Written Answers Nos. 638-647
638. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will reaffirm the Government's commitment to co-fund the A5 dual carriageway linking Donegal and Derry to Monaghan when the project proceeds. [14715/16]
View answerThe Stormont House Agreement and Implementation Plan - A Fresh Start reaffirmed the Government's commitment to provide funding of £50 million for the A5 project and committed an additional £25 million to ensure that Phase 1 of the project (Newbuildings to north of Strabane) can commence as soon as the necessary planning issues have been resolved by the Northern Ireland authorities. Under the agreement it is envisaged that construction of Phase 1 of the A5 will start in 2017 with a view to completion in 2019. In keeping with the revised project timeline, the Government funding is to be provided in three tranches of £25 million in the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively.
639. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider an online driving licence renewal system or a driving licence renewal system facilitated by Irish embassies or consulates overseas for Irish citizens currently working abroad. [14716/16]
View answerUnder EU law, Ireland issues driving licences to people whose normal residence is within this jurisdiction. Where people who hold Irish driving licences move abroad to take up residence they cannot therefore renew their Irish driving licences. Where people move abroad temporarily for work or study purposes but retain normally residence in Ireland, they may renew their driving licences.
Normally, an applicant is expected to appear in person at a National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) office to renew their driving licence. However, applicants for renewal who are temporarily overseas for work or study purposes may already apply by post, under regulations in effect since summer of 2014. These postal applications should be made directly to the NDLS. There is no involvement of Irish embassies or consulates in the process, nor do I see any need for such involvement.
I understand that the NDLS is developing an online driving licence application facility, which will be available in 2017. This will be of great assistance to applicants within Ireland as well as those temporarily overseas when their licences come up for renewal.
640. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a person (details supplied) was not selected to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games for the marathon by Athletics Ireland, despite having one of the top three fastest times for marathon finishes by an Irish qualified athlete this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14747/16]
View answerThe selection of team members to represent Ireland in athletics events at the Olympic Games is a matter for Athletics Ireland as the national governing body for athletics. All national governing bodies of sport are independent, autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own governance procedures and competition rules for their sports. I have no role in relation to team selection by Athletics Ireland or any of the sporting bodies and it would be inappropriate for me to intervene in this matter.
641. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding can be sourced to provide traffic lights and a junction (details supplied) within the budget for 2017 following the loss of this funding due to planning objections in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14754/16]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the development and implementation of public transport infrastructure projects in the greater Dublin area (GDA), including a programme of sustainable transport measures grants.
Funding is provided by my Department to the NTA for capital projects under this grants programme for investment in various projects, including traffic management projects, throughout the seven local authority areas in the GDA.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred your question to the authority for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
642. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to have the signs on the N4 and M50 that have the incorrect spelling of the village of Palmerstown amended and replaced with the correct spelling, and not Palmerston as is currently in place. [14769/16]
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 national road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII, formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of expenditure is a matter in the first instance for TII in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
643. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the transfer of ownership of Dún Laoghaire Harbour from Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company to the local authority; if he prefers a shareholding option or a total transfer to the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14776/16]
View answerThe Harbours Act 2015 provides the legislative basis for one of the national ports policy's key recommendations, namely that governance of the five designated ports of regional significance should vest in more appropriate local authority led governance structures.
The Act does not prescribe the model of transfer for any of the five ports, including the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company. Instead the Act allows for the most appropriate model of governance to be chosen in respect of each individual company. The two possible models of transfer provided in the Bill are:
1. Retention of the existing company structure and transfer of the Ministerial shareholding in the company to the local authority; or
2. Dissolution of the existing company structure and transfer of all assets, liabilities and employees into local authority structures, where the port will be administered as a functional area of the local authority.
The manner of transfer selected in each case will be the one that finds broad consensus and agreement between the parties. If there is disagreement between the port company and the council over the model of transfer, then the final decision as to the model chosen will be mine as Minister.
Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company and Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council have established two transitional teams which are engaging on the practical issues associated with the transfer and consultants have been appointed by the council to undertake the due diligence process. The procurement and management of the due diligence process is a matter for the Council, and I understand that the process is now well advanced. This exercise is intended to assist in the decision as to the most suitable model of transfer.
Officials from my Department also met with Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company and Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council on a number of occasions to assist in the process.
644. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will request a report from the Dublin Airport Authority on unacceptable early morning and late night aircraft noise levels over the north fringe parishes of the Dublin Bay North constituency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14961/16]
View answerAs the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is the competent authority in Ireland with the responsibility, inter alia, of ensuring that airport authorities adopt a balanced approach in dealing with noise related matters at airports, it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in the manner suggested by the Deputy. The IAA exercises its responsibilities by reference to EU legislative provisions and I have asked the IAA to liaise directly with the Deputy. If the Deputy does not receive a reply within ten working days, please advise my private office.
645. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the Dublin Airport Authority’s plans for Dublin Airport up to 2021 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14962/16]
View answerThe matter you raised in relation to DAA plans for Dublin Airport up to 2021 is an operational matter for DAA which has statutory responsibility for the management and operation of the airport. I have, therefore, forwarded the question to the DAA for direct reply. If the Deputy does not receive a reply within ten working days, please advise my private office.
646. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to make changes to regulations governing the taxi industry; his plans for the operation of companies (details supplied) in the public transport market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14980/16]
View answerThe regulatory framework governing the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector is the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 and regulations made under the Act by the National Transport Authority as regulator for the sector.
Under that regulatory framework the core requirement, with a small number of limited exemptions, is that the carriage of passengers for reward in a public place in any mechanically propelled vehicle with nine or less seats (including the driver's seat) is permitted only in a licensed vehicle driven by a licensed driver.
The underlying policy which governs this is a concern for passenger safety and a concern for passenger protection in relation to pricing. The rationale for taxi regulation is to ensure that passengers have a safe vehicle for their journey, with appropriate insurance in place, driven by a driver who has been vetted by An Garda Síochána and, in the case of taxis, with a pre-established and verified charging system.
In addition, the Government's policy is to ensure a high level of standards and professionalism in the industry for both the customer and the industry itself.
I recently met the National Transport Authority for a briefing on the areas under its remit, which includes taxi regulation, and I intend to give further consideration to the range of issues relating to the regulation of the taxi industry in Ireland in the coming weeks.
647. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will announce the new membership of the Taxi Advisory Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15012/16]
View answerThe term of office of the current membership of the Taxi Advisory Committee expires on 31st July 2018.
There are currently four vacancies on the Committee, three of which are in the special interest/ expertise category as provided for under section 72(4)(i) of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. The remaining vacancy is in the consumer interest category as provided for under section 72(4)(d) of the 2013 Act. I am currently reviewing these appointments and will be making an announcement shortly.
