Written Answers Nos. 1142-1161
1142. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Iompair, Turasóireachta agus Spóirt an ndéanfaidh sé teagmháil le Bonneagar Iompair Éireann, TII, maidir leis an eolas a gealladh dom i bhfreagra ar Cheist Uimh. 518 den 20 Aibreán 2016 ó tharla nach ndearna Bonneagar Iompair Éireann, TII, teagmháil liom ó shin; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [10239/16]
View answerIs é mo thuiscint gur thug Bonneagar Iompair Éireann freagra ar an Teachta i bhfreagairt ar Cheist Uimh. 518 den 20 Aibreán 2016. Bheinn buíoch díot dá ndéanfá teagmháil as seo amach le m'oifig phríobháideach muna bhfaigheann tú freagra laistigh de dheich lá oibre ó Cheisteanna Parlaiminte a chuirtear ar aghaidh chuig na heagraíochtaí atá faoi choimirce mo Roinne.
1143. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of Bus Éireann being asked to provide a tabular statement detailing the separate amounts received by Córas Iompair Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10256/16]
View answer1145. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a query (details supplied) regarding Bus Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10335/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1143 and 1145 together.
The issues raised are matters for Bus Éireann and CIÉ, and I have forward the Deputy's questions to the companies for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
1144. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the recently published Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016 to 2035 is Government policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10333/16]
View answerUnder the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the preparation of a Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) is a statutory function of the National Transport Authority (NTA). The statutory objective of the Strategy is to provide a long-term strategic planning framework for the integrated development of transport infrastructure and services in the GDA. The development of the newly published Strategy has been informed by a full public consultation, as well as detailed analysis of population and travel trends and has been subject to a full cost benefit analysis in line with the Public Spending Code. My predecessor approved the Strategy on 24 February pursuant to section 12(13) of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 and the document has now been laid before each House of the Oireachtas and published.
The New Partnership Government is committed to a “Social Economy” model to deliver a strong economy and a fair society. I am advised that the GDA Strategy will contribute significantly to the "Social Economy" and will assist in the delivery of more sustainable patterns of economic growth. The Strategy is fully in line with the Capital Plan and will be instrumental in the development of the new National Planning Framework which will promote higher urban densities in terms of housing design, particularly in public transport corridors. Outcomes include reduced travel times on the strategic road network, an increase in sustainable travel modes from 44% to 55% for commutes and the facilitation of more efficient use of land within the GDA.
Under the 2008 Act the NTA must review the transport strategy every six years following publication. The Act also requires the NTA to now prepare an integrated implementation plan which must be submitted within 9 months. That plan will set out how the NTA proposes to implement the Strategy over the next 6 years and will be subject to a full public consultation in advance of seeking my approval.
1146. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a person temporarily residing in a non-European Union country but ordinarily resident in Ireland can apply by post to have a driving licence renewed; the length of time a person needs to be living abroad in a non-European Union country to be considered non-resident for the purposes of renewing a driving licence; if Ireland has a driving licence exchange agreement with Australia and what this means in practice for Irish citizens applying for Australian driving licences. [10355/16]
View answerIrish law on driver licensing operates within a framework of EU law. Under EU legislation, Ireland issues licences only to people whose 'normal residence' is in Ireland. 'Normal residence' is defined in EU law in the first instance by a person residing for more than 185 days of the year in a given EU Member State. However, the EU definition allows that, where a person divides their time between two countries, with personal ties in one and work in another, they are deemed to be 'normally resident' in the country to which they have personal ties, provided that they return regularly to the country of normal residence. Irish citizens normally resident in this jurisdiction but temporarily abroad for work purposes may renew their Irish driving licence by post, without having to appear at an office of the National Driver Licensing Service.
Ireland has an exchange arrangement for driving licences with Australia. An Irish driving licence holder who takes up residence in Australia may therefore apply in Australia to exchange their Irish licence for an Australian one. Were they to return to Ireland at some point in the future, they would be able to apply to exchange the Australian licence for an Irish one.
1147. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to re-examine the proposed N52 bypass for Ardee in County Louth, particularly given that the N2 is one of the busiest routes in the country and Ardee is a traffic bottleneck at peak times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10382/16]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Within its annual budget, the planning, design and implementation of individual road projects, such as the Ardee Bypass, is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
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.
1148. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will contact the chief executive officer of Iarnród Éireann requesting that the number of carriages on the 8.03 am train from Newbridge to Heuston Station, Dublin, be increased from three to five; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10439/16]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA), in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann 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.
1149. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the yearly spend on the subvention for City of Derry Airport Dublin to Derry flights as part of the Government public service obligation funding in the years from 2006 until the Public Service Obligation funding was discontinued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10460/16]
View answerA decision to reduce the number of air routes covered by PSO services, including the Derry-Dublin route, was taken in 2011. This followed on from the recommendations of a Value for Money Review of Exchequer support for the Regional Airports Programme, which took into account a number of factors including the performance of the services and the need to make best use of limited Exchequer resources. Exchequer subvention for PSO air services on the Derry/Dublin* route from 2006 to 2011 is set out in the table:
|
PSO subvention €'000 |
2011 |
2010 |
2009 |
2008 |
2007 |
2006 |
|
Derry/Dublin |
1,387** |
2,416 |
2,376 |
2,390 |
2,589 |
2,467 |
*Note: For the years 2006-2011, the Derry/Dublin PSO route was operated together with the Knock/Dublin PSO route under a single contract. Contractual payments for services provided on both routes for the years in question were: 2006 - €3,979,121 ; 2007 - € 4,176,383 ; 2008 - €3,895,500 ; 2009 - € 4,242,970 ; 2010 - € 4,314,996 ; and 2011 - € 2,477,537. The figures in the above table represent estimates of the proportion of contractual payments applicable to the Derry/Dublin route.
**Contract ended in July 2011.
1150. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will direct Bus Éireann to publish details of routes below operating costs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10482/16]
View answerThe Deputy is enquiring about routes that are part of the Expressway service which are operated by Bus Éireann on a commercial basis and which, therefore, do not receive Exchequer subvention. It would clearly not be appropriate for me to direct Bus Éireann to disclose commercially sensitive information in respect of these commercial routes.
Of course Bus Éireann does publish its annual accounts each year in respect of its overall performance and these are publicly available on the Company's website.
The Deputy may wish to be aware that, in the context of the PSO subvention to Bus Éireann and to help guard against the potential for cross-subsidisation of commercial services by Exchequer supports, the National Transport Authority conducts an annual audit of the assignment of costs between Bus Éireann's PSO services and its commercial activities.
1151. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the will direct the National Transport Authority to change the licensing decision making process to allow private bus transport operators to decide what they individually view is best for increasing public transport and their own businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10483/16]
View answerResponsibility for the licensing of Public Bus Passenger Services was transferred from my Department to the National Transport Authority (NTA) in 2010, under the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009. The NTA has published guidelines, available on its website www.nationaltransport.ie, to make the application and decision process clearer and easier for applicants by providing advice and guidance to potential licence applicants about the processes and principles of the commercial public bus licensing system. I have no plans to issue directions to the NTA regarding the licensing of individual routes.
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.
1152. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of private, voluntary organisations and public sector projects which have made applications to the Ireland's Ancient East capital grant scheme 2015, by county, in tabular form; the amount of the funding applied for by each project by county; the amount actually funded to each application; the actual spend to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10490/16]
View answerWhile my Department provides the capital funding for investment in tourism initiatives such as Ireland's Ancient East, it is not directly involved in developing or managing those projects. This is a matter for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland. I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply. Please contact my private office if a response is not received within ten working days.
1154. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to report to Dáil Éireann on his plans to promote cycling throughout County Dublin, including implementing safe cycle lanes and routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10502/16]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the planning and delivery of cycling infrastructure within the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) in cooperation with the relevant local authority.
In light of the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have forwarded your question to the NTA for attention and direct response to you. If you have not received a reply within 10 working days please contact my office.
1155. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will announce the sports capital grants for 2016; the amount of money he will allocate for these grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10528/16]
View answerNo decision has been made on the timing of any future rounds of the Sports Capital Programme or on the level of funding that might be allocated under such a Programme. Any future rounds of the Programme will be advertised in the national press. Any interested group should register their interest online at www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie. The online portal will be the mechanism through which applications for any future rounds of the Programme will be processed.
1157. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to ban the import of category B write-off vehicles from other countries for repair, given the safety risks posed by putting these vehicles back on the road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10555/16]
View answerThe Road Safety Authority previously carried out a public consultation on the subject of regulating written-off vehicles, following which draft provisions were developed for consideration. Due to the complexity of the issues involved, the Department, working together with the RSA, agreed that legislation could only be progressed following legal advice and also careful examination of how robust and effective any measures would be. There are a range of complex legal and technical measures required if we are to prevent such vehicles circulating. Any such provisions will also need to build upon existing arrangements governing written-off vehicles. My Department is currently developing a range of practicable approaches and will be progressing them at the earliest possible opportunity, subject to the necessary legal clarity.
It should be noted that there is already relevant legislation in place in both road traffic and consumer protection law. It is an offence to drive a dangerously defective vehicle in a public place under Road Traffic legislation.
At present, car dealers are obliged, under the Consumer Protection Act, 2007, to give full disclosure of the history of a second hand vehicle to potential buyers. Also, under the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act, 1980 a vehicle being sold should be free from any defect which would render it a danger to the public. The prosecution of alleged offences under Consumer Protection legislation relating to the sale of second hand vehicles is a matter for the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, who come under the remit of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.
1158. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has assessed the problem of the false registration of car ownership and the resultant issues such as motor tax arrears, false NCTs, uninsured cars and wrongly issued parking and speeding fines; if he is considering changes to the ownership registration process to limit the opportunities for abuse of the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10558/16]
View answerChange of vehicle ownership notifications are recorded on the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) at my Department's office in Shannon, Co. Clare. My Department processes over one million transactions annually on the NVDF. The relatively small number of returned non-deliveries of motor tax renewal issued each month support a high confidence level that the records are accurate and fit for purpose. My Department, working as part of the Criminal Justice (FCPS) Working Group, has started a programme of work to investigate and improve efficiencies in the driver and vehicle areas including the change of ownership process.
1159. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport why an inspector from the National Transport Authority has not visited Longford town in over six months, and the way he will rectify this issue. [10598/16]
View answerI assume that the Deputy is enquiring about taxi regulation arrangements. The regulation of the small public service vehicle industry, including enforcement, 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.
1160. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to submit draft legislation to automatically remove the licences of taxi drivers convicted of a crime which makes them unsuitable to drive a cab. [10689/16]
View answerPart 4 of the Taxi Regulation Act, 2013, which commenced on 6th April 2014, provides for mandatory disqualification from holding a small public service vehicle (SPSV) driver licence upon conviction for specified offences. The specification of offences to which mandatory disqualification applies is based on the principle of ensuring the welfare and the safety of passengers.
In the case of the most serious indictable offences specified under Section 30 (2) of the Act, the disqualification applies whether the person has been convicted before or after the commencement of that subsection. This is to ensure that those with convictions on indictment for the most serious crimes will be excluded from the industry.
The Act provides for a right of appeal for those affected by the mandatory disqualification provisions under which the appropriate court shall have regard to a range of specified matters pertinent to the suitability of the appellant to hold a SPSV driver licence.
1161. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will publicly advertise the vacant positions in Transport Infrastructure Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9784/16]
View answerI am aware that there are a few vacancies on the Board of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), and these will fall to be dealt with in accordance with the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards. I also recognise that account must be taken of reforms mentioned in the Programme for Government. I will be consulting my officials on the next steps with a view to making the necessary arrangements with the Public Appointments Service for the process to enable the appropriate filling of the vacancies.
