Written Answers Nos. 297-306
297. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will intervene and prevent Bus Éireann ceasing the Dublin to Derry route bus service which services the people of Castleblayney, County Monaghan; if he has spoken to the NTA regarding this specific route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12323/17]
View answerI am of course aware that Bus Éireann has recently announced service alterations to a small number of Expressway services, including route 33 Dublin to Derry. The Deputy is no doubt aware that Expressway services are commercial services operated by Bus Éireann and licensed under the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009. These routes are not eligible for any taxpayer funding and frequently operate in competition with other commercial licensed operators. As I have stated on numerous occasions, in cases where a commercial operator, such as Expressway, decides to alter or withdraw a route, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has the statutory powers available to it to respond as appropriate to ensure continued transport connectivity.
In response to Bus Éireann's recent announcement of service changes, the NTA has published an assessment of the proposed changes and indicated what action it believes is necessary to ensure that continued connectivity.
As indicated in that published assessment, the NTA does not believe that connectivity issues arise on the route 33 corridor following the proposed withdrawal of Expressway's route 33. In publishing its assessment the NTA has invited feedback on its proposals. A copy of their assessment is available on www.nationaltransport.ie.
I am informed that following changes to the Expressway route 33, Castleblayney will continue to be served by:
- Expressway's route 32 services serving Dublin to Letterkenny (with connections possible at Strabane for onward journey to Derry);
- Translink's X3 services serving Dublin to Derry;
- A private licensed operator serving Monaghan to Dublin; and
- Bus Éireann PSO routes providing regional connectivity with Dundalk and Drogheda.
298. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will reinvest in the local improvement scheme in order to upgrade isolated and neglected roads and lanes that have not been taken in charge by the local authority, which are often essential in providing access routes for communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12329/17]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the local authority's own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority. Maintenance of private laneways/roads not taken in charge by local authorities is the responsibility of the landowners concerned. Due to the major cutbacks in roads funding it was necessary for my Department to cease making separate allocations to local authorities in respect of the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS). The approved scheme remains intact and local authorities can use a proportion of State grant funding for LIS should they wish to do so. While there is a modest increase in funding for roads this year, it will take some years yet under the Capital Plan to restore "steady state" funding levels for regional and local roads. The primary focus has to continue to be on the maintenance and renewal of public roads. Local authorities can continue to use a proportion of their Discretionary Grant for the Local Improvement Scheme in 2017.
In light of the provision in the Programme for Government indicating that, as the economy recovers, the Government will promote increased funding for Community Involvement and Local Improvement Schemes, I will review the scope for making a separate grant allocation once the planned Review of the Capital Plan is completed.
299. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has a prioritised list of roads and bridge projects likely to be required in Kildare south in the next ten years; his plans to fund and roll out such plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12330/17]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in Kildare is the statutory responsibility of Kildare County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of projects (including future projects) to be funded is also a matter for the Council. The planning, design and implementation of individual national road projects in Kildare is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with Kildare 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.
300. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of an application for a sports capital grant by a club (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12389/17]
View answerI can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation referred to by the Deputy under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme. All of the 2,320 applications received under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme will be assessed by officials in my Department over the coming months. An announcement regarding allocations will be made later this year.
301. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will reinstate the level of funding afforded to a festival (details supplied) by Fáilte Ireland to the level received in 2016 of €30, 000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12390/17]
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 projects. These are operational matters for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland. While the Department provides funding to Fáilte Ireland for investment in tourism offerings, including festivals, it does not have any role in the administration of those funding programmes. Similarly, my Department does not have discretionary funds at its disposal to assist with individual tourism proposals. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you have not received a reply within ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
302. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total number of applicants under the new round of sports capital projects; and the detail of the projects that applied for funding in counties Carlow and Kilkenny. [12392/17]
View answerA total of 2,320 applications were submitted under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme. A list of all of these applications is available on the Department's website at the following link: www.dttas.ie/sport/publications/english/2017-sports-capital-programme-applications-submitted.
303. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of an application for sports capital funding by a club (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12397/17]
View answerI can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation referred to by the Deputy under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme. All of the 2,320 applications received under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme will be assessed by officials in my Department over the coming months. An announcement regarding allocations will be made later this year.
304. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of an application for an employment permit by a person (details supplied). [12312/17]
View answerThe Employment Permits Section informs me that no application for an employment permit has been received in relation to the named company.
305. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA land banks in County Kildare, by town; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12331/17]
View answer306. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA business parks in County Kildare, by town; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12332/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 305 and 306 together.
I am informed by IDA Ireland that the Agency has two business parks in County Kildare with marketable lands and buildings as outlined in the table.
|
Kildare |
Newbridge |
Newbridge Business Park |
Total Size 16.8 ha/c 41.5 acres |
Marketable Land c.2.92 ha/c7.2 acres |
|
Kildare |
Newbridge |
Unit 6, Newbridge Business Park |
3,237 sq.ft./301 sq.m |
Marketable Building 3,237 sq. ft/301 sq.m |
|
Kildare |
Naas |
Naas Industrial Estate, Tipper Road |
Total Size 7.8 ha/c/19 acres |
Marketable Land c.1.70 ha/c.4.2 acres |
