Written Answers Nos. 717-31
717. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Fáilte Ireland will outline the efforts made in 2016 to promote home-holidaying; the efforts that will be made in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36937/16]
View answerDomestic tourism marketing and the promotion of home holidays are operational matters for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply. The Deputy should contact my private office if he has not received a reply within ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
718. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide funding in 2017 for the community tourism initiative for the diaspora in view of the success of the scheme for small communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36940/16]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy. It is not directly involved in the management or development of individual tourism initiatives, which are operational matters for Fáilte Ireland.
The National Community Diaspora Tourism Initiative was a three-way partnership between Fáilte Ireland, the Local Authorities (under the auspices of the County and City Managers Association) and IPB Insurance. Each party contributed €333,000 per year for 3 years between 2014 and 2016 towards community events which had a strong Diaspora element. This fund was established as a follow-on from the success of the Gathering in mobilising local communities to harness diaspora links for the benefit of local tourism.
As regards the development of another tourism funding initiative of this nature, I am referring the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply. The Deputy should contact my private office if he has not received a reply within ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
719. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff from his Department currently seconded to other Departments or agencies in the Civil Service per annum from 2010 to 2015, inclusive, and to date in 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36973/16]
View answer720. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff from his Department who have appealed against secondment per annum from 2010 to 2015, inclusive, and to date in 2016, in tabular form; the appeals mechanism involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36989/16]
View answer721. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff from his Department currently seconded to a firm in the private sector per annum from 2010 to 2015, inclusive, and to date in 2016, in tabular form; the details of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37005/16]
View answer722. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff from his Department currently seconded from a firm in the private sector per annum from 2010 to 2015, inclusive, and to date in 2016, in tabular form; the details of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37021/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 719 to 722, inclusive, together.
The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
|
Year |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 to date |
|
Seconded out to Departments or agencies |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
9 |
|
Seconded out to private sector |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Seconded in from private sector |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
No staff from my Department have appealed against secondment from 2010 to date. All secondments are on a voluntary basis by the staff concerned.
723. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of proposals to construct a bypass around Tipperary town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37025/16]
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 the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the TII for direct reply. The Deputy should advise my private office if he does not receive a reply within 10 working days.
724. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the decision of the UK to leave the EU will result in the funds that the Government pledged to the construction of the A5 in Northern Ireland not being required; whether those funds will be ring-fenced for road projects here, including the proposed bypass for Ardee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37122/16]
View answerCommitments in relation to the A5 are governed by the Stormont House Agreement and Implementation Plan - A Fresh Start which 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.
725. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding that has been provided to County Louth over the previous three years, 2014 to 2016, inclusive, by project name, location and funding amount, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37230/16]
View answer726. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the applications submitted for funding projects from Louth County Council in each of the years 2014 to 2016, inclusive, in tabular form; and if the applications were successful. [37246/16]
View answer727. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding for projects in 2017 in County Louth to be funded by his Department by project name, location and funding amount, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37262/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 725 to 727, inclusive, together.
It is not possible to give a full breakdown of funding on a county basis as requested by the Deputy. Some funding cannot be allocated to a specific county (e.g. rail safety management systems, Bus Éireann buses).
My Department is collating the information requested in so far as possible and this will be provided to the Deputy within 10 working days.
728. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding that has been provided to County Meath over the previous three years, 2014 to 2016, inclusive, by project name, location and funding amount in tabular form. [37278/16]
View answer729. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the applications submitted for funding and projects from Meath County Council in each of the years 2014 to 2016, inclusive, in tabular form; if the applications where successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37294/16]
View answer730. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding for projects in 2017 in County Meath to be funded by his Department by project name, location and funding amount, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37310/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 728 to 730, inclusive, together.
It is not possible to give a full breakdown of funding on a county basis as requested by the Deputy.
Some funding cannot be allocated to a specific county (e.g. rail safety management systems, Bus Éireann buses).
My Department is collating the information requested in so far as possible and this will be provided to the Deputy within 10 working days.
731. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the provisions of the Vehicle Clamping Act 2015 will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37317/16]
View answerThe Vehicle Clamping Act was enacted in May 2015 and conferred the responsibilities of regulating vehicle clamping upon the National Transport Authority (NTA).
This conferral of additional responsibilities resulted in a requirement for allocation of additional resources to the NTA in order to allow it carry out its new functions in this area. In addition the NTA also required a period to make and prepare the necessary regulations provided for under the Act as well as ensure appropriate training and administrative supports are in place to allow for commencement of regulatory activities.
This preparatory work has now been completed; however, in recent weeks an issue arose in how the Act deals with the required consultation process in relation to draft Regulations prior to their finalisation. This issue needs to be addressed so as to ensure that the NTA can proceed with the publication of said draft Regulations.
This issue is being dealt with through making a technical amendment to the Vehicle Clamping Act 2015 which will be introduced by means of an amendment to the Road Traffic Bill 2016 which is currently at Dáil Committee Stage.
Subject to the availability of parliamentary time, I expect that the Road Traffic Bill 2016 will complete its Oireachtas passage before the end of the year. Once amended, I will commence the Vehicle Clamping Act and the NTA will then proceed with the consultation process in relation to the draft Regulations prior to their finalisation.
