Written Answers Nos. 529-546
529. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the duration for which cannabis can be detected in a person's system by the technology used in the new tests with regard to the new drug driving legislation; the period of time for which a person has to be clear of inhaling or imbibing cannabis before the drug detection test will produce a negative result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22732/17]
View answerThe statutory responsibility for testing, approval and supply of the devices referred to rests with the Medical Bureau of Road Safety.
I have therefore referred the Question to the Bureau 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.
530. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the greenway canal route between Dublin, Sallins and Naas, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22741/17]
View answerI refer to Dáil Question No. 561 of the 28 March, 2017, regarding this greenway route and to the response subsequently provided to you by the National Transport Authority dated 7 April, 2017.
The position as set out in this response remains unchanged.
531. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding issued to the relevant bodies to promote Ireland's Ancient East in 2016; the portion of this funding dedicated to the Kildare touring route; and if additional funding will be allocated for road signage to promote the route and tourism in County Kildare. [22742/17]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies in the area of national tourism policy. It is not directly involved in the management or development of individual tourism projects, such as Ireland's Ancient East, or the promotion of these initiatives. These are operational matters for the Boards and Management of Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland.
Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland and Tourism 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.
532. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of driving instructors currently working at the Tralee and Killarney test centres, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22747/17]
View answerThe 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 within ten days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
533. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to extend the opening period of Cahir tourist office in view of its importance for the local economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22753/17]
View answer535. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the tourist office in Cahir, County Tipperary, will remain closed until the end of May 2017 in view of the fact that, in previous years, it opened from 1 May; if he will extend the opening dates further to facilitate persons who visit Cahir town in view of the fact that visitor numbers are up on previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22769/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 533 and 535 together.
The management of the Tourist Information Office network is an operational matter for the board and management of Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the agency for further information and 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.
534. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding a date for the opening of the swimming pool in Dunmanway, County Cork, in view of the fact that it was due to open in summer 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22768/17]
View answerDunmanway Swimming Pool is in the current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme and in January 2015 my Department formally allocated the maximum grant of €3.8m to the project. While there were some construction delays with the project, I am advised by Cork County Council that the main pool facility is now substantially completed and that the remaining works are ancillary to the pool itself, including the completion of a new car park.
I understand from Cork County Council that the new pool will open shortly once appropriate testing of the facility has been completed.
536. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received a request from Waterford City and County Council for the development of the greenway in County Waterford; if so, the amount sought and granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22786/17]
View answer537. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount his Department has made available to date in 2017 in funding for the greenway in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22787/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 536 and 537 together.
My Department awarded funding to Waterford City and County Council for two sections of the Déise Greenway. Under the National Cycle Network Funding Programme 2014-2016, €897k was awarded to deliver the Clonea to Durrow section with a further €1.1m awarded from the Government Stimulus Package 2014 to deliver the Kilmeaden to Bilberry section.
Funding of €552k was also awarded to the Council for the development of the original 4km track from Dungarvan town to Clonea as part of my Department's funding for the Smarter Travel Demonstration Project in Dungarvan.
I am aware that the Council has incurred considerable costs in delivering the entire greenway and have provided a wonderful facility not only for locals but for the entire country and indeed for visitors to Ireland. My Department received a request for significant additional funding of €5.5m in November 2015 but were unable to facilitate that request at that time as there was no funding available. Waterford City and County Council has recently submitted some details of costs being incurred on ongoing works on the Greenway and the question of funding for those works is currently being considered by my Department having regard to available resources. My Department is liaising with the Council in that regard at present.
538. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to plans to move the train station in Waterford city to the north quays to facilitate the development of the quays; his views on such plans; if he will make capital funding available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22788/17]
View answer539. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to plans to build a pedestrian bridge linking the north and south quays in Waterford city; his views on such plans; if he will make capital funding available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22789/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 538 and 539 together.
I understand that these issues relate to the development of the North side of the river in Waterford city which has been designated as a Strategic Development Zone. My understanding is that there is a planning scheme in preparation for the development of the area which includes access arrangements and public transport infrastructure.
My Department provides funding for the development of public transport infrastructure in the Regional Cities, including Waterford, under a dedicated funding programme (the Regional Cities Programme) which is administered by the National Transport Authority. Funding of €9.1m is available in 2017 across the four Regional Cities. Funding has not been allocated in 2017 for the proposals referenced by the Deputy as I understand that they are at a relatively early stage of development and further discussions with both the National Transport Authority and Irish Rail would be required before proceeding.
540. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of contractors that submitted tenders for the monitoring of the M7 bypass upgrade, Oberstown interchange and Sallins bypass construction works in County Kildare by the closing date of 8 May 2017; when he expects the evaluation of tenders to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22797/17]
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 national road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the relevant local authorities. In the case of regional and local road projects the local authority is responsible for project implementation.
Noting the above position and in view of the fact that the three projects mentioned by the Deputy are being tendered together, 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.
541. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will include the electrification of the Maynooth and Kildare rail lines as outlined in the DART expansion programme in his priorities under the mid-term review of the capital plan currently under way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22799/17]
View answerI will be seeking to improve the funding available for public transport in the context of the mid-term review of the Capital Plan currently under way. This will include increased funding to accelerate implementation of the DART Expansion Programme.
542. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the options open to a person aged 90 years of age whose driving licence expired in April 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22811/17]
View answerA driving licence may be renewed for up to ten years after the date on which it has expired.
An applicant in the circumstances described by the Deputy would therefore be able to apply to renew their driving licence in the normal way. As with all applications from persons aged 70 and over, the application would have to be accompanied by an eyesight report and a medical fitness report.
543. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to an issue regarding applications to the National Driver Licence Service whereby an administrative error on an application means the application must be made again from the start; his plans to address this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22869/17]
View answerI take it that the Deputy is referring to the fact that, if an application for a driving licence is not complete and in order, it has to be resubmitted. This is normal practice for many kinds of application, and I have no plans to change it in this case. Any specific queries in this regard should be sent to the Road Safety Authority who have statutory responsibility for the driver licensing service.
544. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Sligo municipal district of Sligo County Council, at its meeting on 24 April 2017, unanimously adopted a motion (details supplied); if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the RAPID funding was specifically provided due to the fact that a special case was made highlighting the fact that the gym and sports hall would be made available to persons living in adjacent areas which were designated as disadvantaged under the CLÁR and RAPID programmes; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the gym was closed down by the college management on 28 April 2017; if the deed of covenant will be adhered to and if the gym area in the college will continue to be used for sports use and not for other purposes until at least 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22884/17]
View answerMy Department is aware of the issues surrounding the continued use of the facilities referred to by the Deputy which received funding under the Sports Capital Programme. On foot of concerns raised, my Department has been in correspondence with the grantee to seek clarification in this regard. While the grantee has stated that the grant aided facilities are to remain in sporting use for the foreseeable future, officials in my Department are in the process of arranging an inspection of the grant aided facilities and a meeting with the grantee to ensure that all of the terms and conditions of the original grants are being adhered to. Any further required action will be considered following the meeting and inspection.
545. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason it is it not possible for persons in County Kerry to renew their licences in their local post office (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22902/17]
View answerThe Road Safety Authority has statutory responsibility for the driver testing service.
I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to it for direct reply.
The Deputy may wish to contact my office if he has not received a response within 10 working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
546. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider extending the Dublin bike scheme from the 12th lock in Castleknock to Maynooth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22906/17]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) in co-operation with the relevant local authority is responsible for the administration and expansion of the public bikes scheme in the Greater Dublin area.
I have forwarded your question to the NTA for consideration and direct response to you. If you have not received a reply with 10 working days please contact my office.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
