Written Answers Nos. 421-36
421. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he has examined the potential growth for business tourism here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23084/16]
View answerThe role of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national policy. The development of business tourism is an operational matter for the Boards and Managements of Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland. Fáilte Ireland is responsible for the development of the business tourism sector. Tourism Ireland is responsible for overseas marketing of Ireland as a destination for business tourism.
Accordingly, I have asked the Agencies to reply to the Deputy directly in this regard. Please contact my private office if you do not hear from them within ten working days.
422. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 419 of 12 July 2016, the number of American troops and military hardware which have used Dublin Airport in each of the years from 2001 to 2016 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23176/16]
View answerCivil aircraft carrying munitions of war through Irish airspace or airports are required to have an exemption under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order, 1973.
Figures are available in relation to the numbers of permits issued under the Order. However, my Department does not collate information with regard to the number of US troops or military hardware that transit through Irish airspace or airports.
US civil aircraft issued with permits under the Order do not land at Dublin Airport. Those that do land in Ireland land at Shannon Airport. It is possible that since 2001 an occasional flight may have been diverted to Dublin Airport for technical reasons, but if so this would have been a very rare occurrence.
423. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of regulations that travel agency and tour operator bonds are only used when a company is unable to meet its commitments, either when the company has no funds to pay its commitments, or when the company refuses to pay its commitments and the Commission for Aviation Regulation insist payment is due, if it is the case that these are the points when the bond can be called upon by the Commission for Aviation Regulation. [23241/16]
View answer428. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of bonds that have been exercised by the Commission for Aviation Regulation over the past five years; and the details of the circumstances of each case. [23246/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 423 and 428 together.
The Commission for Aviation Regulation was established under the Aviation Regulation Act 2001 to regulate certain aspects of the aviation and travel trade sectors in Ireland, and its functions include the licensing of tour operators and travel agents.
The questions raised are operational matters for the Commission for Aviation Regulation. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the Commission for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
424. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the procedures followed by the Commission for Aviation Regulation if existing travel agency and tour operator companies do not apply for a licence. [23242/16]
View answerThe Commission for Aviation Regulation was established under the Aviation Regulation Act 2001 to regulate certain aspects of the aviation and travel trade sectors in Ireland, and its functions include the licensing of tour operators and travel agents. The question raised is an operational matter for the Commission for Aviation Regulation. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Commission for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
425. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, and when, there is a dispute between the Commission for Aviation Regulation and an agent operator, since the commission is answerable to the Houses of the Oireachtas, does it consult with another body before making a decision on how to proceed. [23243/16]
View answerThe Commission for Aviation Regulation was established under the Aviation Regulation Act 2001 to regulate certain aspects of the aviation and travel trade sectors in Ireland, and its functions include the licensing of tour operators and travel agents.
The questions raised are operational matters for the Commission for Aviation Regulation. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Commission for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
426. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the Commission for Aviation Regulation can exercise its authority for the issuing or non-issuing of a travel licence to a tour operator or travel agent and the criteria set down in legislation or guidelines to obtain such a licence. [23244/16]
View answerSection 6 of the Transport (Tour Operators and Travel Agents) Act 1982, as amended by section 28 of the Package Holidays and Travel Trade Act 1995, sets out the general criteria for the granting of a tour operator or travel agent licence. Those general criteria relate to the financial, business and organisational resources of an applicant for such a licence, as well as the fitness of that person to carry on business as a tour operator or travel agent.
The Commission for Aviation Regulation was established under the Aviation Regulation Act 2001 to regulate certain aspects of the aviation and travel trade sectors in Ireland, and its functions include the licensing of tour operators and travel agents in accordance with the 1982 Act as amended.
Guidelines for obtaining a tour operator or travel agent licence are available from the Commission for Aviation Regulation and I have referred the Deputy's question to the Commission for direct reply in that regard.
427. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason it might be necessary for the Commission for Aviation Regulation to request additional funds, on top of the prescribed fee, for a travel agent or tour operator who is renewing their existing licence; if the operator is subsequently asked by the commission to provide additional funds in order to renew their licence; the circumstances where this applies, when all necessary documentation and other criteria have been submitted; and in a scenario where no licence is issued, if a refund of those fees would be given to the operator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23245/16]
View answerThe Commission for Aviation Regulation was established under the Aviation Regulation Act 2001 to regulate certain aspects of the aviation and travel trade sectors in Ireland, and its functions include the licensing of tour operators and travel agents.
The questions raised are operational matters for the Commission for Aviation Regulation. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Commission for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
429. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of applicants that have applied for travel agent licences; the number of persons that applied for tour operator licences; the amount each was charged, gross figure and broken down per charge or fee levy, giving reason for each payment; the number that were declined per category and breakdown provided stating reason for refusal highlighting if they were new applicants or existing, in tabular form, for the past ten years. [23247/16]
View answerThe Commission for Aviation Regulation was established under the Aviation Regulation Act 2001 to regulate certain aspects of the aviation and travel trade sectors in Ireland, and its functions include the licensing of tour operators and travel agents. The questions raised are operational matters for the Commission for Aviation Regulation. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Commission for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
430. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding provided to the Louth County Council for roads in each of the years 2014 to 2016 to date; the amount of that designated money that has been used for national roads, regional roads, local primary roads, local secondary roads and local tertiary roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23291/16]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in Co. Louth is the statutory responsibility of Louth County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended). 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.
Details of the regional and local road grant payments to county councils including Louth County Council are outlined in the regional and local road grant payment booklets which are available in the Dáil Library. Details of the 2016 regional and local road grant allocations to each county council are also available in the Dáil library.
With regard to national roads, details of the allocations to each local authority are also available in the Dáil library. However, details of the actual drawdown of funding for these roads are a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).
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.
431. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if and when Louth County Council and Meath County Council will receive grants from his Department for community involvement schemes for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23300/16]
View answerThe regional and local road grants were allocated to local authorities (including Counties Louth and Meath) in January 2016 (additional severe weather funding was subsequently provided in February and May). All available funding has now been allocated.
The Community Involvement Scheme (CIS) remains in place in 2016 on the basis that local authorities may set aside 7.5% of their Restoration Improvement and Restoration Maintenance grants for CIS schemes if they so wish.
The Programme for a Partnership Government provides that, as the economy recovers, the Government will promote increased funding for Community Improvement Schemes and Local Improvement Schemes, on an annual basis. A major objective for the new Government will be to prioritise new investment in local and regional road maintenance and improvements and CIS funding will be promoted in that context.
432. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, in addition to sports capital grants, there are any alternative grants available to sports clubs; to outline any such grants; if there are grants available for coaching programmes for soccer clubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23301/16]
View answerI have referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for information on any relevant grants that might be available through its grant funding programmes. I have asked Sport Ireland to reply directly to the Deputy on this matter. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
433. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on the progress of the proposed M20 bypass for Charleville, County Cork; to provide an expected timeframe to progress this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23302/16]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & 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 (including the M20) is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with Cork County Council. 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. Noting the above 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 days.
434. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are plans to develop the N2 route from Monaghan to Carrickmacross into a dual carriageway; if any concerns have been addressed with him on the number of fatalities on this route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23303/16]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & 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 (including the N2) is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with Monaghan County Council. 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.
Noting the above 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 days.
435. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when or if his Department will utilise section 6(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1939 to confirm a new title for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23356/16]
View answerThere is no intention to change the title of my Department, it will remain the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
436. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he expects to be in a position to accede to the request for extra facilities including a sports hall at a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23369/16]
View answerMy Department does not have an application from the organisation referred to by the Deputy. However, I am informed that the organisation has applied to the Department of Education and Skills for replacement school accommodation, including a general purpose hall. The matter is therefore more appropriate to my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills.
