Written Answers Nos. 166-172
166. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding testing by the RSA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31081/16]
View answerA commercial vehicle, as with any other vehicle, must be roadworthy at all times when being used on the public road. Commercial vehicle roadworthiness testing (CVRT) is only one component of the preventative road safety measures we need to have in place in order to ensure safer vehicles on our roads.
I appreciate the requirements to be met are onerous and should be kept under constant review.
Given that the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the CVRT, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
167. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown of awarded sport grants which have been drawn down by sports clubs, indicating the value of the grant drawn down in each case for the years 2014, 2015 and 2016 to date in tabular form; if he will further provide a breakdown of sports grants awarded to sports clubs which have not been drawn down by sports clubs, indicating the value of the grant not drawn down in each case for the years 2014, 2015 and 2016 to date in tabular form; the reason awarded grants have not been drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31107/16]
View answerDetails of all the grants allocated and payments made under the Sports Capital Programme in 2014 and 2015 are published on the Department's website www.dttas.ie. Details for 2016 will be published early in the new year.
For a variety of reasons it can take grantees several years to draw down allocations. Some of the more common reasons include problems finalising the necessary legalities, delays in the planning process, delays in construction and difficulties encountered by clubs raising the required own funding.
168. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration will be given to reviewing the system of sport grants with a view to making it easier for sports clubs to draw down grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31108/16]
View answerMy officials and I are mindful of possible opportunities to improve the operation of the Sports Capital Programme. In this regard, a new web portal has been introduced to streamline all aspects of the programme from registration, to application to grant drawdown.
As was confirmed in the 2017 Estimates Statement, a new round of the Sports Capital Programme will be open for applications in January with the announcement of allocations expected later in 2017. The new Programme will include further modifications to the on-line application system to make the whole process even more user-friendly. I expect to announce more details in regard to the new round shortly.
169. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of new bus shelters installed by county for each of the years from 2010 to 2016 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31129/16]
View answer170. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of operational bus shelters in each county as of the end of September 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31165/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 170 together.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development of public transport infrastructure including bus stops, bus shelters, bus stations and bus stands in the State.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, 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.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
171. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of inspections carried out by Workplace Relations Commission inspectors since the date of the introduction of the new arrangements and classification of non-EEA fishermen as a result of the recommendations of the task force on non-EEA workers in the Irish fishing fleet; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31054/16]
View answerInspectors of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) have undertaken 94 inspections to date of vessels which come within the aegis of the Atypical Worker Permission Scheme launched by the Irish National Immigration Service (INIS) in February this year. I am advised by the Commission that vessel owners and skippers have in general cooperated fully with WRC inspectors.
In addition, the WRC completed a programme of ‘Educational’ Inspections in the period following the launch of the Scheme on the 15th February 2016. Over 15 days WRC inspectors made direct contact with 46 vessels owners/skippers in 11 locations and briefed the latter on employment rights and employment permit/permissions requirements.
The workplace relations website (www.workplacerelations.ie) has been updated to include details relating to the Atypical Scheme and employment rights legislation affecting fishing vessel workers generally while the WRC’s Information and Customer Service Centre, based in Carlow, deals with enquiries from vessel owners, skippers and crews in relation to employment rights generally.
The WRC has made itself available to meet with all stakeholders and has to date met with the Migrant Rights Council of Ireland (MRCI), four Fish Producer Organisations and the International Transport Federation (ITF). The WRC is also represented on the Inter-agency Fishing Vessel Risk Profiling and Inspection Group.
The WRC has also participated in Information Events for the Fishing Industry held by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) in Dublin (18th May, 2016) and Bantry (12th October, 2016) and has undertaken to participate in future similar events. These events provide useful opportunities to engage with the sector on employment rights and employment permits issues.
The Workplace Relations Commission will continue to work with the industry and other enforcement agencies to achieve compliance.
172. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way she intends to spend the additional €5.5 million funding allocated for youth work programmes in budget 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30992/16]
View answerMy Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. The funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 380,000 young people and involve approximately 1,400 youth work staff in 477 projects and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that Budget 2017 has provided an additional €5.5m in current funding to my Department to support the provision of youth services. This additional funding will be used for programmes that target disadvantaged young people and to assist national youth organisations in their work to support local voluntary youth services. Following the Budget 2017 announcement, my Department will commence a process with national organisations and local services to identify service development needs for 2017 and to agree the 2017 allocations. Every effort will be made to complete this process as soon as possible.
