Written Answers Nos. 578-599
578. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the recent announcement by the European Commission regarding state aid and regional airports; the implications of this decision for Ireland West Airport, Knock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25303/17]
View answer579. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for the capital plan review with regard to regional airport funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25304/17]
View answer598. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to review the policy regarding investment in ports and airports in the west of Ireland in view of the new state aid rules approved by the European Commission on 17 May 2017 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25596/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 578, 579 and 598 together.
The recent amendment to the 2014 EU General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) exempts certain categories of State aid from the requirement of prior notification to the Commission for ports and airports, if these are unlikely to distort competition in the Single Market.
The new provisions on ports in the Regulation will not have any immediate impact for Irish ports given that there is currently no Exchequer funding for Irish ports.
The governance model for ports in Ireland is broadly in line with that elsewhere in Europe. This model is one of publicly-owned port authorities with high levels of private sector involvement in the provision of infrastructure and services. Irish ports operate on a commercial basis and are expected to fund their activities and capital infrastructure investment.
National Ports Policy 2013 indicates clearly that it is the current policy of the Irish Government that no Exchequer funding is provided to any port. This has been the position since 2005 policy. Therefore, GBER does not currently apply. Government Policy on the matter remains unaltered at this time and there are no plans to change this position.
In relation to airports, the National Airports Policy 2015 sets out clearly the policy for Exchequer support under the Regional Airports Programme for the four regional airports at Donegal, Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK), Kerry and Waterford. This support is provided to the regional airports for safety and security related projects and activities over a multiannual period.
Given current policy, the recent amendment to GBER will have limited impact for our regional airports, since Ireland has already received State-aid clearance from the EU Commission in 2015 for our current, five-year, Regional Airports Programme 2015-2019.
There is one new concession in the revised GBER regime that would be relevant to Donegal and Waterford, and that is that they would be eligible for aid towards operating losses, if incurred. In practice, Waterford is already eligible for this kind of operational support under our current Regional Airports Programme. This provision does not apply to airports that handle more than 200,000 passengers annually such as IWAK.
In addition to the funding approved under the Regional Airports Programme 2015-2019, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to provide an additional €10 million over the lifetime of the Capital Plan to support the four regional airports. This additional commitment, together with other Programme for Government commitments of a capital nature, is part of the mid-term review of the Capital Plan which is currently underway and my Department has made a submission to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in this regard.
580. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to include rail fares from Enfield, County Meath, in the commuter belt fare area (details supplied). [25357/17]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) 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 was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.
581. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the consultations that have taken place with the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs regarding the Heritage Bill 2016 and the road safety aspects of same. [25361/17]
View answerThere are currently provisions in the Heritage Bill to amend section 40 of the Wildlife Act, 1976, as amended, and my Department has been consulted by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in relation to this proposed amendment.
Section 40 prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August.
Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993 sets out the responsibility of landowners to take all reasonable steps to ensure that trees, hedges or other vegetation growing on their land are not, or could not become, a danger to people using a public road and or interfere with the safe use of a public road or the maintenance of a public road.
At present road authorities are exempt from the prohibition under Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976 and may carry out works under section 70 of the Roads Act, 1993 at any time during the year. However, land owners or occupiers of land are not exempt from the prohibition.
One of the proposed amendments in the Heritage Bill to section 40 of the Wildlife Act, 1976 will clarify that the felling, cutting, lopping, trimming or removal of a tree, shrub, hedge or other vegetation, pursuant to section 70 of the Roads Act, 1993, will be allowed during the period beginning on 1 March to 31 August. This will mean that works can be carried out by a landowner or occupier of land as well as a road authority under section 70 at any time during the year to ensure that a tree, hedge and other vegetation is not, or could not become, a danger to people using a public road and that it does not obstruct or interfere with the safe use of a public road or the maintenance of a public road.
582. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the review into the disused rail line between the port of Foynes to Limerick which, according to a report (details supplied), is being considered for future development. [25385/17]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA) held a public consultation process to start a national debate on the current and future role of rail transport in Ireland. The public consultation process was launched with the publication of a Rail Review 2016 report, which examined the funding required to support the heavy rail network now and into the future, together with a consultation document "The Role of Rail in Ireland and Funding its Delivery".
The NTA is now in the process of examining over 300 submissions received and is preparing a report on the consultation process. I intend to bring this report to Government. Undoubtedly the findings of the consultation process will be used to inform and assist future decision making in relation to rail.
However, I must state that no decisions have been taken regarding the future of individual rail lines, including closed lines such as Limerick to Foynes. Furthermore, no decisions will be taken on the matter before I have had the opportunity to report back to Government on the outcomes of NTA's public consultation process. In order to fully inform any debate on the future of the rail network, we must allow this important background work to be completed and for the outputs to be assessed.
583. 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. [25392/17]
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 2320 applications received will be assessed by officials in my Department over the coming months. Given the number of applications received and the detailed information submitted, it will take a number of months to complete the assessment process with allocations not expected until September.
584. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a reply will issue to correspondence (details supplied). [25399/17]
View answerI would like to advise the Deputy that a response was issued to the correspondence in question on Friday 26 May 2017.
585. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the route for the extension of the Luas from Broombridge through Finglas to the N2 has been agreed; and if so, the preferred option. [25404/17]
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 Strategy includes a proposal for the extension of Luas Cross City from its terminus at Broombridge to the north of Finglas.
The NTA is 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.
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, including planning, design and preferred route selection, 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.
586. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of meetings he has scheduled with other EU ministers regarding Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25420/17]
View answerIn addition to other recent Brexit related meetings, I will be meeting with my EU counterparts when I attend Transport Council in Luxembourg next week. While Brexit is not on the formal Council Agenda, I have no doubt that it will be discussed on the margins of the meeting. I plan to meet as many other EU Ministers, officials and transport and tourism stakeholders as is feasible over the coming months as negotiations progress.
587. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will contact the DAA with regard to the need to establish real-time air monitoring at Dublin Airport in addition to additional monitors and upgrades to current systems in order to accurately assess air quality. [25437/17]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the daa has statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop Dublin Airport.
It is my understanding that real time air quality monitoring is taking place at Dublin Airport.
Since 2011, daa has undertaken a voluntary programme of air quality monitoring at Dublin Airport and in surrounding communities, although there is no legal requirement to do so.
Air quality monitoring is undertaken 24 hours per day at the continuous monitoring station located within the Dublin Airport boundary. Air quality is also monitored at an additional 10 locations outside the airport boundary using passive diffusion tube sampling. This data is reviewed on a daily basis by daa on a Monday to Friday basis, with detailed reports generated quarterly and loaded to the daa website. https://www.dublinairport.com/about-us/-community-affairs/air-quality-data
The data collected during the daa monitoring programme is compared with limit values contained in The Ambient Air Quality Standards Regulations 2011 to assess air quality at each monitoring location.
Results since the monitoring programme was implemented have been consistently below limit values for all parameters (where limits exist).
588. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views as to whether the EPA has been completely absent from involvement in the environmental impact assessment for the northern runway; the steps he will take to rectify the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25438/17]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the daa has statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop Dublin Airport, including the North Runway project. I understand that an Environmental Impact Assessment was undertaken as part of the planning permission application for the North Runway Project which was approved by An Bord Pleanála in August 2007. My Department had no role in that process.
daa announced their intention to proceed with the North Runway project in April 2016. Of the 31 conditions attached to the planning permission for the project, two remain of particular concern to daa. These restrictions, if they remain unaltered, would result in operating restrictions being applied at certain hours across the entire airport (not just the new runway). daa has stated its intention to seek to have these planning conditions, which they consider restrictive, altered. The process to alter these conditions will involve the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement and I am informed that daa have commenced this work. I also understand that daa have consulted widely on the content of this EIS and that feedback reports on these consultations are available on the Dublin Airport website.
As the Deputy is aware, EU Regulation 598/2014 came into force in June last year and introduces procedures with regard to the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at EU airports employing a "balanced approach" that takes account of land-use planning and noise mitigation measures. The Competent Authority will be appointed shortly, following finalisation of a Statutory Instrument by my Department.
I am awaiting the advice of the Office of the Attorney General in relation to this issue. The question of whether an Environmental Impact Assessment will be required as part of the decision making process will be covered in that advice.
589. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 236 of 10 May 2017, the status of the examinations for the information to be stored on the microchip in the cards; if he will report on the document received by his Department from the RSA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25466/17]
View answerThe format of the plastic card driving licence is set out in EU legislation, which makes a microchip an optional feature. The principal reason for the chip is to enhance the security of the card licence and prevent fraud and forgery.
Most EU Member States do not incorporate a microchip on their licences. Irish licences do contain a microchip, although the chip is not at present in use to store licence data. It does contain administrative information about the production of the card.
Where Member States make use of the chip, it should, under EU law, contain the basic data printed on the licence. Member States may include additional data on the chip, but need EU approval before proceeding to do so.
The RSA recently submitted a paper to my Department on the future of the microchip, and this is being considered by my Department.
590. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps being taken to enable an organisation (details supplied) to redevelop a stand; and if he will give consideration for it to be part of the review of the public capital expenditure programme for 2017. [25480/17]
View answerIn 2016, the RDS submitted outline proposals to redevelop the RDS Main Arena. In March of this year, representatives from the RDS met with officials in my Department to provide an update on their proposals including the latest costings. At this meeting, the RDS representatives were informed that there is currently no funding in my Department's subheads to cover the costs of the proposal. In terms of financing sport infrastructure, my Department's main role relates to the Sports Capital Programme (SCP) but the scale of money being requested would mean that the SCP (under which the maximum grant is currently €200k) is not suitable for this purpose.
In relation to the mid-term review of the Capital Plan, my Department's response to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform includes a proposal to provide a new fund for large scale sport projects. If this proposal is agreed to, the fund would be used to finance certain large scale sports infrastructure and projects such as the RDS redevelopment could be considered in that context.
591. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a decision will be made on the creation of a lakeland tourism brand; and his views on creating this brand. [25487/17]
View answer592. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Fáilte Ireland is in favour of creating a lakeland tourism brand. [25488/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 591 and 592 together.
My 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, including the Lakelands initative. These are operational matters for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland.
I understand that draft proposition concepts on a suitable brand have been developed by Fáilte Ireland and that engagement with the industry and researching of these concepts is scheduled to commence soon.
I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for any further information. 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.
593. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to assist small-scale tourism businesses within the regions. [25489/17]
View answerThis is an operational matter for the board and management of Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question 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.
594. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the correct complaints procedure for consumers that wish to make a complaint against an airport here. [25501/17]
View answerIn the first instance, any complaints about airports should be made directly to the entity involved, which are best placed to deal with any matters arising. In the case of the three State Airports, the complaints should be made to daa or Shannon Airport Authority which between them have statutory responsibility to operate, manage and develop Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports. In all other cases, where airports are privatly owned and operated, the complaints should be made directly to the individual airport operator.
595. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to make public transport more accessible for wheelchair users; the work he has carried out in this area to date; the extent of the public transport network which is wheelchair-accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25508/17]
View answerAs part of the public transport investment programme, my Department provides funding to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for a rolling programme of bus replacement and refurbishment of the PSO bus fleet. This has enabled 100% of the Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann city fleets to be wheelchair accessible, as well as approximately 80% of the Bus Éireann coach fleet and this will increase as the coach fleet is replaced.
Accessibility features are built into all new public transport infrastructure projects and vehicles from the design stage and new systems such as the Luas are fully accessible. With regard to existing infrastructure, there is an ongoing programme to upgrade public transport infrastructure and facilities to help improve transport accessibility across the country. The programme is managed by the NTA on behalf of my Department.
In 2017 under the Accessibility Grants Programme, funding is being provided to the NTA for accessibility upgrade works at a number of rail stations; for accessible bus stops and bus stations; and for a Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Grant Scheme. Funding is also provided via the NTA for the Travel Assistance Scheme which is run by Dublin Bus. Under the scheme an assistant can accompany people who need help using public transport and to plan a journey on Dublin Bus, Luas and the DART.
In light of the NTA's responsibility for the administration of the Accessibility Grants Programme, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for a more detailed reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
The referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.
596. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding a bus route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25510/17]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, Monaghan is served by a range of PSO, Translink, Expressway and other licensed commercial services. I am aware that Translink recently published a revised timetable for its X3 service effective 28 May and that this revised timetable did indicate the cessation of an early morning departure from Monaghan serving Dublin.
I understand that following discussions between Translink and the NTA, it has been agreed that this early morning service will in fact continue and I have no doubt the Deputy will welcome that decision.
597. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will publish all outcomes of the organisational capacity review that is being undertaken in his Department at present. [25571/17]
View answerAs part of the Civil Service Renewal Plan, a team based in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is undertaking a Programme of Capability Reviews to examine the effectiveness and capability of each Government Department in turn, with a view to identifying opportunities for improvement.
My Department volunteered to take part in the pilot phase of this Review Programme in recognition of the value of carrying out organisational "health checks" on a regular basis. The Department is committed to continuous improvement and considers this process an opportunity to build on its strengths, address any shortcomings and ensure that it is ready for the challenges posed by a growing population and strengthening economy.
Regarding publication, I expect the Department will develop an action plan as part of the process to ensure that it responds to any recommendations arising and, in keeping with the Civil Service's commitment to transparency, I also expect that the report and the action plan will be published at the appropriate time.
599. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when driving licences obtained in the United States of America will be recognised by the State in view of the fact that Canadian licences are automatically recognised here and licences in the United States are automatically recognised by the Canadian Government; the reason the State does not recognise driving licences from the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25665/17]
View answerThe purpose of having a system of driver licensing is to enhance public safety by ensuring that people issued with licences to drive on our roads have met certain standards through a driver learning and testing process.
Ireland recognises driving licences for exchange when they are issued by other EU Member States, as all EU countries operate within the same framework of driver licensing and testing.
In the case of non-EU states, we may reach bilateral arrangements. These are not straightforward and do not happen simply where they are desirable. Before any such agreement can be reached, the relevant authorities on each side must compare the systems in the two jurisdictions in detail in order for each side to be satisfied that the standards are compatible. On the Irish side, this task is undertaken by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
The RSA has previously examined the possibility of recognising US licences. However, in the US driver licensing operates at state rather than federal level. The standards applied by the different states vary greatly. Reaching agreement would therefore mean reaching 50 separate agreements. While some states might have systems compatible with ours, others would not. Each of the 50 agreements would therefore have to take into account the exchange relationships between that state and the other 49.
In regard to Canada, we currently have agreements in place with three of the ten Canadian provinces, and I expect shortly to add a fourth. Bilateral driver licensing agreements do not cover licences issued in exchange for third party licences - a person who exchanges a US licence for a Canadian one cannot exchange that licence for an Irish one.
