Written Answers Nos 1232-1253
1233. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to the contents of the NTA's Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035, if he will provide a timeframe for the extension of the Luas from Broombridge to Finglas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14048/17]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the implementation and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA). The NTA's Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035 provides a framework for the planning and delivery of transport infrastructure and services in the GDA over the next two decades.
The NTA is currently preparing an Integrated Implementation Plan for the delivery of the GDA Strategy for the period 2017-2022. Key to implementation is the capital funding that will be available for investment in public transport infrastructure over the period.
As the Deputy is aware, the Strategy includes a proposal for the extension of Luas Cross City from its terminus at Broombridge to the north of Finglas. The Government's current Capital Plan 'Building on Recovery Infrastructure & Capital Investment 2016-2021 does not include funding for this project. The timeline for the project will be determined in the context of the Integrated Implementation Plans brought forward by the NTA for implementation of the Transport Strategy and availability of capital funding in the future.
1234. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the detail of the types of fuel used by Irish Rail; the steps Irish Rail has taken to adopting a more environmentally friendly fleet; if Irish Rail uses ultra low sulphur diesel fuel (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14075/17]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for Irish Rail and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the Company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
1235. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of taxpayers' money that Sport Ireland has spent on legal fees in 2016 to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14086/17]
View answerAs this question is a matter for Sport Ireland, I have referred it to Sport Ireland for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
1236. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 421 of 23 February 2017, if he will ensure that the internal report by the Olympic Council of Ireland into ticketing arrangements at the Rio Olympic Games is completed; the costs to date regarding the Olympic Council of Ireland internal report; if he has consulted with the new president of the Olympic Council of Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14107/17]
View answerSporting organisations, including the Olympic Council of Ireland, are independent, autonomous bodies. I have no role in, or responsibility for, operational matters of sporting organisations. Consequently, I have not engaged with the new President of the Olympic Council of Ireland or the OCI in relation to their internal report into ticketing arrangements at the Rio Olympic Games.
The Deputy is aware, however, that an inquiry has been established by my Department to inquire into the circumstances surrounding the distribution of tickets for the Rio Olympic Games and related matters. This inquiry, which commenced on 19 September 2016, is being led by former High Court judge, Mr Justice Carroll Moran. It is expected that Judge Carroll Moran will present his report by the end of this month. Subject to consideration of any legal issues that may arise, it is expected that the report would be published shortly thereafter.
1237. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the compulsory purchase order documentation has been published in respect of a specific realignment scheme in County Cork (details supplied). [14110/17]
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) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
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.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
1238. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total amount spent externally by his Department on legal advice for each year since 2015; the solicitors firms involved; the barristers, junior and senior, that provided services to his Department for each such year; the amounts paid to each firm or person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14140/17]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is available on my Department's website at the following link http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/expenditure-external-services-2015. The last six months of 2016 will be available shortly.
1239. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if members of the Civil Defence units are precluded from assisting in directing public traffic or assisting local authorities with events requiring traffic management under existing road traffic legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14156/17]
View answerBy definition, a power to direct traffic cannot exist unless it is explicitly granted in law.
Under the Road Traffic Acts, the power to direct traffic is given in the first instance to An Garda Síochána. The Acts also provide limited powers to stop traffic in the case of school wardens.
Section 91 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 addresses traffic management in relation to events attracting a large assembly of persons. The section confers certain specific powers on An Garda Síochána in the circumstances in question. Subsection (4) of section 91 also allows an office of An Garda Síochána to authorise a person to act as a temporary parking attendant in such cases. However, this does not include the power to direct traffic.
There is no specific mention of the Civil Defence forces in relation to power to direct traffic in the Acts.
1241. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to go ahead with his stated intention to transfer functions of noise regulation to the Irish Aviation Authority; and the reason he considers it acceptable to create a conflict of interest for the authority in view of the fact that it derives revenue from a levy on aviation and, consequently, has a financial interest in maximising the number of flights. [14160/17]
View answer1242. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will implement the Maastricht recommendations on promoting effective public participation in decision-making in environmental matters prepared under the Aarhus Convention in any new regulatory regime for aviation noise. [14161/17]
View answer1243. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the public consultation he will undertake in respect of his stated intention to transfer functions of aviation noise regulation to the Irish Aviation Authority; and if that consultation will explain the reason he considers it acceptable to create a conflict of interest for the Authority in view of the fact that it derives revenue from a levy on aviation and consequently has a financial interest in maximising the number of flights. [14162/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1241 to 1243, inclusive, together.
EU Regulation No. 598/2014 entered into force in June 2016 and is directly applicable in the State. The Regulation represents a shift in responsibility for aircraft noise from the airport operator to a separate, independent statutory entity or competent authority that will be required to oversee the delivery of the new, more prescriptive approach to aircraft noise management. As you will be aware, I have already announced that I am appointing the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) as the Competent Authority to deal with aircraft noise management at Dublin airport.
Officials in my Department are currently engaged with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel in order to finalise the details of the Statutory Instrument which will transpose EU Regulation 598/2014. The Regulation provides that the Competent Authority shall be independent of any organisation which could be affected by noise-related action and that independence may be achieved through functional separation. The details of achieving independence through this functional separation model are being developed in order to ensure that the IAA's role, in noise management, is fit for purpose to carry out all requirements of the EU Regulation and indeed international Regulations according to ICAO principles. The IAA has an excellent track record in overseeing aviation safety and has an in-depth understanding of aircraft and the operational procedures that play a major role in noise management and I have every confidence in the IAA to carry out this important Regulatory function.
As I have indicated previously, I wish to ensure that there are robust consultation requirements with all key stakeholders, including local residents. It is proposed that the Statutory Instrument will outline requirements concerning the collaborative working arrangements to apply between the Competent Authority and the various statutory bodies that have roles and expertise in relation to noise management. Insofar as public participation arrangements are concerned, before the IAA as Competent Authority makes any decision about noise-related operating restrictions at the airport, there will be an obligation for public consultation and all stakeholders will be able to give their views. The IAA will ensure that public consultation will respect national law and international obligations.
The draft Statutory Instrument is nearing completion and I expect to be in a position to sign off on this important piece of legislation in the coming weeks.
1244. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress on implementation of the national cycle policy framework received from local authorities and other stakeholders in 2013 and 2015. [14163/17]
View answer1245. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress which has been made in considering a ban on the movement of HGVs on routes to schools and other specific routes with mixed traffic between 08:30 to 09:30 hours and 15:00 to 17:00 hours, in pursuance of policy 2.4 of the national cycle policy framework. [14164/17]
View answer1246. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress which has been made in carrying out a study on bicycles, ferries and ports in pursuance of policy 8.9 of the national cycle policy framework. [14165/17]
View answer1247. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps which have been taken to encourage employers to provide cycling parking facilities at existing developments, in pursuance of policy 7.3 of the national cycle policy framework. [14166/17]
View answer1248. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the support which has been provided for introduction of emergency hotlines in all local authorities to enable the public to report potholes and inadequate reinstatement of roads, broken glass on the road and so on, in pursuance of policy 5.5 of the national cycle policy framework. [14167/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1244 to 1248, inclusive, together.
While significant progress has been made under a number of objectives contained in the National Cycle Policy Framework (NCPF), including some of those referenced by the Deputy, my Department has not yet undertaken a formal review of the policy framework or its implementation. However, the NCPF has been integrated into the Development Plans of the majority of local authorities so ensuring that the objectives and policies to support and promote cycling are taken account of in current and future planning. In addition, the National Transport Authority (NTA) published the GDA Cycle Network Plan covering the seven local authority areas in the Greater Dublin Area in 2013.
In 2013 and 2015 my Department requested local authorities and other stakeholders for an update on progress on implementation. The Department now intends to undertake a full review of the framework and we will be pursuing this during 2017. In the meantime, I would point out that good progress is being made on some of the specific policies referenced by the Deputy. With regard to cycle parking facilities, funding is provided by my Department to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for a number of mobility management initiatives, one of which is work place travel planning. As part of this initiative employers are encouraged to provide cycle parking and other cycling friendly facilities within their premises. With regard to policy 5.5, I understand that a number of authorities now have an online facility in place on their websites whereby issues such as potholes and other road defects can be registered.
While a formal review of the framework is yet to be undertaken, I think the success of the Framework can be seen in the encouraging increase in the numbers of people cycling shown in the Dublin City Canal Cordon Count published recently by Dublin City Council and the NTA. This showed that over 12,000 people cycled into Dublin's centre in November last year in the morning peak, nearly the same number as used the Luas during the morning peak commuting times (not including the numbers using Dublin Bikes between the canals). I will be keen to see this progress maintained and improved upon as we embark on the review of the NCPF.
1249. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of submissions on hand with the Commission for Rail Regulation from Iarnród Éireann which have not yet had a decision made on them; the outline of the nature of each submission; when they were received by the commission; when it is intended to make a decision in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14191/17]
View answerThe Commission for Rail Regulation is the independent regulatory body charged with the responsibility for the regulation of the rail safety and railway activities in the State. In the circumstances, I have referred your question to the Commission for direct reply to you.
1250. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of successful applications of the most recent capital grants scheme for large tourism projects administered by Fáilte Ireland; the names and addresses of each successful project; the funding amount allocated in respect of each such successful application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14196/17]
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, it does not have a role in the administration of Fáilte Ireland's tourism capital programmes, including the Grants Scheme for Large Tourism Projects.
Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply to the Deputy. 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.
1251. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of delays to commuter and DART services in Dublin between 2014 to 2017 to date due to signal faults or failures; and the initiatives under way to ensure that public transport runs as efficiently as possible to encourage it as a transport means. [14263/17]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with Irish Rail 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.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
1252. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the failure of the Dublin Airport Authority to provide the community liaison group with the longitudinal measurements of noise over their homes; if all relevant information can be made available to residents as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14278/17]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the daa has statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop Dublin Airport, including the North Runway project.
However, in order to be of assistance, I have had enquiries made and I understand from daa that it continues to provide information on noise to local communities. Most recently, it arranged a presentation by experts Bickerdike Allen Partners to the Dublin Airport Environmental Working Group on 15 March regarding noise data from the permanent Noise Monitoring Terminals in the vicinity of the airport.
I also understand that the longitudinal analysis requested at the Community Liaison Group is currently being finalised and will be presented at the next meeting of that forum which is scheduled for 30 March.
1253. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the impact of the cuts sought by Bus Éireann management on rural connectivity. [11745/17]
View answerThe vast majority of people in rural Ireland travel on Public Service Obligation (PSO) services funded by the Exchequer. These services are not under threat. In fact, passenger numbers and funding levels are increasing and new and additional services are being provided by operators under contract with the National Transport Authority.
Similarly the Rural Transport Programme is expanding with increased passenger numbers and funding also being provided to the NTA in its administration of that Programme.
In cases where any commercial operator decides for commercial reasons to make alterations to particular services, the NTA has the statutory authority to assess the transport needs of a particular community and take whatever action it deems appropriate.
I have assured rural Ireland that the NTA will continue to use these statutory powers to ensure public transport connectivity is maintained for rural communities affected by any changes to routes in the commercial bus market.
In recent weeks the NTA has again demonstrated its ability to utilise those powers to react to developments within the commercial bus market. In response to proposed changes announced, although not as yet implemented, by Bus Éireann, the NTA published its assessment of the impact those changes would have on connectivity. That assessment concluded that additional PSO services should be provided in one instance, that alterations should be made to existing Rural Transport Programme services in another and that sufficient connectivity options already existed in relation to others.
The NTA invited feedback from interested parties on its assessments and I would encourage the Deputy to provide such feedback if he has suggestions in respect of particular routes.
