Terence Flanagan
Question:505. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter, details supplied, regarding penalty points and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3151/16]
View answerPenalty Points System
Questions (505)
Written answers
The Deputy's question relates to the use of Daytime Running Lights (DRL), which is not mandatory in Ireland. DRL involves motorists either using their dipped headlights during the hours of daylight or fitting dedicated daytime running lights in an effort to make vehicles more conspicuous and thereby reducing the number and severity of road traffic collisions. An increasing number of vehicles have dedicated DRL fitted as standard, and it became mandatory on all new cars entering the national fleet from 2011 onwards in accordance with EC Directive 2008/89/EC. Since August 2012 new trucks and buses are required to have dedicated DRL. It is estimated that through the gradual renewal of the national fleet almost all vehicles will be equipped with DRL by 2024.
The RSA previously undertook a review of the policy options available for the mandatory introduction of DRL and concluded that DRL should not be made obligatory at this moment in time. Experience in other countries, especially Sweden where DRL has been mandatory since 1977, shows that mandatory DRL works best where all vehicles are fitted with dedicated DRL and where there has been intensive promotion and awareness campaigns prior to DRL being made mandatory. In Ireland most vehicles do not yet have dedicated DRL and the RSA analysis has shown that the costs of retrofitting DRL at the current time outweighs the benefits. Based on the RSA's review, I do not intend introducing penalty points for motorists who do not put their headlights on at all times of the day.
Rail Services Provision
Questions (506)
Timmy Dooley
Question:506. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of park-and-ride car parking spaces at each rail station. [3161/16]
View answerWritten answers
The issue raised is a matter for Irish Rail 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 reply within ten working days.
Public Service Reform Plan Measures
Questions (507)
Jim Daly
Question:507. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in the lifetime of this Government, the number of proposals managerial staff in any agency or managerial body under his remit put forward, to alter the roll-out of public services which were delayed, postponed or abandoned as a result of non-co-operation by trade union representatives and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3181/16]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the Deputy is a matter for the agencies themselves. I have forwarded his query to the agencies under my Department's remit for direct reply to him within 10 working days. If he has not received a response within this period, he should contact my private office.
Sporting Rights
Questions (508)
James Bannon
Question:508. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the ownership and the sporting rights the National Parks and Wildlife Service has on lands in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2912/16]
View answerWritten answers
Land and turbary rights in County Westmeath have been purchased under the Voluntary Bog Purchase Scheme administered by my Department and are registered, or pending registration, with the Property Registration Authority of Ireland, as outlined in the following table.
|
Number of acquisitions |
Hectares of land in County Westmeath |
Registered with the PRAI in the ownership of the Minister for Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht |
Pending registration with the PRAI in the ownership of the Minister for Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht |
|
42 |
384.4712 |
Yes |
- |
|
6 |
93.5832 |
- |
Yes |
Certain lands in County Westmeath have been transferred by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to the ownership of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, as outlined in the table below.
|
Number of transfers |
Hectares of land in County Westmeath |
Registered with the PRAI in the ownership of the Minister for Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht |
Pending registration with the PRAI in the ownership of the Minister for Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht |
|
1 |
2.787 |
Yes |
- |
The details of other land in County Westmeath under the control of my Department for nature conservation purposes are outlined in the table below. The land is registered in the name of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, including by virtue of various Transfer of Functions Orders, when nature conservation functions have been transferred from one Minister to another.
|
Location |
Hectares of land in County Westmeath |
|
Scragh Bog Nature Reserve |
22.8 |
|
Lough Owel Forest, Piercefield |
c.17 |
|
Long Hill Esker |
c.11 |
|
Crosswood Bog |
9.5 |
|
Ballinderry |
38.39 |
|
Ballinafid Lake |
c. 18 |
The Irish Land Commission was dissolved in 1992 and I understand that its successor in law is the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. In 1988, the then Irish Land Commission nominally transferred management of shooting rights to the Wildlife Service, which is now the National Parks and Wildlife Service, a constituent part of my Department.
I am advised that there are no actively managed leases of shooting rights by my Department in County Westmeath at present.
Easter Rising Commemorations
Questions (509)
Gerry Adams
Question:509. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht why, in relation to invitations to attend State 1916 centenary events, she is making a distinction between relatives of those who were active in 1916 but who did not claim a statutory pension and the relatives of those who were active in 1916 but who did claim a statutory pension and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2833/16]
View answerWritten answers
I, together with my Government colleagues, am committed to ensuring that the commemorations to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising will be inclusive, appropriate and respectful.
Over the past year, I have met with a number of relatives, including representatives of relatives’ groups and individual relatives, to highlight the important role that they will have in the plans to commemorate the centenary of the events of Easter 1916. Relatives of participants in the Rising who were interested in attending any of the upcoming State ceremonial events were asked to register their details with the Department of Defence. Issues in relation to the compilation of this register are a matter for the Minister for Defence. However, I understand that a link to military service pensions was not the sole criterion for inclusion in the register.
Those who fought and those who died in the 1916 Easter Rising will be represented at each of the State events by their family members or next of kin living today to the greatest extent possible, within the constraints presented by the size and capacity of the venues and numbers of guests that each venue can accommodate.
Arts Funding
Questions (510)
Finian McGrath
Question:510. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on correspondence, details supplied, from the Association of Artists' Representative Organisations concerning the restoration of State funding for the Arts, in particular to the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board in order to create more employment and stability in the creative industries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2868/16]
View answerWritten answers
Funding across the public service was severely impacted by the economic crisis, including the funding which the Government was able to provide to the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board.
With economic recovery, I have however, been able to provide some additional support to both organisations. The allocation to the Arts Council in 2016 is €60.1m, an increase of 6% over the past 2 years. The allocation to the Irish Film Board in 2016 at almost €14.5m shows an increase of 3.6% from last year.
My aim is to further enhance the supports for the arts and the Irish film industry as the economy continues to improve.
Easter Rising Commemorations
Questions (511)
Dominic Hannigan
Question:511. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the rules and guidelines on how invitations will be issued to potential guests at the 1916 Commemoration Events, including those which apply to special guests, such as relations of those who are being commemorated. [2926/16]
View answerWritten answers
I, together with my Government colleagues, am committed to ensuring that the commemorations to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising will be inclusive, appropriate and respectful. Over the past year, I have met with a number of relatives, including representatives of relatives’ groups and individual relatives, to highlight the important role that they will have in the plans to commemorate the centenary of the events of Easter 1916.
In relation to representation at State ceremonial events, each event has its own unique and special focus, which will have a bearing on the relevant guest list. In this regard, officials in my Department have been liaising with the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Defence, and other relevant interests, including the 1916 Relatives Association, in relation to the issuing of invitations to the State ceremonial events to ensure appropriate representation from State, civic and wider interests. In this regard, relatives of participants in the Rising who were interested in attending any of the upcoming State ceremonial events were asked to register their details with the Department of Defence.
Those who fought and those who died in the 1916 Easter Rising will be represented at each of the State events by their family members or next of kin living today to the greatest extent possible, within the constraints presented by the size and capacity of the venues and numbers of guests that each venue can accommodate.
Seirbhísí Farantóireachta
Questions (512)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:512. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta céard atá déanta aici lena chinntiú go mbeidh seirbhís farantóireachta laethúil go hÁrann tar éis an chéad lá d’Fheabhra; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [2993/16]
View answerWritten answers
Mar atá a fhios ag an Teachta, ní foláir, tháinig deireadh leis an gconradh farantóireachta paisinéirí do Árainn (Inis Mór) ar 31 Eanáir 2013 agus níl aon chonradh ag mo Roinn don tseirbhís seo ó shin. Cé go raibh cruinnithe idir mo Roinn agus an comhlacht farantóireachta, rinne siad féin cinneadh gan glacadh le conradh ach go leanfadh Aran Ferries Teo ag cur seirbhís rialta ar fáil ar bhonn bliantúil. Tuigtear dom go bhfuil an farantóir sásta leanúint leis an tseirbhís bhliantúil i gcónaí ag an minicíocht céanna gan fóirdheontas ó mo Roinn. Is léir, áfach, go bhfuil an deacracht atá ann faoi láthair ag eascairt as na fodhlíthe atá le cur i bhfeidhm ag Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe ar Ché Chill Rónáin. Tuigim go bhfuil comhráití ar siúl faoi láthair ag Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe maidir leis na deacrachtaí sin. Mar Aire Stáit le cúraimí don Ghaeltacht agus na h-oileáin, ba mhaith liom a shoiléiriú go bhfuil mé oscailte d’aon chéim réasúnta a thógáil a chuideoidh le réiteach a fháil ar an gceist seo. Bhí cruinnithe agamsa le hionadaithe phobail Árann, le Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe agus tá mo Roinn i dteagmháil leis an bhfarantóir féin. Ba mhaith liom a chur in iúl don Teachta freisin go bhfuil fiosruithe déanta ag mo Roinn maidir leis na féidearthachtaí a bhainfeadh le seirbhís éigeandála a chur ar fáil, i gcás go dteipeann ar na hiarrachtaí atá ar siúl faoi láthair.
Film Industry Promotion
Questions (513)
Andrew Doyle
Question:513. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will comprehensively review the funding allocation for the film industry, including the Irish Film Board, given its impact on regional development strategy and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3119/16]
View answerWritten answers
Funding across the public service was severely impacted by the economic crisis, including the funding which the Government was able to provide to the Irish Film Board. With economic recovery, I have however, been able to provide some additional support to the Film Board, including additional funding of €500,000 in 2016. The allocation to the Film Board in 2016 is almost €14.5m, which shows an increase of 3.6% from last year.
This increased investment will help to maximise the benefits brought about by the Government’s enhancement of the Section 481 film tax credit system, including the decision to increase the cap for eligible expenditure on film projects to €70 million, as announced as part of Budget 2016.
My aim is to further enhance the supports for the Irish film industry as the economy continues to improve.
Public Service Reform Plan Measures
Questions (514)
Jim Daly
Question:514. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in the lifetime of this Government, the number of proposals managerial staff in any agency or managerial body under her remit put forward, to alter the roll-out of public services which were delayed, postponed or abandoned as a result of non-co-operation by trade union representatives and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3167/16]
View answerWritten answers
Management in my Department and in the agencies under its remit engage with trade union representatives on an on-going basis in relation to the roll-out of public services and other issues of mutual interest. The Public Sector Stability Agreement 2013-2018 commits unions and management to using all available dispute resolution mechanisms to resolve any industrial relations disagreements that may arise in that context. I have been informed that, while there have been cases where agreement was not reached between the parties in the first instance, there have been no cases of non-cooperation by trade union representatives in the implementation of the dispute resolution arrangements provided for under the Public Sector Stability Agreement.