Written Answers Nos. 910-922
910. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the categories and amounts of funding his Department provided to Cork City Council in each of the years 2011 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46437/15]
View answer911. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the categories and amounts of funding his Department provided to Cork County Council in each of the years 2011 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46438/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 910 and 911 together.
The details requested by the Deputy are contained in the table below.
|
Year |
Category |
Amount |
|
2011 |
Jobs Initiative Smarter Travel Areas Funding for Cycle Stands in Cork City |
€99,984
|
|
|
Frankfield-Grange -Bellevue Pedestrian Project under Jobs Initiative Round 2 |
€172,186
|
|
|
Bike Week Promotional Fund to encourage Local Authorities to promote cycling in their area |
€5,000 |
|
|
Regional Cities Programme |
€1.5m
|
|
|
Jobs Initiative Scheme |
€1.2m
|
|
|
Accessibility Grants Programme |
€0.1m
|
|
|
Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme |
€723,000 |
|
2012 |
Bike Week Promotional Fund to encourage Local Authorities to promote cycling in their area |
€8,431 |
|
|
Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme |
€468,059 |
|
|
Regional Cities Programme |
€6.4m |
|
2013 |
Cork to Kinsale Planning & Design under NCN Seed Finance Scheme |
€30,000
|
|
|
Regional Cities Programme |
€4.9m |
|
|
Bike Week Promotional Fund to encourage Local Authorities to promote cycling in their area |
€2,761 |
|
|
Sports Capital Programme |
€10,594 |
|
2014 |
Bike Week Promotional Fund to encourage Local Authorities to promote cycling in their area |
€12,049 |
|
|
Regional Cities Programme |
€3.8m |
|
2015 |
Bike Week Promotional Fund to encourage Local Authorities to promote cycling in their area |
€12,546 |
|
|
Regional Cities Programme |
€4.1m |
NB. NTA is responsible for investment in sustainable projects in Cork City.
Details of the regional and local road grant payments to local authorities (including Cork City Council) for the period 2011-2015 are outlined in the regional and local road grant payment booklets which are available in the Dáil Library. Details of the 2016 regional and local road grant allocations to Cork City Council will be announced shortly.
With regard to national roads, details of the allocations to each local authority are also available in the Dáil library. However, details of the actual drawdown of funding for these roads are a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA).
912. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport following the recent Government announcement of an additional investment of €29 million in buses and services for 2016, if he will allocate funding to extend the Number 102 bus route from Sutton to Howth, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46528/15]
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 response within ten working days.
913. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of school bus drivers being unable to avail of equal access to the Córas Iompair Éireann pension scheme despite an acknowledgement that such access would be granted, and if he will recommend an independent process to evaluate what is happening and try and resolve matters. [46531/15]
View answerThe administration of the Córas Iompair Éireann pension scheme is entirely a matter for the scheme's trustees together with the Board of CIÉ and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
914. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will revert to this Deputy on a matter (details supplied) regarding the proposed works for the M20; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46553/15]
View answerAs 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 is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII, formerly known as the National Roads Authority) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 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.
915. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry the status of plans to place a bypass between Macroom, County Cork and Killarney, County Kerry in 2016.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46578/15]
View answerAs 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 is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII, formerly known as the National Roads Authority) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 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.
At present TII is assessing how best to progress national projects included in the 7 year transport element of the Capital Plan, including the upgrade of the N22 between Ballyvourney and Macroom, taking into account annual budget allocations. The timeframe for progressing individual projects will be decided once that process is completed. In the interim I understand TII has allocated a total of €3.8m to the Ballyvourney to Macroom scheme in 2016 which will facilitate land acquistion for the project.
916. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has plans for more investment in indoor sports (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46606/15]
View answerGovernment investment in sports facilities, including indoor sports facilities, is provided primarily through the Sports Capital Programme and the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme.
The Sports Capital Programme is the Government's primary vehicle for supporting the development of sports facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment. In the lifetime of this Government there have been three rounds of the SCP with €133.6m allocated under the Programme in 2,633 separate grants to sports groups and organisations. The focus of the SCP is now on the drawdown of existing grants. No decision has been made on the timing of any future rounds of the Sports Capital Programme.
Under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP) grant aid to a maximum of €3.8 million is provided to local authorities towards the capital costs of the provision of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. Since 2000, 58 projects have been or are being dealt with under the scheme, of which 50 have been completed and the remaining eight are at various stages of development. I wish to commence the process of opening a new limited round of swimming pool allocations and I have asked my departmental officials to report back to me on this matter.
In addition, the Government is investing in the development of a National Indoor Arena at the National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown. The Arena, which is scheduled for completion in November 2016, comprises a National Indoor Athletics Training Centre, a National Gymnastics Training Centre and a National Indoor Training Centre (multi-sports hall). The arena will cater for approximately 26 national sports and as well as providing world-class indoor training facilities for Irish sport, it will allow smaller sporting bodies the potential to host their competitions at local, regional, national and international levels.
917. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will assist with a report (details supplied) commissioned by the National Transport Authority. [46615/15]
View answerI am aware of the Dublin Residential Parking Study to which you refer. However, as this report was commissioned by the National Transport Authority (NTA), it would not be appropriate for me to intervene on this matter. Any queries or concerns surrounding the Report should be directed to the NTA in the first instance.
918. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to ensure that signalling systems along the Dublin Area Rapid Transit line are modernised in-line with any increases in frequency as per information provided (details supplied). [46616/15]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Issues concerning the frequency of DART services, and the operation of signalling systems and gates at level crossings, are primarily a matter for the National Transport Authority in conjunction with Irish Rail.
Noting this, I have referred the Deputy's Question to the Chief Executive Officer of the National Transport Authority for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
919. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a matter (details supplied) regarding the National Sports Campus Development Authority/Sport Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46655/15]
View answerI am informed that, in its recent correspondence with the Deputy, Sport Ireland confirmed that it accepts the decision of the Information Commissioner and it will ensure that all aspects of the Information Commissioner's decision will be fully complied with within the permitted timeframe. I understand that the relevant records have been released by Sport Ireland, in accordance with the Information Commissioner's decision.
As I have already informed the Deputy, the processing of this FOI request and the decision of the Information Commissioner are a matter for Sport Ireland and I have no role in the process.
920. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the names of the persons he has nominated to serve in positions carrying remuneration, other than out of pocket expenses, on commissions, industrial, assurance, semi-State or other similar concerns; the amounts received annually in respect of each appointment; the name of the concern to which the appointment was made during the years 2011 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46667/15]
View answerI have nominated the following people to serve in positions carrying remuneration:
|
Name |
Payment Amount |
Position |
|
Mr. Tony O'Connor, SC
|
€5,842.50 (2012) |
Chair, Appeal Panel on Aviation Terminal Service Charges |
|
Mr. Richard Cummins
|
€2,400.00 (2012) |
Member, Appeal Panel on Aviation Terminal Service Charges |
|
Mr. Liam Twohig
|
€2,952.00 (2012) |
Member, Appeal Panel on Aviation Terminal Service Charges |
I also appoint persons to State Boards, many of which carry fees. These appointments are made in line with Government procedures and details of the process can be found at the following link www.stateboards.ie and details of appointments made at http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/state-board-membership-and-approved-fees.
921. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of funding for the maintenance and upkeep of local improvement scheme roads subsequent to major restoration under the grant and contribution scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46671/15]
View answerThe 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 Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) provides funding for road and laneways that councils have not taken in charge. That is, private roads and laneways, the maintenance and improvement of these roads is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowner.
The LIS for local roads remains in place but my Department does not provide a separate grant allocation towards this scheme. Instead local authorities may use a proportion of State grant funding for LIS should they wish to do so.
There are no plans at present to revise the current arrangement. I take the view that local authorities are best placed to assess whether funding should be allocated to LIS or to public roads.
922. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to parliamentary Question No. 626 of 24 February 2015, if Dublin City Council has submitted a regulatory impact assessment on the need to legislate for the operation of rickshaws; the status of the assessment; if this legislation will be prepared in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46697/15]
View answerThe Deputy may wish to note that I updated the Dáil on this issue in response to Question No. 15 of 23 September 2015, when matters had moved on somewhat since the Question to which the Deputy refers.
In my September response, I noted that it was my understanding that Dublin City Council (DCC), following a consultation process with relevant stakeholders, had drafted bye-laws under the Local Government Act 2001 to regulate rickshaws, and that it was my understanding that DCC intended to bring the draft bye-laws before the next meeting of the Strategic Policy Committee of the Council to provide for a licensing regime for rickshaws.
I have been informed that the proposed draft rickshaw byelaws have not yet been brought to the Strategic Policy Committee as they are still the subject of internal discussions in DCC.
As this is a matter for the Council, I cannot comment on nor am I privy to their internal discussions. The Deputy may perhaps wish to raise this matter directly with the Council.
