Written Answers Nos. 821-840
821. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the timescale and costs for the reopening of the Phoenix Park tunnel and associated rail line to passenger traffic; if any others stations on that line such as at the Old Cabra Road and Phibsboro will open in order to reduce car commuter traffic into the city centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23908/16]
View answerThis project falls under the remit of the National Transport Authority which has responsibility for the development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area. I am advised by the NTA that the Phoenix Park tunnel is expected to open for services at the end of this year. I understand that the NTA intends to review the case for additional rail stations after a period of operation of services.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
822. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for a pedestrian strategy as promised in the smarter travel policy some years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23909/16]
View answer823. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current status of the implementation of the smarter travel policy; and if the targets contained therein have been met. [23910/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 822 and 823 together.
The delivery of a sustainable and low carbon transport system for Ireland is an important priority for the Government. The Programme for Partnership Government commits that future investment in our public transport system will uphold the principles of smarter travel. Under the Capital Plan, €100 million is being committed to smarter travel and carbon reduction measures, including cycling greenways and other cycling and walking infrastructure. We have also committed to supporting the extension of the existing public bike schemes in a number of our cities and driving the roll-out of additional schemes in other areas.
Smarter travel has been delivered in a number of towns throughout the country under Smarter Travel programmes such as Active Travel Towns, Smarter Travel Areas and National Cycle Networks. Significant investment has also been made in cycling greenways and in cycling infrastructure in urban areas. In Dublin, the recently published 2015 Canal Cordon Count demonstrates how effective the investment in cycling in Dublin has been. It shows that there has been a steady year on year growth in the number of cyclists crossing the cordon in the morning peak - almost 11,000 in 2015, an increase of 125% when compared with 2006.
In creating a culture of walking in Ireland it is important to ensure that walking is a safe and pleasant experience. There is a strong convergence between walking and cycling as alternative and sustainable transport modes. Accordingly, funding resources are aimed at progressing both walking and cycling as means of everyday transport for leisure and commuting.
824. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the appointments he has made to State or other boards since he was appointed to office. [23911/16]
View answerI have not made any appointments to State or other Boards since my appointment to office.
825. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding applied for greenways; details of the locations; details of funding granted; the locations since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23980/16]
View answerThe following tables indicate the greenway projects funded by my Department since 2011, their locations and the funding allocated in respect of each project. Details of the applications received for Greenway funding since 2011 are being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Greenway/Cycling project funded
|
National Cycle Network Funding Programme 2012-2013 - Projects funded |
|||
|
Year |
Local Authority |
Project |
Funding awarded - € |
|
2012 |
Carlow/Kilkenny |
44.5km cycleway linking Carlow to Paulstown to Kilkenny. |
463,000 |
|
Clare |
4km cycleway linking Ennistymon to Lahinch |
400,000 |
|
|
Donegal |
195.5km cycle route between Donegal Town and Newtowncunningham |
497,000 |
|
|
Fingal |
3km cycle link from Ashtown to Blanchardstown |
600,000 |
|
|
Kerry |
1.2km extension to existing cycle/pedestrian route from Killarney to Fossa |
143,000 |
|
|
Limerick |
3km extension to the Great Southern Trail (GST) from Abbeyfeale Town to Rathoran. |
290,00 |
|
|
Louth |
6.3km greenway from Omeath and Carlingford |
678,000 |
|
|
Mayo |
8.8km greenway from Castlebar to Turlough Park |
725,000 |
|
|
Meath |
3km cycle/walkway from Drogheda Ramparts to the Oldbridge Estate entrance. |
500,000 |
|
|
Monaghan |
4.5km cycle route through Monaghan Town |
471,000 |
|
|
North Tipperary |
2.8km extension to the existing N52 walkway/cycleway |
335,000 |
|
|
Offaly |
16.8km of dedicated cycle lanes along the R420 from Tullamore to Moate |
400,000 |
|
|
Roscommon |
20km of dedicated cycle lanes along the former N6 between Athlone and Ballinasloe (funding withdrawn due to inability to deliver project) |
470,000 |
|
|
Waterford City |
3.2km cycleway between Tramore and Waterford City |
289,000 |
|
|
Waterford Co |
6.4km cycleway between the City Outer Ring Road to Tramore |
310,000 |
|
|
Westmeath |
11.3km upgrading of canal tow path from Boardstown Bridge to county Boundary |
451,000 |
*Outside of the NCN Programme Kerry Co Council received funding of €200,000 in 2012, approved in 2010, to complete the Tralee/Spa/Fenit 1.8km cycleway.
|
National Cycle Network Funding Programme 2014-2016 - Projects funded |
|||
|
2014 |
Kerry |
Phases 2 & 3 of the Glenbeigh to Reenard Trail from Glenbeigh to Cahirciveen (26km) |
3,458,281 |
|
Galway |
Galway to Moycullen Greenway (12.4km) |
2,000,000 |
|
|
Waterford |
Clonea to Durrow Greenway (7.2km) (completed) |
897,739 |
|
Reallocation of NCN Funding from current programme - July, 2016 |
|||
|
2014 |
Kildare/Meath |
Maynooth to the Westmeath County Border (38km) (part of the Dublin to Galway Greenway) |
2,533,000 |
|
Longford |
Abbeyshrule to Longford Bridge, Ballymahon (15.2km) (extension to Mullingar to Abbeyshrule Greenway) |
513,000 |
|
|
Westmeath |
Garrycastle to White Gates (2.2km) (extension to the Mullingar to Athlone Greenway) |
496,187 |
|
Stimulus Funding 2014 - Projects funded |
|||
|
2014 |
Clare |
Phase 1 of the West Clare greenway from Ennis to Ballymacquiggan (5km) |
400,000 |
|
Kerry |
Phase 1 of the Glenbeigh to Reenard Trail from Cahirciveen to Reenard Point (Fertha Greenway) (5.7km) |
450,000 |
|
|
Kerry |
Tralee Fenit Trail - Phase 1 Rock Street to Casement Station (.42km) |
345,000 |
|
|
Kildare |
Arthur's Way Greenway - Leixlip to Oughterard via Celbridge/Castletown (25km) |
311,000 |
|
|
Limerick |
Patrickswell to Limerick City cycleway (4.14km) # |
420,000 |
|
|
Mayo |
Monasteries of the Moy (14km) - part funding of overall project |
250,000 |
|
|
Roscommon |
Boyle to Lough Key Forest Park (24km) - part funding of overall project |
250,000 |
|
|
Tipperary |
Clonmel to Carrick-on-Suir Greenway (20km) |
1,900,000 |
|
|
Waterford |
Kilmeaden to Bilberry Greenway (20km) |
1,100,000 |
|
|
Westmeath |
Athlone to Mullingar Greenway (40km)# |
4,000,000 |
|
|
Westmeath |
Coolnahay to the County Boundary (14.4)# |
700,000 |
#additional funding awarded to Kildare (104k); Limerick (155k); and Westmeath (3.2k)
826. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an assessment of needs has been carried out in respect of public transport rolling stock - bus, trains and trams; the plans if any for funding new stock and the timeframe; how new demands such as the Phoenix Park tunnel, Luas extension and so on have been factored into such plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23988/16]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area and securing the provision of public transport services throughout the country including PSO bus services, rail services and light rail services. Iarnród Éireann operates the heavy rail network and is responsible for assessing rolling stock requirements for the heavy rail network in conjunction with the NTA.
Noting the responsibilities of the agencies in this regard, I have forwarded your reply to both NTA and Iarnród Éireann for direct reply. Please advise my office if you have not received a reply within 10 working days.
829. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress of development of tourism facilities at Malin Head, County Donegal; when phase 2 works will commence and finish; the progress being made on development of the plans for phase 3; the total funding allocated so far and indicated funding for future works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24016/16]
View answerThe role of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national policy and it is not involved in the management or development of individual projects. The management and development of the tourist facilities at Malin Head is a matter in the first instance for Donegal County Council. Funding assistance being provided to the project is an operational matter for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland.
Accordingly, I have asked Fáilte Ireland to reply to the Deputy directly in regard to its role. Please contact my private office if you do not hear from them within ten working days.
831. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the preliminary work done to evaluate the infrastructure deficit in the context of new demands anticipated in the context of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24025/16]
View answerI understand that an official request to leave the EU has to be put down by the UK under article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. Until that moment, the UK will be considered as a full Member State.
My Department has been informed that this means that infrastructure projects involving EU co-funding under the Connecting Europe Facility for transport in the UK will proceed as normal for the time being.
My Department feeds into the Interdepartmental Committee on Brexit chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach and all risks associated with Brexit including infrastructure deficits that could arise for example out of lack of co-financing for cross-border projects including those co-funded by the EU are being continually evaluated as information comes to hand and as the Brexit process progresses.
832. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the sectorial plan will be produced in the context of climate change; if there will be a consultation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24027/16]
View answer837. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the sums being factored into future budgets in the context of transport on our climate obligations; the scenarios those sums are being tested against; how far into the future this is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24061/16]
View answer840. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the sums being factored into future budgets in the context of transport on our climate obligations; the scenarios, if any, those sums are being tested against; how far forward is it being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24109/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 832, 837 and 840 together.
Section 4 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 contains provisions relating to the development and approval of successive National Mitigation Plans which will incorporate sectorial mitigation measures. The primary objective of each National Mitigation Plan is to specify and adopt the policy measures required to manage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions at an appropriate level to ensure that the national transition objective set out in the Act can be furthered incrementally. The first National Mitigation Plan will track implementation of measures already underway and identify additional measures within the longer term to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and progress the overall national low carbon transition agenda to 2050.
The Act creates a statutory obligation on a number of sectors, including transport, to develop sectorial climate change mitigation measures for inclusion in the national plan.
My Department, in consultation with key stakeholders, has been making good progress on developing proposals for transport measures as our contribution to the Plan. As the Deputy will know, the National Plan will also incorporate input from the key sectors of electricity generation, built environment and agriculture.
Officials from my Department are also engaging with other sectors responsible for preparing mitigation plan measures through representation on a Steering Group chaired by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. This collaboration will seek to secure that the most appropriate of the sectorial measures would be selected for inclusion in the national plan. The development of measures is taking place in the context of and subject to the generally applying budgetary processes governing proposals for additional spending and taxation measures.
The new Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to publish the draft National Mitigation Plan for public consultation within 6 months of the new Government forming. This will allow the public and stakeholders to feed into the continued development of the Plan. It is envisaged that a final National Mitigation Plan will be submitted to Government in May 2017.
833. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the length of the bus services running through Leixlip, County Kildare, with a view to either linking the service through or via Celbridge in County Kildare following the new service improvements; his views on linking the 66B bus service via Glen Easton in Leixlip; the cost-benefit analysis required to assess the provision of services, how often finding allocations are scrutinised, the opportunities for growth in service provision that are available, the analysis of continuous provision of service viability analysis that has been undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24029/16]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) 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 response within ten working days.
834. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the funding opportunities for the improvement of public transport links to adjoining towns where none is currently provided; the analysis of gaps in service provision that have been conducted; the gaps in service provision that have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24030/16]
View answerEvery year there is funding made available for the provision and improvement of public transport services. The Deputy will be aware that this year's total Public Service Obligation (PSO) subvention was increased by 13% when compared to last year and the total amount of money being made available to the National Transport Authority (NTA) in 2016 is €236.6 million.
It is the statutory responsibility of the National Transport Authority to allocate the funding to the various PSO operators. All PSO services are provided in accordance with public service contracts concluded between the NTA and the relevant operator and all payments must comply with relevant domestic and European legislation.
The issue raised in relation to service provision is a matter for the National Transport Authority 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 response within ten working days.
835. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated current road maintenance deficit on national, regional and local roads; the projected cost of fully funding this deficit; the additional costs that will be incurred by delaying this investment by national, regional and local road category; the impact increasing traffic volumes will have on the deficit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24036/16]
View answerThe Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport estimates that the annual exchequer funding required to maintain roads in a "steady state" condition is €950 million. This takes account of PPP commitments and also allows for income from tolls and for some investment in roads from the local authority sector. Under the Capital Plan this target in terms of steady state maintenance should be achieved in 2020.
World Bank Transport Note (TRN-4) notes that postponing road maintenance results in high direct and indirect costs. If road defects are repaired promptly, the cost is usually modest. If defects are neglected, an entire road section may fail completely, requiring full reconstruction at three times or more the cost, on average, of maintenance costs. The South African National Road Agency Ltd. (SANRAL) estimates that repair costs rise to six times maintenance costs after three years of neglect and to 18 times after five years of neglect.
Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) cause most of the damage to road pavements and where the volume of such vehicles increases from year to year it will of course shorten the overall life of a road pavement and intervention will be required at an earlier stage.
The Capital Plan includes proposed transport investment priorities to 2022. The transport element of the plan was framed by the conclusions reached in the Department of Transport’s Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport. This report highlighted the importance of maintenance and renewal of transport infrastructure together with targeted investments to address particular bottlenecks and critical safety issues.
836. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the annual subvention paid to CIE since 2007; how that was divided between Irish Rail, Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24054/16]
View answer844. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the public service obligation subvention to each of the CIE companies for each year from 2011 to 2015 and 2016 to date, in tabular form; the estimates of the level of subvention given to each company per passenger carried; and the number of routes that are covered by the PSO subvention. [24219/16]
View answerI propose to answer Questions Nos. 836 and 844 together.
Since 2010 there is no subvention paid directly by my Department for public transport services. The award of Public Service Obligation (PSO) contracts falls under the independent statutory remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA), which has direct responsibility for this area along with the routes covered and therefore I have referred the Deputies' questions to the NTA for direct reply.
The total Public Service Obligation (PSO) subvention provided to CIÉ by this Department in the years 2007 to 2009 is as follows:
Schedule of Exchequer Subvention to CIÉ: 2007 to 2009
|
Year |
Iarnród Éireann |
Bus Éireann |
Bus Átha Cliath |
Holding Company |
Total |
|
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
|
|
2007 |
189,910 |
36,595 |
80,078 |
- |
306,583 |
|
2008 |
181,152 |
41,846 |
85,629 |
- |
308,627 |
|
2009 |
170,624 |
49,365 |
83,199 |
- |
303,188 |
838. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his proposals to provide specific funding in 2017 to Transport Infrastructure Ireland to advance the necessary upgrading of the N2 from north of Monaghan town to the Border; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24106/16]
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 NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 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 Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
839. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his proposals to provide specific funding in 2017 to progress a road project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24107/16]
View answerCavan County Council was provided with over €2 million in the period 2007-2014 by my Department in connection with this project under the Strategic Non-National Road Grants Scheme in order to bring this 75 km route to preliminary design stage.
Due to budgetary constraints it is not possible to progress the project further at this point as the priority for available funding remains the repair and maintenance of regional and local roads. The construction cost for a scheme of this magnitude would be in excess of €150 million.
