |
|
Civilian Driver |
1 |
Civilian Driver (one scale point) |
Office of Minister of State (Gaeltacht)
|
Grade/Role |
Number of Staff (WTE) |
Salary Scale |
|
Parliamentary Assistant |
1 |
2nd Point Personal Assistant to Minister/Minister of State Scale |
|
Personal Secretary |
.25 |
8th Point Personal Secretary to Minister/Minister of State Scale |
|
Personal Secretary |
.75 |
14th Point Personal Secretary to Minister/Minister of State Scale |
735. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps she will take to ensure that the appropriate payment under the turf cutting compensation scheme is paid to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath as this has now been deferred pending review of the turf bank area, notwithstanding that the person had worked this bog for a long number of years by way of the conventional slean cutting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45794/15]
View answerAn application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question. I am advised that a payment of €1,500 in respect of Year 1 of 15 (2012), €1,518 in respect of Year 2 of 15 (2013), €1,521 in respect of Year 3 of 15 (2014).
The qualifying criteria for the scheme are that:
- The claimant must have a legal interest in one of the 53 raised bog special areas of conservation – ownership or turbary right;
- The claimant must have been the owner or entitled to exercise turbary rights on the land in question on 25 May 2010;
- The turbary on the site must not be exhausted;
- The claimant must have been cutting turf on the land in question during the relevant five year period; and
- No turf cutting or associated activity is ongoing on the property.
My Department is examining the application in view of the qualifying criteria for the scheme. I am advised that an inspection of the plot of bog in respect of which the applicant has applied for compensation is to be undertaken and my Department will be in contact with the applicant when this inspection has been completed with regard to payment for the current year.
736. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of Bills her Department has published since 9 March 2011; the number and Title of those Bills that included a regulatory impact assessment in advance of publication; the regulatory impact assessments published; the number of promised Bills for publication; the Bills that will include a regulatory impact assessment; the regulatory impact assessments that will be published before publication of the relevant Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45802/15]
View answerSince its establishment in June 2011, my Department has published the following Bills:
- Irish Film Board (Amendment) Bill 2011 (since enacted as the Irish Film Board (Amendment) Act 2011);
- Bille na Gaeltachta 2012/Gaeltacht Bill 2012 (since enacted as the Acht na Gaeltachta 2012/Gaeltacht Act 2012);
- Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2012 (since enacted as the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2012); and
- National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015 (since enacted as the National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Act 2015).
In addition, my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform worked together on the publication of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2012 (since enacted as the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Act 2012).
Regulatory impact assessments were not undertaken in the aforementioned cases as no significant potential impacts were identified in advance of, or in the course of, preparing these Bills for publication.
Work is currently underway in my Department on the following Bills:
- Official Languages (Amendment) Bill
- National Cultural Institutions (No. 1) Bill
- National Cultural Institutions (No. 2) Bill
- Heritage (Amendment) Bill
- Heritage (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill
- National Archives (Amendment) Bill
- National Monuments Bill
It is not envisaged that a regulatory impact assessment will be undertaken in relation to the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill or the National Cultural Institutions Bills as no significant potential impacts have been identified. A regulatory impact assessment in relation to certain provisions to be contained in the Heritage (Amendment) Bill will be considered at a later stage, while it is anticipated that the Heritage (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, the National Archives (Amendment) Bill and the National Monuments Bill will all be published in tandem with their associated regulatory impact assessments.
737. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount invested in capital and current expenditure in the Irish language development centre in Baile an Fheirtéaraigh in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45859/15]
View answerIn 2013 a grant of €1.747m was provided under the Gaeltacht Support Schemes of my Department towards this development at Baile an Fheirtéaraigh. A total of €1.697m of this allocation has been paid out by my Department to date. As the Deputy is aware, the centre was developed by the local community through Comharchumann Chorca Dhuibhne in cooperation with my Department and Údarás na Gaeltachta. The following additional capital funding for the centre was subsequently provided in 2014 and 2015:
- €26,197 in 2014 to an Comharchumann for the purchase of office equipment;
- €36,000 in 2014 to an tIonad Tacaíochta Teaghlaigh for the purchase of play equipment;
- €10,420 in 2015 for soundproofing works;
- €3,730 in 2015 to an tIonad Tacaíochta Teaghlaigh for the purchase of kitchen equipment; and
- €31,360 in 2015 to an tIonad Tacaíochta Teaghlaigh for the purchase of a minibus.
No current funding has been provided directly to the centre by my Department.
738. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will consider an appropriate way to mark the upcoming 50th anniversary of the filming of "Ryan's Daughter" on the Daingean Uí Chúis Peninsula in County Kerry, which was a major landmark for the film industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45860/15]
View answerMy Department has received no proposals in this regard.
