Written Answers Nos. 835 - 849
835. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the schemes or options for funding available at local government and Department level to commence urgently needed repair works at a location (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6330/16]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in Kilkenny is the statutory responsibility of Kilkenny County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the Council. The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) provides funding for road and laneways that Councils have not taken in charge, that is, private roads and landways. The maintenance and improvement of these roads is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowner.
The LIS for regional and local roads remains in place but my Department does not provide a separate grant allocation towards this scheme. Instead Councils may use a proportion of State grant funding for LIS should they wish to do so. It is a matter for the Council to decide on allocations for LIS.
836. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the budget allocation he has allocated to local authorities for road maintenance and repair over the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6563/16]
View answerDetails of the regional and local road grant payments (including for the period 2013-2015) to local authorities are outlined in the regional and local road grant payment booklets which are available in the Dáil Library. Details of the January 2016 regional and local road grant allocations to each local authority are also available in the Dáil library. On foot of the Government decision in January this year to allocate €106 million to assist in the repair of storm and flood damage to transport infrastructure, €85 million was allocated in February to assist local authorities in commencing repairs on regional and local roads. A table is provided showing the severe weather allocation provided to each local authority. A second tranche of severe weather funding for work on regional and local roads, including bridge repairs, is due to be allocated in May. With regard to national roads, details of payments to local authorities is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
837. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the grants available to make a taxi (details supplied) wheelchair accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6286/16]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the granting of wheelchair accessible taxi/hackney licences and the administration of grant schemes for wheelchair accessible vehicles, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
838. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of rail users on the Maynooth and Kildare lines in each of the years 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6365/16]
View answer852. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of rail users on the Maynooth and Kildare lines in each of the years 2008 to 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6832/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 838 and 852 together.
The issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with Irish Rail and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
839. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to review the speed limit on a road (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6413/16]
View answerAny proposed alteration of the existing speed limit applying to the stretch of road in question is a matter for Kerry County Council in the first instance. While the Road Traffic Act 2004 sets default speed limits for national roads (both within and outside built up areas), local authorities, in this case Kerry County Council, may, in consultation with the Garda Commissioner and with the consent of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), make bye-laws to set Special Speed Limits for such roads in their administrative areas. To assist local authorities in the application of Special Speed Limits, I launched my Department's updated Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in March 2015 which are available on the Department's website www.dttas.ie. These Guidelines reiterate that the making of Special Speed Limit bye-laws is a matter for the elected members of local authorities, subject to following Department Guidelines and to the consent of TII in the case of national roads.
At the time of the issuing of these Guidelines, local authorities were requested to review and update all speed limits in their administrative areas in accordance with the Guidelines and this is currently on-going. In the case of national roads, local authorities were requested to undertake this review in conjunction with TII.
840. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding licensed small public service vehicles and bus lanes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6436/16]
View answerI explained the reasons for bus lanes and the reasons for not permitting access to them for further vehicles, including limousines, in the answer to Question No. 583 of 22 March 2016 to which the Deputy refers. Notwithstanding the many approaches from the limousine business over the years for access to these lanes, as limousines are not licensed for 'on-street' hire, the previously stated position remains unchanged.
841. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to contact the chief executive officer of Iarnród Éireann to increase the number of carriages from four to six on the 4.55 p.m. Bray to Howth Dublin Area Rapid Transit, DART, service or to implement other measures to end overcrowding on the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6454/16]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to Iarnród Éireann for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
842. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to investigate with the National Transport Authority when the authority will complete its internal review into the provision of sheltered bus stops, with special regard to the need for a new build for John Street in Sligo town, which has been approved by both Sligo County Council and Bus Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6467/16]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing or providing public transport infrastructure in relation to bus stops, bus shelters, bus stations, bus stands and bus fleets. Noting this I have referred 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.
843. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 806 of 6 April 2016, the basis for his understanding indicated. [6616/16]
View answer844. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 806 of 6 April 2016 and the aircraft identified, if the aircraft was on contract to the military of the United States of America on this occasion; if so, whether it, its crew or its passengers engaged in military operations or supporting military operations en route to Bagram airbase in Afghanistan; if not, why it was travelling to Afghanistan on this occasion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6617/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 843 and 844 together.
My understanding that no munitions of war were on board the aircraft in question was based on information supplied by Shannon Airport Authority and, as indicated in my previous reply, the fact that no application was made by the airline for an exemption under the 1973 Order. This was a non-scheduled flight which made a technical stop at Shannon for refuelling purposes. Under domestic law and the provisions of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation no prior notification to or prior permission from my Department is required for such flights.
My Department has since confirmed with the airline, National Air Cargo, that no munitions of war were carried on the flight in question. The airline has confirmed that the cargo was foodstuffs and that no passengers were on-board. I have no information on the airline's contracts for this flight.
845. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the annual subvention to Iarnród Éireann in each of the years 2011 to 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6633/16]
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.
846. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the annual subvention to Bus Éireann in each of the years 2011 to 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6634/16]
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.
847. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will provide the second allocation of funding for storm damage to local authorities; the amount he will provide; and the criteria for the allocation. [6658/16]
View answerThe Government decided in January 2016 to allocate €106 million to assist in the repair of storm and flood damage to transport infrastructure - this decision was taken on foot of initial estimates from local authorities of the cost of repairs. Following the Government decision, my Department requested (Circular RW 3 of 2016) local authorities to submit an immediate list of proposed road repair works by the 5th February 2016. It was indicated to local authorities that funding would be allocated in 2 tranches with the initial allocation facilitating local authorities to start repairs as quickly as possible and the allocation of a 2nd tranche in May intended to allow some time for the further investigation and evaluation of proposed works, for example in relation to bridges. Following receipt and consideration of the returns received from local authorities, the Department announced on the 18th February €85 million in grant allocations to assist local authorities in commencing repairs on regional and local roads. Local authorities were informed that the Department of Public Expenditure, in approving the additional funding for repair works, has stipulated that the monies involved have to be drawn down this year and that for that reason works listed in returns for implementation in 2017 could not be considered for funding. Local authorities were also informed that it is very important for them to plan their work programmes so that funding can be fully drawn down by the 30th November 2016. In addition an €8 million allocation was provided to Transport Infrastructure Ireland for works on national roads damaged as a result of the storms and flooding.
Local authorities have until the 29th April 2016 to submit a second return in relation to additional works on regional and local roads. Following the second submission, the Department will again assess the proposals received from Councils across the country and follow up as appropriate with a top-up severe weather allocation.
The amount available for allocation in the second tranche is of the order of €5 million.
848. Deputy Brid Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has collected the fines imposed on a company (details supplied) due to strike action by Luas drivers; if not, when he will, and the agency through which he will collect them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6665/16]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority in conjunction with Transport Infrastructure Ireland and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the National Transport Authority for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
849. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of each statutory instrument signed; each contract entered into; each tender issued; each tender awarded; each State board appointment made by him or by an agency of his Department from 1 January 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6698/16]
View answerThe Statutory Instruments signed since 1 January 2016 are contained in the following table. All contracts entered into are available on my Department's website at the following link, http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/expenditure-external-services-2015.
This document is updated twice each year and information relating to the first half of 2016 will be available in July.
All State Board appointments I have made are available at the following link, http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/state-board-membership-and-approved-fees.
Board appointments made by the agencies are a matter for the agencies themselves. I have referred the Deputy's question to the agencies for direct reply with regard to any appointments that may have been made by them to the Boards of any subsidiary companies. If you do not receive a reply within ten working days please contact my private office.
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Statutory Instrument |
Date Signed |
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131 of 2016 Roads Act 1993 (Classification of National Roads)(Smithstown – Shannon Airport) Order 2016 |
8th March 2016 |
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63 of 2016 - Córas Iompair Éireann Pension Scheme for Regular Wages Staff (Amendment) Scheme (Confirmation) Order 2016 |
11 February 2016 |
|
64 of 2016 - Córas Iompair Éireann Spouses' & Children's Pension Scheme for Regular Wages Staff (Amendment) Scheme (Confirmation) Order 2016 |
11 February 2016 |
|
65 of 2016 - Córas Iompair Éireann Superannuation Scheme 1951 (Amendment) Scheme (Confirmation) Order 2016 |
11 February 2016 |
|
66 of 2016 - Córas Iompair Éireann Spouses' & Children's Superannuation Scheme (Amendment) Scheme (Confirmation) Order 2016 |
11 February 2016 |
|
Road Traffic (Recognition of Foreign Driving Licences) (Newfoundland and Labrador) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 14 of 2016) |
13 January 2016 |
|
Road Traffic Act 1994 (Detention of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 48 of 2016) |
2 February 2016 |
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Change of Name of Railway Safety Commission to Commission for Railway Regulation (Appointed Day) Order 2016 |
18 February 2016 |
