Written Answers Nos. 143 - 163
143. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that a company (details supplied) is demanding that customers pay upfront for collection of wheelie bins tagged with electronic tags, despite not having made available to customers or the public the fee structure pertaining to the collection of electronically tagged bins, and whether such a demand is legal. [7990/16]
View answer144. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied that a company (details supplied) gave sufficient advance notice to customers that bins tagged with paper tags would no longer be lifted after a certain date and that only bins whose electronic tags had been topped up to a minimum of €25 would be collected. [7991/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 144 together.
The charges applied by waste management companies are a matter between those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, including contract and consumer legislation.
145. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is aware that there is no fibre broadband available to the Kilcannon Business Park, Old Dublin Road, Enniscorthy, County Wexford, where a number of local high tech companies are located and which is threatening the viability of these businesses; the provisions he is making to provide fibre broadband to this specific area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7923/16]
View answer146. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the provisions he is making to provide fibre broadband to the Ballymurn area of Enniscorthy, County Wexford, an area which is growing rapidly in population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7924/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 146 together.
The Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.
The commercial telecommunications sector has invested over €2 billion in network upgrades and enhanced services in the last four years, and is continuing to invest. These very significant investments represent a step change in the quality of broadband services available.
On 22 December 2015, I formally launched the procurement process for the State intervention to provide high quality, high speed broadband to all premises in Ireland that may not be served through commercial investment.
The formal procurement process commenced with the publication of the Pre-qualification Questionnaire and Project Information Memorandum. Five responses were received from prospective bidders to this stage of the competitive procurement process by the deadline of 31 March. The responses are now being assessed in line with criteria set down by the Department with a view to selecting qualified provider(s) to proceed to the next stage of the procurement. This second stage in the process will be a formal Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) to shortlisted bidders.
The 2020 map is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The map shows Ireland with two colours, BLUE and AMBER. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services. The areas marked AMBER represent the target areas for the proposed State intervention.
Based on information provided by commercial operators 78% of the townlands of Kilcannon, 88% of the townland of Ballymurn Upper and 98% of the townland of Ballymurn Lower in Co. Wexford will be covered by commercial operators. The remaining 22% of the townland of Kilcannon, 12% of the townland of Ballymurn Upper and 2% of the townland of Ballymurn Lower will be part of the State intervention. Members of the public can see whether their individual premise is in the BLUE or AMBER area by inserting their Eircode, and/or address, or scrolling through the map.
The intention is to build out the network in the AMBER area as quickly as possible. The procurement process is underway and it is proposed to engage with the winning bidder(s) in due course on the optimum rollout strategy, and on the sequencing of the network deployment to maximise efficiencies during network build, having regard to business and consumer needs, and to areas of particularly poor service and areas of strong demand. All these factors will need to be balanced against the most efficient network rollout and will be agreed during the procurement process.
Engagement with industry stakeholders as part of the pre-procurement consultations has indicated that the rollout in the Amber area could be achieved within 3-5 years of the contract award. In this context, the NBP proposes that through the combination of commercial investment and State intervention, 85% of all premises in Ireland (both commercial and intervention area) will have access to high speed broadband within two years of the contract award, with 100% of premises connected within 5 years.
147. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the proposed bypasses for Macroom and Ballyvourney, County Cork, to ensure proper access between counties Cork and Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7845/16]
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 acquisition for the project.
148. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding road safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7837/16]
View answerThe issuing of road safety and personal protection equipment, safety vests and other high visibility items and promotional campaigns and promotional material relating to the use of same is a matter for the Road Safety Authority. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the Road Safety Authority for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
149. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 853 of 14 April 2016, if he will provide a breakdown by country of origin of the 57 refusals of munitions exemptions requests and the reason for these refusals. [7839/16]
View answerIn the reply to Question Number 853 of 14 April 2016, it was stated that 869 requests were made in 2015 to carry munitions through Irish airspace and that 812 permits were issued in 2015.
Of the 57 applications for which permits were not issued in 2015, 38 applications were refused; 11 applications were withdrawn or cancelled; and 8 permits were issued in year 2016 in respect of applications made in 2015.
In respect of the 38 refusals, the airlines concerned were from the following countries: USA (32), UK (3), Germany (2), and Russia (1). All the refusals were based on advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
150. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 835 of 14 April 2016, if he will identify any schemes or options for funding available within his Department, apart from the local improvement scheme, to commence urgently needed repair works at a location (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7842/16]
View answerAs I outlined in my reply to PQ 6630/16 of 14 April 2016, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the local authority, 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.
As regards works on a private road there is a mechanism, subject to conditions, under the Discretionary Grant programme for local authorities to use some grant funding for such LIS works. Any decision to do so rests with the local authority and no other funding is available for such works from this Department.
151. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when funding will be provided by his Department to Carlow County Council for the local improvement scheme; when the scheme will open for applications for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7843/16]
View answer152. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when funding will be provided by his Department to Kilkenny County Council for the local improvement scheme; when the scheme will open for applications for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7844/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 151 and 152 together.
As I outlined to the Deputy in my reply to PQ 6630/16 of 14 April 2016, 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.
On 26 January 2016, I announced the 2016 regional and local road allocations for all local authorities Including Carlow and Kilkenny County Councils. Local authorities were informed (through Circular RW 1/2016) that the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) remains in place for 2016 however there is no separate allocation available towards this grant category. Instead local authorities may use up to 15% of their initial Discretionary Grant for LIS should they wish to do so.
As the Local Improvement Scheme is managed locally, it is a matter for the local authority to prioritise works according to resources.
153. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the viewing area and facility that will be retained as part of the newly proposed runway system at Dublin Airport; if this area and facility will be available as part of the runway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7854/16]
View answerdaa has statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop Dublin Airport and the matter raised by the Deputy at Dublin Airport is an operational matter for daa.
Accordingly, I have forwarded the question to daa for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
154. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 583 of 22 March 2016, if the recent announcement by Dublin City Council to pedestrianise large sections of the city centre at College Green has changed his point of view regarding limousines and their use of bus lanes; if he would be willing to meet representatives of the National Chauffeur Drivers Association to discuss the impact of effectively making large sections of the city centre inaccessible to their industry. [7875/16]
View answerThe position as set out in previous replies still stands. The argument against allowing limousines - or other categories of vehicles - into bus lanes is overwhelming, as I and my predecessors have been saying for many years. Plans for pedestrianisation in Dublin or elsewhere do not change the position. Given this, a meeting with the National Chauffeur Drivers Association is not considered necessary. The Association may wish to raise its concerns in relation to the plans announced by Dublin City Council with the Council.
155. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if any United States military drones that are overflying any jurisdiction anywhere in the world are controlled or operated via any location here; if any permits for such activity have been sought or issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7883/16]
View answerI have no statutory function in relation to military aircraft or military unmanned aircraft.
156. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding an application for a sports grant by a club (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7934/16]
View answerThere are no outstanding allocations for this club and no application was received from it in 2015.
No decision has been made on the timing of any future rounds of the Sports Capital Programme. Any future rounds of the Programme will be advertised in the national press. 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.
157. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of transport services that will be provided under the rural transport programme in tabular form, by county, from 2010 to date in 2016; the names of companies or entities in receipt of funding; whether they are privately owned or otherwise; the amount received from the Exchequer for rural community transport provision for each of the entities.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7946/16]
View answer159. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has carried out any independent professional evaluations from experts, to an internationally recognised standard, to assess whether funding to entities from the Exchequer under the rural transport programmes will impact on private operators in terms of distorting the transport market for those persons who do not receive such funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7969/16]
View answer160. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received legal advice as to whether the economic benefit granted to entities under the rural transport programme is a state aid; if state aid procedures have been complied with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7970/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 157, 159 and 160 together.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the management of the Rural Transport Programme funded by my Department.
I have referred the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
158. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to discuss with Dublin Area Rapid Transit services how wheelchair users can be facilitated better so that there is someone available to put the ramp in place when a wheelchair user has made a booking. [7956/16]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann 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.
161. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the co-ordinates of all reported sightings of the corncrake on Inis Meáin Island, County Donegal, over the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7879/16]
View answerMy Department will forward the details of located corncrakes by letter to the Deputy in the coming days.
162. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to provide maps of the areas which it is planned will be designated as an area of conservation as part of the Falcarragh-Meenlaragh special protection area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7880/16]
View answer163. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht regarding the Falcarragh-Meenlaragh special protection area, the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal has not yet received an information pack pertaining to the designation; if arrangements will now be made to have this person furnished with these documents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7881/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 163 together.
The intention to designate the Falcarragh to Meenlaragh special protection area was advertised in July 2011. Notifications, including maps and other information, were sent to those identified as having an interest in the land at that time. In addition, notices of the intention to designate the site were published to further raise awareness.
Maps and other information in relation to the site may be requested from the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department and boundaries may also be viewed online at www.npws.ie.
My Department is not aware of any request for an information pack in relation to the Falcarragh to Meenlaragh special protection area from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question. However, such a pack is now being issued to him.
I understand that this individual has appealed to the Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board in relation to the proposed designation of a different site as a special protection area. Any matter relevant to that process should be referred directly to the Board.
