Written Answers Nos. 864 - 877
864. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding allocated to invest in rolling stock over the past ten years; the service lines this has been applied to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7061/16]
View answerOver the past ten years my Department has invested €600m in railway rolling stock. This investment provided 200 Inter-City Railcars and 33 Intercity Diesel Multiple Units. The deployment of rolling stock is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann so I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
865. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the national and European Union infrastructure funding available to expand train services and carriage capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7062/16]
View answerUnder the Government's Capital Plan - 'Building on Recovery', a €2.6bn investment has been prioritised for essential 'steady state' maintenance and asset renewal of the public transport system. This includes an on-going maintenance programme to ensure the safety and efficiency of the rail network. Funds are also being committed for a number of rail projects including the completion of the Phoenix Park Tunnel which is due to open later this year bringing some scheduled passenger services on the Kildare Line to Connolly Station. In addition, funding is being provided for the City Centre Re-signalling Programme and the construction of a new Central Traffic Control Centre which will improve commuter and intercity rail services.
Ireland successfully applied for EU co-funding for railcars under the 2007-2013 BMW Regional Operational Programme. In addition in 2014, co-funding was provided under the Interreg IV A Programme for the refurbishment of the Enterprise cross-border rolling stock, in co-operation with Northern Ireland Railways. However, similar funding is not available under the 2014-2020 round of EU co-funding.
866. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the justification for the much longer qualifying period applied to the driver licensing arrangements for motorcyclists than for general motorists. [7134/16]
View answerIrish driver licensing legislation operates within a framework of EU law. This is based on Directive 2006/126/EC, as amended. The matter which the Deputy has raised is determined by EU law, and Ireland has no discretion in this area.
Categories of vehicle for driver licensing purposes are defined at EU level, as are minimum standards for obtaining a licence. The EU divides motorcycle licences into categories A, A1, and A2. There is also a category AM for mopeds. The difference in motorcycle categories relates to power and engine size, and represents a graded system, with category A as the broadest category covering all motorcycles and the other categories representing lower-powered vehicles.
The EU has set the minimum age for category A1 as 16, category A2 as 18 and category A as 24. As a result, it is possible for an applicant to progress from a licence in category A1 at 16 through A2 at 18, to category A at 24. A first-time applicant who is 24 years of age or older may apply directly for a category A licence without going through the lower stages.
867. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide a commitment and timeframe for the delivery of the Athy southern distributor road in County Kildare. [7165/16]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads (such as the Athy Southern Distributor Road) is the statutory responsibility of Kildare 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 Capital Plan 2016-2021 provides that a number of schemes targeting bottlenecks in the road network will be progressed subject to necessary approvals. Among those schemes is the Athy Southern Distributor Road. It is a matter for Kildare County Council to progress this scheme through the planning approval process. My Department has allocated a grant of €600,000 to Kildare County Council this year to fund planning work on the project.
868. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to invest in contactless payment for Dublin Bus and for Bus Éireann services at the point of entry to the bus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7172/16]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development, operation and maintenance of the Leap Card scheme. Launched in December 2011, the Leap Card is a smartcard based fully integrated ticketing system that provides seamless travel between bus services, light rail and heavy rail services in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA). The scheme has also been extended to the regional cities and is being rolled out nationally on a gradual basis.
Various enhancements have been added to the scheme in the interim including the Leap Near Field Top-Up App which enables Leap Card users to use a special, free smartphone App to top-up their Leap Cards immediately (from their credit or debit cards) via the smartphone App.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply with regard to the use of contactless cards for public transport. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
869. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the increase in overseas visitor numbers to those counties covered by the Wild Atlantic Way initiative, and those counties covered by the Ireland’s Ancient East initiative, since these commenced. [7210/16]
View answerFigures published by the CSO show that overseas visits to Ireland have risen for each of the past five years. In fact, 2015 broke all previous records with a total number of overseas visits of 8,643,100 which represented an increase of 13.7% on the 2014 total.
Although the CSO does not compile any visitor numbers on a county by county basis, I understand Fáilte Ireland does generate some estimates and this information is available in the research section of the Fáilte Ireland website www.failteireland.ie. In relation to the estimated number of visitors to the counties covered by the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland's Ancient East, I have asked Fáilte Ireland to provide the Deputy with whatever relevant information they may have. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
870. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will provide funding allocations under the swimming pool grant programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7231/16]
View answerUnder the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme grant aid to a maximum of €3.8 million may be provided to local authorities towards the capital costs of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. The current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme was closed to new applicants on 31 July 2000. Since 2000, 58 projects have been, or are being, dealt with. 50 have been completed.
Last January the Department contacted local authorities seeking expressions of interest in a limited round of swimming pool allocations. Those expressions of interest are now under consideration.
871. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the grants available to voluntary organisations for acquiring new equipment in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7246/16]
View answerThe Sports Capital Programme which is administered by my Department is the Government's primary vehicle for supporting the development of sports facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment. In every round of the SCP voluntary organisations can apply for grants for sports equipment. A list of all such allocations is available at www.dttas.ie.
No decision has been made on any future rounds of the Sports Capital Programme. Any interested group should register now on www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie as this will be the only way to apply under any future rounds of the Programme.
In addition, my Department administers an annual Coastal Inshore Mountain and Cave Grant for a number of voluntary bodies, 12 mountain rescue bodies and 12 community rescue boat organisations. They include Mountain Rescue Ireland, the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation (ICRO) and the Search and Rescue Dog Association (SARDA).
The purchase of equipment is considered eligible expenditure under this grant.
It should be noted that mountain rescue groups are not tasked directly by the Irish Coast Guard, rather they are tasked by An Garda Síochána, under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality.
872. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of each statutory instrument signed; each contract entered into; each tender issued; each tender awarded; each State board appointment made by her or by an agency of her Department from 1 January 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6685/16]
View answerProcurement of services in my Department is carried out in accordance with relevant EU and national legislation. Tenders issued by my Department with a value in excess of €10,000 for ICT and €25,000 for all other contracts are published on the e-tenders website in accordance with the relevant limits. Five such public tenders were issued to date in 2016 and details are available at www.etenders.gov.ie.
Details of all contracts awarded by my Department in excess of these limits are available in the Publication Scheme prepared under section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014, which is available on my Department's website at:
http://www.ahg.gov.ie/about/information-requests/freedom-of-information/foi-publications-scheme/procurement
Due to the breadth of my Department’s activities and its highly geographically dispersed organisation, many smaller contracts are entered into and it would not be practicable to give details of such smaller purchases.
With regard to Statutory Instruments signed in the period 1 January 2016 to date, the relevant details are set out in the following table.
TABLE: Statutory Instruments signed and laid before the Oireachtas 1 January-14 April 2016
|
Name |
SI Number (of 2016) |
|
European Union Habitats (Danes Hole, Poulnalecka Special Area of Conservation 000030) Regulations 2016 |
88 |
|
European Union Habitats (Pouladatig Cave Special Area of Conservation 000037) Regulations 2016 |
89 |
|
European Union Habitats (Poulnagordon Cave (Quin) Special Area of Conservation 000064) Regulations 2016 |
90 |
|
European Union Habitats (Old Domestic Building (Keevagh) Special Area of Conservation 002010) Regulations 2016 |
91 |
|
European Union Habitats (Old Farm Buildings, Ballymacrogan Special Area of Conservation 002245) Regulations 2016 |
92 |
|
European Union Habitats (Kilgarvan Ice House Special Area of Conservation 000364) Regulations 2016 |
93 |
|
European Union Habitats (Old Domestic Building, Dromore Wood Special Area of Conservation 000353) Regulations 2016 |
94 |
|
European Union Habitats (Old Domestic Building, Curraglass Wood Special Area of Conservation 002041) Regulations 2016 |
95 |
|
European Union Habitats (Old Domestic Building, Askive Wood Special Area of Conservation 002098) Regulations 2016 |
96 |
|
European Union Habitats (Glanlough Woods Special Area of Conservation 002315) Regulations 2016 |
97 |
|
European Union Habitats (Belgica Mound Province Special Area of Conservation 002327) Regulations 2016 |
98 |
|
European Union Habitats (Codling Fault Zone Special Area of Conservation 003015) Regulations 2016 |
99 |
|
European Union Habitats (Hempton’s Turbot Bank Special Area of Conservation 002999) Regulations 2016 |
100 |
|
European Union Habitats (Hovland Mound Province Special Area of Conservation 002328) |
101 |
|
European Union Habitats (Kerry Head Shoal Special Area of Conservation 002263) Regulations 2016 |
102 |
|
European Union Habitats (Long Bank Special Area of Conservation 002161) Regulations 2016 |
103 |
|
European Union Habitats (Wicklow Reef Special Area of Conservation 002274) Regulations 2016 |
104 |
|
European Union Habitats (South-west Porcupine Bank Special Area of Conservation 002329) Regulations 2016 |
105 |
|
European Union Habitats (Porcupine Bank Canyon Special Area of Conservation 003001) Regulations 2016 |
106 |
|
European Union Habitats (South-East Rockall Bank Special Area of Conservation 003002) Regulations 2016 |
107 |
|
European Union Habitats (North-West Porcupine Bank Special Area of Conservation 002330) Regulations 2016 |
108 |
|
National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 (Section 44)(Variation of Indemnity Amount) |
86 |
|
National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Act 2015 (Establishment Day) |
29 |
|
European Union (Return of Foreign Cultural Objects) |
53 |
In relation to appointments to State Boards during the period 1 January 2016 to date, I temporarily extended the term of office of the members of the Irish Manuscripts Commission on 28 February 2016, pending the appointment of a new Commission in due course. The names of the members are listed in the Table below.
TABLE: Members of Irish Manuscripts Commission
|
MEMBERS OF COMMISSION |
|
Mr. James McGuire (Chair) |
|
Prof. Nicholas Canny |
|
Prof. David Dickenson |
|
Dr. David Edwards |
|
Mr. Chris Flynn |
|
Prof. Greta Jones |
|
Dr. Michael Kennedy |
|
Ms. Máire MacConghail |
|
Dr. John McCafferty |
|
Dr. Deirdre McMahon |
|
Dr. Donal Moore |
|
Dr. Thomas O'Connor |
|
An tOllamh Dáibhí Ó Cróinín |
|
Dr. Ruan O'Donnell |
|
Prof. Mary O'Dowd |
|
Prof. Jane Ohlmeye |
For the sake of completeness, I should say that, following a process carried out by the Public Appointments Service through www.stateboards.ie, I appointed a number of persons in October 2015 to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art. The terms of office of 5 of the appointees began on dates in January and February of this year in line with the vacancies arising. The names of the relevant members are listed in the Table below.
TABLE: Appointments to the Irish Museum of Modern Art that came into effect from 1 January 2016 to date
|
NAME OF APPOINTEES |
|
Mr Tim Scanlon |
|
Mr Denis Hickie |
|
Mr Declan Moylan |
|
Ms Mary McCarthy |
|
Mr Gerard Byrne |
873. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has engaged with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to ensure that the National Famine Memorial Day commemoration stone will finally be placed at the Custom House in Dublin 1. [6819/16]
View answer874. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to support the proposal to place the An Gorta Mór memorial in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin 9 and to consider the design plan as proposed by the Committee for the Commemoration of Irish Famine Victims which will include the 32 counties of Ireland. [6820/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 873 and 874 together.
There are memorials to the victims of the Famine in various locations in Ireland and abroad. A number of these, such as the National Famine Memorial in Murrisk, Co. Mayo, and that standing outside the United Nations building in New York, were commissioned and funded by the State. Other memorials are the product of philanthropic or local community effort and reflect the significance of the Famine for the philanthropists and communities concerned. The permanent memorials established at the site of annual commemoration ceremonies receive State funding and I had the honour of unveiling such memorials in Warrenpoint, Co. Down and in New Brunswick, Canada last year.
In relation to the Custom House, the intention to hold an annual National Famine Commemoration was announced by the then Minister of State for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs at an informal ceremony held in the Custom House in 2008. The possibility of placing a memorial stone within the grounds of the Custom House was considered recently but as the Custom House is beside the existing "Famine" sculpture on Custom House Quay, a philanthropic donation to the State which has grown in significance since its installation, it is considered that the iconic sculpture on Custom House Quay should continue to be the focal point in the area for those wishing to pay their respects to the victims of the Famine.
Matters relating to the State commemoration of the Great Famine are dealt with through the National Famine Commemoration Committee, of which I am chair. There are currently no proposals before the Committee for the commissioning of further famine memorials other than in the context of the National and International Commemoration events.
875. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of vacant State properties and land, including car parks not in use, owned by her Department or by bodies and agencies under the aegis of her Department by square footage, by location, by local authority, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6908/16]
View answerThe Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is the owner of significant lands across the country, including national parks, national monuments sites, nature reserves and other property acquired for purposes of heritage protection and conservation. The management of office properties occupied by staff of my Department is a matter for the Office of Public Works. The management of properties owned by bodies under the aegis of my Department are part of the day-to-day operational responsibilities of the bodies concerned.
Two of these bodies, Waterways Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta, own and manage properties in connection with their functions. Waterways Ireland is the owner of a number of properties associated with the operation of the inland waterways network and the maintenance of the amenity value of these waterways. Údarás na Gaeltachta is also the owner of a significant portfolio of commercial properties in Gaeltacht areas arising from its development role. Details of currently available properties in each of the Gaeltacht counties are available on the Údarás website at www.udaras.ie.
876. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to review and accelerate the publication of the 1926 census results, given the centenary commemorations taking place and the interest in history from that period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7098/16]
View answerCurrent legislative provisions, as contained in the Statistics Act 1993, require that census data must be withheld for 100 years. Accordingly, it is not possible at this time to release 1926 Census returns before the statutory period has elapsed in 2026. If the records were to be released before the expiry of 100 years, a major change in legislation and policy would be required to allow for such an early release. This is not currently being proposed.
877. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the grants available to voluntary organisations for acquiring new equipment in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7235/16]
View answerWhile my Department does not operate any schemes with the specific purpose described by the Deputy, details of all current grant and funding programmes operated by the Department are set out in the model Publication Scheme prepared under section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 which is available on my Department's website at www.ahg.gov.ie.
If the Deputy has any particular case in mind, I would be happy to have it examined on receipt of the relevant details.
