Written Answers Nos. 600-621
600. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the specific actions he has undertaken under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 to contribute to the national mitigation plan. [25689/17]
View answerMy Department's contribution to the National Mitigation Plan sets out both the challenges to meeting emission reductions targets and charts a clear and quantified path towards Ireland's national transition objective to a low-carbon, and climate resilient economy as set out in the Climate Action & Low Carbon Development Act 2015.
Following on from an extensive stakeholder and public consultation process in March and April, the contribution from my Department to the final National Mitigation Plan will contain numerous specific actions to facilitate decarbonising the transport sector with defined timeframes for implementation and nominated responsible parties. Minister Naughten will bring the full Plan to Government shortly.
The mitigation measures related to the transport sector were prepared as part of a collaborative approach with colleagues in the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment and other relevant Government Departments. This work has been overseen by an inter-departmental National Mitigation Plan Steering Group and the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, Climate Action and the Environment. Additionally, we have closely engaged with the recommendations of the Climate Change Advisory Council and insights shared have been considered in the preparation of Transport's contribution.
The transport mitigation measures highlighted as part of the Plan are wide-ranging and focus primarily on: promoting behavioural change and modal shift; further investment in public transport; increasing public transport capacity; and movement to alternatively fuelled vehicles.
The Plan will be a living document which will reflect the on-going process to decarbonise as climate research, analysis, public and interdepartmental dialogue and technological innovations progress. Enabling Ireland's transformation to a sustainable, low-carbon economy will remain a priority for my Department and complementary measures being developed and implemented across the transport sector will continue to contribute to the cost-effectiveness of future policy and investment priorities.
601. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to extend the reduced speed limit on the N71 (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25745/17]
View answerWhile the Road Traffic Act 2004 sets default speed limits for various categories of roads, elected members of local authorities, have statutory responsibility for deciding on and making appropriate Special Speed Limit bye-laws for roads within their administrative area, and in the case of national roads, such as the N71 in this case, subject to the consent of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).
To assist local authorities in the application of Special Speed Limits, my Department's updated Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland, which is available to all local authorities, reiterates the statutory responsibilities of elected members in relation to the making of such Special Speed Limit bye-laws, subject to following Department Guidelines.
Therefore, any decision as to whether to extend the reduced speed limit on the N71 in this location is a matter for the Kerry County Council in conjunction with TII.
602. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the Bus Éireann Expressway service does not stop at the Expressway stop in Tullaghan, County Leitrim. [25769/17]
View answer603. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will request that the Bus Éireann Expressway service stops at the Tullaghan Expressway stop in County Leitrim at all its scheduled times. [25770/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 602 and 603 together.
The issues raised are matters for Bus Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to Bus Éireann 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.
604. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of vehicles using the M50 toll in 2016 that were due to pay a toll; the percentage which were Irish registered and foreign registered vehicles respectively; the number of vehicles that did not pay the toll; the value of this lost revenue; the amount of the lost revenue which was recouped; the cost of the process to recoup same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25783/17]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy in relation to roads. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects on national roads are a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the relevant local authority.
More specifically, the statutory powers to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors are vested in TII under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Roads Act 2007).
Noting the above position, I have referred the matter for national roads to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
605. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide funding for the extending of the access road at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25809/17]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in Kerry is the statutory responsibility of Kerry County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' 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.
I announced the 2017 regional and load road allocations in January this year of which Kerry County Council received €15.2m. All grant funding for 2017 has now been allocated.
The management of National Parks, including the development and maintenance of access routes, is a matter for the National Parks and Wildlife Service, which is part of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and are a matter for my colleague Minister Humphreys.
606. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the design and upgrade of the N63 from the Abbeyknockmoy health centre to the monastery gates includes a road side boundary with a double wooden fence and a hawthorn hedge in the centre as previously carried in section B during the recent upgrade of the N63 at Abbeyknockmoy; if the same criteria apply for sections A and C; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25831/17]
View answer607. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans regarding the upgrade of the N63 from the Abbeyknockmoy health centre to the monastery gates; if the current location of the 80 mm diameter group water scheme pipe and the transfer connections to the 350 mm and 400 mm have been taken into account; his further plans to deal with this issue; if he has liaised with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and the residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25832/17]
View answer608. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a compulsory purchase order overrules a way or lea in circumstances in which a privately owned group water scheme with a pipe in the fields for low maintenance and easy access is now being transferred to the middle of the road as part of the upgrade of the N63 at Abbeyknockmoy, with no access for the local group water scheme to the pipe for either maintaining or to give a connection to a new house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25833/17]
View answer609. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has made contact with Irish Water with a view to taking over a group water scheme (details supplied) as part of the upgrade of the N63 at Abbeyknockmoy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25834/17]
View answer610. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has allocated funding for the removal of stone walls which form part of the stretch of the N63 from the Abbeyknockmoy Health Centre to Monastery gates; the compensation to landowners for the removal of same, as previously paid in section B which was €200 per meter, in view of the fact that there are cases in which the same persons were paid for section B and are awaiting confirmation for section A and C; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25835/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 606 to 610, inclusive, together.
As 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 operation of individual road projects (including the N63) 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.
611. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for such a long delay in reforming the public service vehicle process to bring it under the remit of the RSA (details supplied); and the expected date for completion of same. [25852/17]
View answerAs the Deputy has mentioned, an undertaking was made by the previous Minister to conduct a reform of the Large Public Service Vehicle (LPSV) regime. Issues relating to the process have been the subject of discussion and consultation among key State agencies and my Department since 2015. However, while it has not been possible to conclude this matter in the meantime, some progress has been made and I remain fully committed to the reform of the public service vehicle licensing regime.
A Working Group is to be established in the coming weeks to formalise the cooperation between my Department and the various State agencies. Nominations have been sought to this Group and an inaugural meeting is expected to be held in early June.
The Working Group will deliver LPSV licensing reform through an agreed work programme, which will be guided by the outcome of a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA). The draft RIA will be the subject of consultation later this year and views will be sought from a number of key stakeholders on the policy options. I expect the vast majority of policy options will necessitate primary legislation, which will be developed subsequent to the consultation on the RIA.
612. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Irish Aviation Authority has a remit in respect of the financial aspects of pilot training colleges; if amendments to this remit are expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25866/17]
View answer613. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration has been given to introducing a bond for pilot training colleges; if so, the outcome; the reason a bonded system not been introduced; if reports were complied; if so, if they have been published; if not, if he will publish them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25867/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 612 and 613 together.
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is responsible for the safety oversight of registered pilot training colleges, including the standard of the training being delivered and the conduct of examinations and flight tests. The IAA does not have a role regarding the financial viability of a company or the contractual arrangements between pilot training centres and their clients. There are no current plans to amend the IAA's remit in this regard.
In relation to bonds, in light of difficulties experienced in Ireland - as in some other EU Member States - I am advised that my Department and the IAA gave consideration to the possibility of a bonding scheme for flight training schools. It was found that introducing such a requirement would, on balance, be more likely to undermine the overall provision of flight training services in Ireland by increasing costs in the sector and, as such requirements are not imposed in other jurisdictions, if introduced in Ireland it would likely dissuade schools from remaining or setting up in Ireland.
It is important to note that work is ongoing through the National Civil Aviation Development Forum, which brings State agencies, industry players and relevant departments together, to identify, devise and implement measures to make the pilot training sector more competitive, including ways to potentially reduce the cost base for providing and undergoing flight training in Ireland.
614. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the guidelines for the filling of State board vacancies which fall under the remit of his Department. [25962/17]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is published on my Department's website at the following link http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/state-board-membership-and-approved-fees
615. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will make a statement regarding the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 54 of 10 May 2017, in which he stated that he would be happy to request that the Dublin Airport Authority meet with community representatives from the FORUM organisation in the context that he had previously stated on March 21 2017, that such action would be undertaken and such a meeting set up, with particular reference to the fact that the FORUM group seek to be involved in the collaboration process prior to the initiation of the IAA as a competent authority dealing with the implementation of EU Regulation 598/2014. [25963/17]
View answerI wish to clarify that I had previously committed to request the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), when established as the designated Competent Authority under Statutory Instrument, to meet with community representatives. In the context of that commitment, I have not referred to the Dublin Airport Authority (daa) as the Deputy suggests.
As I have previously stated, I have informed the IAA of this commitment and that the meeting should take place as soon as the IAA is designated the Competent Authority.
I also wish to reiterate that the IAA will be the only designated Authority to implement the rules and procedures, which are already set down in EU Regulation 598/14, relating to the management of noise at Dublin airport. While I am committed to ensuring that community representatives are consulted before any final decisions are made on noise management, it is not intended that the IAA shall initiate collaboration with community representatives prior to this matter coming under their remit statutorily.
616. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the terms of the redundancy agreement that was negotiated with Bus Éireann workers in view of the recent dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26009/17]
View answerThe Deputy is aware that Bus Éireann employees have accepted the recent Labour Court Recommendation. The Recommendation is available to view on www.lrc.ie.
In relation to the issue of voluntary redundancy, the Recommendation states that the terms of any such scheme will be at the existing terms as previously applied within the Company.
Implementation of the Labour Court Recommendation is a matter for Bus Éireann in discussion with its employees and their trade unions.
617. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of all funding that has been allocated to an initiative (details supplied) in 2016 and 2017; and the competition by which they were allocated. [26034/17]
View answerDetails of Greenway projects which received funding from my Department in 2016 and 2017 are set out in the table.
The last competitive funding call under the National Cycle Network funding programme was in 2014 and covered the period 2014-2016. Three projects - in Waterford, Kerry and Galway - were awarded funding under this process. In mid-2016, it became clear that the projects in Galway and Kerry would not be in a position to fully draw down the grants awarded due to the challenges experienced by the local authorities in delivering these projects so a decision was taken to reallocate this funding to other 'shovel ready' projects that would be in a position to draw down the funding in 2016. A similar situation has arisen in 2017. The projects to which funding has been awarded in this context include sections of the Galway to Dublin Greenway in Kildare, Meath and Westmeath as well as a project in Longford and the Waterford Greenway.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government commits to providing additional capital funding for various tourism projects, including greenways and I will be seeking to deliver this additional funding in the context of the mid-term review of the Capital Plan which is under way. It is intended that any new funding calls for greenways would only occur after the present mid-term review of the Capital Plan is complete and there is clarity on the funding that will be available for greenways for the remaining years of the capital plan.
In anticipation of this, and taking account of the experience in the development of greenways to date, my Department is developing a new Strategy to underpin the future development and funding of greenways. I recently launched a public consultation process to inform the development of the new Strategy. A public consultation paper is available on my Department's website and all interested parties are invited to make submissions by 14 July, 2017.
|
Local Authority |
Project |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Meath |
Meath section of Galway to Dublin Greenway |
*458,512 |
2,463,014 |
|
Kildare |
Kildare section of Galway to Dublin Greenway |
841,673 |
2,107,271 |
|
Longford |
Abbeyshrule to Ballymahon Greenway |
513,000 |
|
|
Westmeath |
Garrycastle to Whitegates Greenway |
496,187 |
80,270 |
|
Waterford |
Waterford Greenway - completion of works. |
1,600,000 |
*amount drawn down in 2016 from €1,971,000 allocation - remainder of which is included in 2017 allocation
618. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the organisation with responsibility for the regulation of robotic milking machines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25725/17]
View answerRobotic milking machines fall within the definition of a machine under Directive 2006/42/EC of 17 May 2006 on machinery. This Directive contains provisions for the protection of persons and, in respect of machinery for foodstuffs, contains provisions related to avoiding the risk of infection, sickness or contagion. The provisions of this Directive have been transposed into law by the European Communities (Machinery) Regulations 2008 (S.I. No. 407 of 2008) "The Machinery Regulations".
The Machinery Regulations name the Health and Safety Authority as the competent authority, this includes responsibility for market surveillance. This responsibility includes the monitoring of all aspects of the process of making the products available on the market in Ireland. The Regulations also provide the competent authority with extensive enforcement powers and penalties to be imposed for any failures in compliance.
619. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if a robotic milking machine manufacturer (details supplied) is governed by any regulation by her Department. [25726/17]
View answerRobotic milking machines fall within the definition of a machine under Directive 2006/42/EC of 17 May 2006 on machinery. This Directive contains provisions for the protection of persons and, in respect of machinery for foodstuffs, contains provisions related to avoiding the risk of infection, sickness or contagion. The provisions of this Directive have been transposed into law by the European Communities (Machinery) Regulations 2008 (S.I. No. 407 of 2008).
These Regulations set out the responsibilities on manufacturers, importers and distributors in making machines available on the single market and first putting into use. The market surveillance authority in respect of these Regulations is the Health and Safety Authority (HSA). The HSA operates under the auspices of my Department.
620. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the complaints procedure open to purchasers of robotic milking machines. [25727/17]
View answerIn the context of a compliant relating to a purchase, robotic milking machines are treated in the same way as any other product.
When a consumer or purchaser is not satisfied with the product purchased, the first point of contact should be with the retailer or distributor with whom the purchases took place.
Should the purchaser continue to be unsatisfied the consumer protection mechanisms of the State are available. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission can be of assistance in relation to consumer rights regarding complaints about purchase http://www.consumerhelp.ie/.
Alternatively, if the purchaser considers that the manufacturer has made any false declarations in regard to the product, they can make a formal compliant to the market surveillance authority responsible which in the case of robotic milking machines is the Health and Safety Authority www.HSA.ie
621. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the detail of the complaints procedure open to purchasers of robotic milking machines. [25877/17]
View answerIn the context of a compliant relating to a purchase, robotic milking machines are treated in the same way as any other product.
When a consumer or purchaser is not satisfied with the product purchased, the first point of contact should be with the retailer or distributor with whom the purchases took place.
Should the purchaser continue to be unsatisfied the consumer protection mechanisms of the State are available. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission can be of assistance in relation to consumer rights regarding complaints about purchase http://www.consumerhelp.ie/.
Alternatively, if the purchaser considers that the manufacturer has made any false declarations in regard to the product, they can make a formal complaint to the market surveillance authority responsible which in the case of robotic milking machines is the Health and Safety Authority www.HSA.ie
