Imelda Munster
Question:310. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the level of funding provided by his Department to Tourism Ireland in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [20916/17]
View answerTourism Funding
Questions (310, 311)
Imelda Munster
Question:311. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the level of funding provided by his Department to tourism bodies annually in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [20917/17]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 310 and 311 together.
The breakdown of the total Exchequer provision for tourism services from my Department's vote is available in the annual Revised Estimates Volume (REV) for Public Services, which is published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and available on that Department's website.
Information in relation to the tourism agencies' income and expenditure in the years up to 2016 is available in their published Annual Reports and Accounts. The 2016 Annual Reports and Accounts will be published later this year.
Of the overall annual Exchequer allocation to the tourism agencies for 2017, the amount of funding provided by my Department to Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland by end-April totals €28.097 million. The breakdown by subhead of these allocations to end-April is as follows:-
- E3 (Fáilte Ireland): €9.962 million
- E4 (Tourism Ireland - grant for administration and general expenses): €5.49 million
- E5 (Tourism Marketing Fund): €12.645 million (split €11.55 million for Tourism Ireland and €1.095 million for Fáilte Ireland).
Road Safety
Questions (312)
Mattie McGrath
Question:312. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of accidents which took place on the M8 motorway south of Cahir town, County Tipperary caused by aquaplaning; and the extent of the works that were carried out to alleviate the issue. [20922/17]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Transport, Tourism & 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 (including the M8) is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 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 TII in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act. Collision data for national roads is mapped and collated by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). Accordingly I am forwarding your query to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
Taxi Licences
Questions (313)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:313. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the sale of taxi licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20957/17]
View answerWritten answers
Action 14 of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011 recommended the introduction of a prohibition on the transferability of small public service vehicle (SPSV) licences. The Taxi Regulation Review Group included representatives of the taxi industry and its recommendations were widely publicised to the industry, including through the National Transport Authority's website and industry updates. The underlying principle for the recommendation was that a licence should determine a person's suitability to carry out a function and it should have no monetary value or be traded on the open market. The measure was provided for in Section 14(1) of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 which was commenced with effect from 06 April 2014. Special provisions, contained in Section 15 of the 2013 Act, as amended, apply in the case of the death of a licence holder, whereby a person nominated by the licence holder before his/her death may apply to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for the grant of a licence of the same category.
The regulation of the SPSV industry is a matter for the NTA under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016, including administration of the nomination process under section 15. The NTA has also made Regulations relating to rental of a small public service vehicle to another person.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities in these matters, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
Road Projects
Questions (314)
Joan Burton
Question:314. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the necessity to construct a new vehicular bridge over the River Liffey in Celbridge, County Kildare; if he will provide a commitment to Kildare County Council in regard to formulating a plan to progress the bridge to construction, including route selection, environmental and archaeological impacts, public consultation and construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20972/17]
View answerWritten answers
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads (including bridges) in Kildare is the statutory responsibility of Kildare County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993-2015. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the Council. The assessment of options in relation to bridges in County Kildare, including at Celbridge is, therefore, a matter for consideration by Kildare County Council.
Driver Test
Questions (315)
Niall Collins
Question:315. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a reply will issue to correspondence (details supplied); if he will provide this Deputy a copy of the reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20978/17]
View answerWritten answers
The operation of the driver testing service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred the Question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received in ten days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
Vehicle Clamping
Questions (316)
Catherine Murphy
Question:316. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the date on which he will commence the regulation of clamping vehicles which is provided for in the Vehicle Clamping Act 2015 in view of the fact that the Road Traffic Bill 2016 has been enacted and the technical amendment to the Vehicle Clamping Act 2015 made; the progress to date by the NTA with the consultation process in regard to the draft regulations prior to their finalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21060/17]
View answerWritten answers
Section 37 of the Road Traffic Act 2016, which provided for the required amendment of Section 4 of the Vehicle Clamping Act 2015, was commenced on the 13th April 2017. My Department is working with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel in relation to commencing the Vehicle Clamping Act 2015 as expeditiously as possible. Once commenced the National Transport Authority will then publish draft Regulations for public consultation as required under the Vehicle Clamping Act.
I expect the Act will be commenced shortly.
Enterprise Support Schemes
Questions (317, 318, 319)
Maurice Quinlivan
Question:317. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the cost of the enterprise stabilisation fund in each of the years 2009 to 2011; the amount repaid to date; the amount outstanding; the total amount written off; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20923/17]
View answerMaurice Quinlivan
Question:318. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of businesses that received funding from the enterprise stabilisation fund; the number of jobs that were supported as a result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20924/17]
View answerMaurice Quinlivan
Question:319. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the average amount of funding provided to businesses under the enterprise stabilisation fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20925/17]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 317 to 319, inclusive, together.
The Enterprise Stabilisation Fund (ESF) was established by Government to support viable but vulnerable exporting companies who were experiencing difficulties due to the economic crisis which started in 2008. €100m was allocated to the fund to the end of 2010. Client companies of Enterprise Ireland, IDA, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Shannon Development across all sectors within manufacturing and internationally traded services were eligible to apply. The fund was administered by Enterprise Ireland.
Funding was in the form of preference shares, supporting a range of activities including market development, productivity improvements, cost reduction and product development.
Analysis of the scheme indicated that, as of March 2017, EI approved €80.4m under the ESF and paid out €80.018m. As of March 2017, €22.5m has been redeemed to date from companies that were legally in a position to do so. (A company must have distributable reserves to be in a position, legally, to repay the State.) Redemption of the shares will continue to be sought over the coming period as companies are in a position to do so.
However, €15.72m invested in ESF companies cannot be redeemed as the companies have been dissolved, liquidated or gone into receivership.
The objective of the ESF was to retain jobs and ensure the continued survival and growth of these Enterprise Ireland client companies. In total, 9,500 jobs were supported under the ESF.
The ESF was targeted at viable but vulnerable exporting companies. The ESF was a non-Competitive Fund and the average level of support was €374,000.