Written Answers Nos. 512-533
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Written Answers Nos. 512-533
512. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to outline the way in which the figure of €75 was determined in respect of the grant allocated to qualifying families under the pay-by-weight scheme; if this is the maximum grant figure; the detail of the consultation process taken or to be taken with relevant stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31439/17]
View answerFrom analysis conducted in consultation with the HSE, it was estimated that the average weight of used incontinence wear is 650 kg/annum (0.65 tonnes) per person with medical incontinence. I have indicated a support of €75 per person per annum for persons with long term or lifelong medical incontinence availing of a kerbside household waste collection. This is to cover the disposal cost of dealing with 650 kg per year of waste. Officials from my Department have engaged with stakeholder groups representing those with medical incontinence and the waste industry on the issue.
513. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to outline his views on the use of splash plates for slurry spreading in view of the national clean air strategy consultation. [31557/17]
View answerResearch shows that the spreading of slurry can, depending on the timing of the application and the weather conditions, result in nitrogen loss to the atmosphere through ammonia volatilisation. Besides being a pollutant in its own right, ammonia also reacts with other substances in the atmosphere to produce further pollutants such as particulate matter.
As Minister for the Environment, I am committed to examining ways of reducing pollution from all sectors. In this regard, my Department recently completed a public consultation process as an initial step in producing the first ever National Clean Air Strategy. This Strategy will provide the framework for a set of cross-Government policies and actions to reduce harmful emissions and improve air quality and public health to meet current and future EU and international obligations. A document entitled ‘Cleaning Our Air’ was published as part of this process which explored the impact of a number of sectors, including agriculture. The purpose of the document was to initiate discussion and ascertain the views of the various stakeholders while providing a background to the numerous approaches to improving air quality. To facilitate a structured response, a series of questions were set out at the end of each chapter. At the end of the chapter on the agricultural sector the question was posed ‘Should a future end date on the use of splash plate slurry spreading be considered following the completion of schemes to incentivise low emission alternatives?’ This question should not be construed as a ‘suggestion’ or indeed a policy intent either by myself or my Department. It was simply asked as an enabler to ascertain the views of relevant stakeholders but has been mistakenly taken, by some commentators, to reflect a policy proposal.
My officials are currently conducting a thorough examination of all submissions received through the consultation phase and are engaging in a series of detailed bilateral discussions to ascertain the views of the key stakeholders. I would stress that no changes to existing practices have been proposed at this point.
In the meantime, I understand that as a result of farmer demand to improve the utilisation of slurry as a fertiliser, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is assisting almost 950 farmers in the purchase of Low Emission Slurry Spreading equipment under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS). I also understand that more than 4,750 farmers have applied under the Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) to apply slurry using low emission equipment. In addition, the Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors of Ireland have recently also identified their support for this technology.
514. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to set down the number of civil servants in his Department who have requested a transfer to a location outside County Dublin; the number of civil servants in his Department who have requested a transfer from a location outside of Dublin into County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31775/17]
View answerI refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No.1799 of 20 June 2017. The position is unchanged.
515. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will introduce a system of licensing and regulating the use of horse-drawn vehicles (details supplied). [30927/17]
View answerWhile there is no licensing regime for drivers of animal-drawn vehicles comparable to the system of driver licensing for mechanically propelled vehicles, nor are animal-drawn vehicles subject to NCT-type tests, I have no plans at present to change the law in this regard.
However, the same traffic driving rules apply to horse drawn vehicles and their drivers as do to drivers of mechanically propelled vehicles and cyclists. Similarly, the same obligations to obey the rules of the road and to drive with care and consideration to other road users apply. Sections 52 and 53 of the Road Traffic Act of 1961 deals with the careless and dangerous driving of vehicles, while Section 51 specifically prohibits the driving of an animal drawn vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a drug.
The matter of licences for horse ownership, as well as the question of chipping animals, and animal welfare, fall within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
516. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to set out the status of the proposed Boyneside trail project that will run from Drogheda to east County Meath; his plans to progress and prioritise this project to boost tourism in the Drogheda and east County Meath areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31040/17]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the delivery of cycling infrastructure in the GDA in cooperation with the relevant local authority. Given the NTA's involvement in this project I am forwarding the Deputy's question to the NTA for comment and direct response to you. If you have not received a further reply within 10 working days please contact my office.
The Programme for Partnership Government commits to making additional funding available for greenways into the future and I am pursuing this in the context of the mid-term review of the Capital Plan. When the capital plan review is finalised and there is clarity on the totality of the funding that will be available for greenways in the coming years, my Department will issue further funding calls and local authorities would then be able to submit projects for funding.
My Department's advice to all local authorities wishing to progress greenway projects is to advance the planning and design elements to the greatest degree possible so as to be best placed in the event of future funding calls. Clarity on land ownership and access is also very important. The Deputy may be aware that I recently launched a public consultation process to inform the development of my Department's new Strategy for the future development of greenways. A public consultation paper is available on my Department's website http://www.dttas.ie/public-transport/publications/english/greenways. All interested parties are invited to make submissions by 14 July, 2017 and I would welcome your views as part of this process.
517. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a review of the effectiveness of road safety interventions and policy in regard to drink driving has been ordered or will be ordered following the revelation that enforcement metrics in this area, such as the numbers of drivers being breath-tested over several years, are not reliable or credible. [29943/17]
View answerIntoxicated driving is widely acknowledged as one of the major causes of road traffic collisions. There is plenty of evidence available for the scale of drink driving, quite independently of the figures for preliminary breath tests, to which the Deputy refers. RSA research, published in 2016, indicates that alcohol was a contributory factor in 38% of fatal collisions in the period 2008 to 2012. An Garda Síochána's six-week campaign during the last Christmas period resulted in 961 arrests for drink-driving, representing a 35% increase in arrests over the same period in 2015. This clearly illustrates that drink driving remains a significant road safety issue in Ireland that needs to be addressed urgently.
For these reasons I am bringing forward a Bill to Cabinet for approval next week, which will ensure that all those detected drink driving receive an automatic disqualification from driving. This means removing the privilege currently afforded to certain drivers of receiving penalty points as an alternative to disqualification under section 29 of the Road Traffic Act 2010.
Last November I began a mid-term review of the Road Safety Strategy 2013-2020 to examine the Strategy to ensure its effectiveness is maximised in combatting the causes of road fatalities and serious injuries. I expect to receive a draft of the review from the Road Safety Authority for my consideration shortly. I have increased the frequency of meetings of the Ministerial Committee on Road Safety, from twice yearly to every couple of months, with the next meeting later this month when I will again review our road safety interventions including regarding drink driving to ensure everything possible is done to reduce the incidences of deaths and serious injuries on our roads.
518. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to specify the body responsible for ensuring proper upgrading of navigational equipment on Coast Guard helicopters; and if these upgrades include information on all wind turbines here. [31336/17]
View answerFollowing a competitive tender process a contract agreement for search and rescue helicopters was signed in July 2010 between the then Minister for Transport and CHC Ireland DAC. These Helicopters respond to emergencies at sea, inland waterways, offshore islands and mountains. The helicopters are operated by CHC Ireland DAC and the fully qualified crews are employees of CHC Ireland DAC. The helicopter service contract commenced on 1 July 2012 for a period of 10 years.
The contract requires that CHC Ireland Ltd comply with all applicable Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), European Safety Agency (EASA), and International Civil Aviation organisation (ICAO) guidance, regulation, standards and recommended practises.
Officials from my Department have contacted CHC Ireland DAC and they have informed me that anybody who erects a wind turbine above a certain height must apply for planning permission through their local authority. The Local Authority inform the IAA who will then in turn add the information to their aviation maps. These updated maps are then uploaded (as software updates) onto the helicopter navigational systems used by helicopter operators such as CHC Ireland DAC.
519. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he last met with the UK Secretary of State for Transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30806/17]
View answerI met with Right Honorable Chris Grayling, Secretary of State for Transport at the Department for Transport Office in Westminster on 26 May last along with an Official from my Department.
The meeting was at my request and the purpose was to discuss issues common to both UK and Ireland in relation to Brexit. The meeting was informative and constructive and covered aviation, maritime, land transport and also the interdependencies of cross-border trade on the island of Ireland.
520. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the way in which his Department and the equivalent UK Department are liaising on Brexit matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30807/17]
View answerOfficials from my Department are in regular contact with their UK counterparts, in London and Northern Ireland, at sectoral level including on Brexit related matters.
In addition, the Secretary General of the Department, along with members of his Management Board and senior officials, met in London with their UK counterparts from the Department for Transport on 19 January 2017 specifically to discuss the transport implications of Brexit across all modes of transport. I also met with my counterpart Chris Grayling, the Secretary of State for Transport in the UK, on 26 May 2017 again to specifically discuss Brexit matters.
Late last year, I met with then Northern Ireland Minister for Infrastructure Chris Hazzard on 12 December 2016 concerning North South Ministerial Council matters and on Brexit matters.
521. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the traffic management measures he is taking to reduce and eliminate death and injury to cyclists in view of the unacceptable and tragic rise in such casualties in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30815/17]
View answerThe creation of a safer cycling environment is a priority for me and I share the Deputy's concerns regarding the figures this year.
Under the Sustainable Transport Measures Grants Programme, my Department provides funding to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for the seven local authorities in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) for the implementation of sustainable transport projects which includes safety, integration and traffic management projects as well as cycling and walking infrastructure throughout the region. A significant amount of on-road cycling facilities are also provided as part of the work on developing the bus network in the GDA.
The NTA also manages a similar sustainable transport grants programme under the Regional Cities Programme in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.
I am acutely aware of the need for more and better cycling infrastructure and I am seeking additional funding for cycling initiatives under the mid-term review of the Capital Plan.
However, infrastructure is only part of the solution. How all road users behave is also important. I understand from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) that the deaths of people cycling in recent years have been spread across urban and rural locations and on every type of road (National, Regional, Local). While we all are free to use the road safely, we also all have the responsibility to ensure that our driving or cycling does not impact on that. It is up to all road users to be attentive and the RSA have highlighted the dangers of distracted driving and the importance of passing cyclists at a reasonable distance.
I intend, with the RSA, to further highlight the need for all road users to take account of the vulnerability of cyclists in the coming weeks, as I am conscious that the numbers of people cycling generally peaks at this time of the year.
522. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the number of complaints or reports made to the National Transport Authority regarding rickshaws and rickshaw drivers in 2015, 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30820/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, complaints or reports made to a State agency, in this case the National Transport Authority (NTA), are a matter for that agency. I have therefore 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.
523. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider the provision of bus services or bus licences from provincial towns directly to the main universities in view of the extraordinary costs of rents facing students from the regions who are living in Dublin. [30834/17]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with the transport providers 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.
524. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the number of Bus Éireann journeys that have been cancelled in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the main reasons for this; the number of Bus Átha Cliath journeys that are cancelled each year; the main reasons for this; if substitute bus drivers are available in the event of drivers calling in sick; and the amount of sick days taken on average per driver. [30849/17]
View answerThe issues raised are matters for Bus Éireann and Bus Átha Cliath and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the Companies for direct reply.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive responses within ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
525. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline his views on whether it is appropriate for Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, to overrule local Garda advice on speed limits on stretches of road (details supplied) in view of the fact that local Garda advice is based on local knowledge of past accidents and the potential for future accidents; his plans to review the powers of TII to overrule both An Garda Síochána and local authorities in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30890/17]
View answerThe application of Special Speed Limits, i.e. speed limits other than the default speed limits, are provided for in Section 9 of the Road Traffic Act 2004, which gives local authorities the power to make bye-laws ("special speed limit bye-laws") in respect of any specified public road or specified part of a public road or specified carriageway or lane of a public road within its administrative area. Under the Act, local authorities are required to give notice to and consider representations from, any borough or town in the administrative county concerned and also the Garda Commissioner. The public must be informed by way of Press Notice in at least two daily newspapers.
The 2004 Act also states that a county council or city council shall not make bye-laws relating to a national road or a motorway without the prior written consent of the National Roads Authority (now Transport Infrastructure Ireland or TII).
The 2013 Speed Limits Review Group includes a wide range of representatives from relevant bodies such as, among others, the City and County Management Association, the Local Government Management Agency, TII, An Garda Síochána and officials of this Department. The report of the Representative Group which was accepted by the Minister suggested that, if anything, the role of TII in respect of speed limits on national roads should in certain circumstances be strengthened with a view to better managing and protecting the national road network from, among other things, inappropriate development. It should also be noted that TII maintain detailed records of traffic collisions, including fatalities and serious injuries, on the national road network and use them to identify where works are needed for safety reasons. It is therefore not appropriate to say that local Gardaí are better informed than TII regarding the safety of particular locations.
526. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the options and supports available to a person (details supplied). [30986/17]
View answerThe operation of the Driver Theory Test is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority.
If the Deputy checks the theory test website - www.theorytest.ie - she will find that there are various options to assist people with difficulties with the test. These include a voice-over option where a recording reads out the questions, additional time provided, and the provision of a Driver Theory Test staff member to read the questions and record the candidate's answer.
527. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has made an application for state aid exemption for runway works at Ireland West Airport Knock; the date it was submitted; the expected date for approval; and the details of the works. [31009/17]
View answerThe maximum level of grant aid that is permitted under the 2014 EU Guidelines on State aid to airports and airlines for capital projects at qualifying airports is 75% of the 'funding gap', i.e. the net present value of the difference between the positive and negative cash flows (including investment costs) over the lifetime of the project.
However, the EU Guidelines provide that, in certain limited circumstances, an aid rate exceeding 75% of the funding gap may be justified in exceptional circumstances for airports with traffic volume below 1 million passengers per annum. In such a scenario, the EU Commission have indicated that a business case, justifying the proposed higher aid rate, would have to be approved by them. Clearly, the EU Commission view any support above the 75% level as an exception, rather than the norm.
The airport authorities at Knock have indicated that, even at the maximum 75% level of capital support allowed for under the EU Guidelines, they believe that it will be difficult for them to finance the proposed project to upgrade and resurface the runway at the airport and they are seeking a 90% State aid contribution towards this project.
The final business case for this project that has been prepared by the airport authorities in Knock was received by my Department only last week and the relevant officials are currently engaging with their counterparts in the EU Commission as to how best to advance this application for approval for the higher funding rate.
528. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the additional state aid exemptions on infrastructure projects which the Government has sought. [31010/17]
View answerMy Department has notified the European Commission that Fáilte Ireland's Grants Scheme for Large Tourism Projects, which was launched on 8 June 2016, will be seeking state aid exemptions in respect of the scheme.
The scheme has a total fund of €65 million and runs from 2016-2021. The scheme seeks to avail of five categories under Commission Regulation (EU) No. 651/2014 of 17 June 2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the internal market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty (the "General Block Exemption Regulation").
The categories are:
- Regional Investment Aid;
- Culture and Heritage Conservation and Consultancy Aid in the Context of Culture and Heritage Conservation;
- Aid for Sport and Multi-Functional Leisure Facilities;
- Local Infrastructure Aid;
- Consultancy Aid to SMEs.
In May of this year the EU Commission announced amendments to the EU General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER). The revision of this Regulation was subject to two public consultations by the EU Commission with various stakeholders and Member States and Ireland participated in those consultations. The GBER Regulation exempts certain categories of State aid from the requirement of prior notification to the Commission, if these are unlikely to distort competition in the Single Market. The revisions will have limited impact for our regional airports since Ireland already received State-aid clearance from the EU Commission in 2015 for our current, five-year, Regional Airports Programme 2015-2019. However, one new concession (for airports that handle less than 200,000 passengers annually) in the revised GBER regime that would be relevant to the airports in Donegal and Waterford 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.
As I outlined in a separate reply today to the Deputy (Ref No: 31009/17), officials in my Department are also currently engaging with their counterparts in the EU Commission as to how best to advance an application by the authorities in Knock airport for approval for a 90% State aid contribution towards a project to upgrade and resurface the runway at the airport.
529. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has issued emergency funding to the Olympic Council of Ireland, OCI, in 2016 and to date in 2017 outside the normal allocation; if Sports Ireland has issued funding to the OCI in 2016 and to date in 2017 outside the normal allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31020/17]
View answerI have issued no such emergency funding for either 2016 or 2017.
Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport. This includes responsibility for the allocation of funding for the Olympic Council of Ireland.
As this is a matter for Sport Ireland, I have referred the Deputy's questions to Sport Ireland for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
530. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1843 of 20 June 2017, if he has considered the advice from the Attorney General regarding the report on the Olympic ticketing arrangements; the position regarding the 2017 funding arrangements from Sports Ireland to the Olympic Council of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31031/17]
View answerI expect to receive advice from the Office of the Attorney General in this matter at an early date, which I shall then consider as a matter of urgency. I will separately inform the Deputy once that advice is received.
In relation to the 2017 funding arrangements from Sport Ireland to the Olympic Council of Ireland, the position remains that the board of Sport Ireland intends to consider the funding allocation for 2017 once Judge Moran's report has been published. The timing of the publication of the Moran Inquiry report will be subject to consideration of the advice from the Office of the Attorney General.
While I am disposed to publication of this report at the earliest possible date, the matters concerned are complex. In the event that there is a protracted period before the report is published, the question of Sport Ireland funding to the Olympic Council of Ireland will be considered as a matter of urgency.
531. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the progress to date in advancing a greenway utilising sections of the disused Sligo and Leitrim and northern counties railway (SLNCR) route; the status of this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31071/17]
View answer532. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the position regarding the proposal to develop a greenway between Ballinamore, County Leitrim and Belturbet, County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31072/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 531 and 532 together.
Both Leitrim (with the support of Cavan) and Sligo County Councils submitted applications to my Department under the last tranche of the National Cycle Network (NCN) funding programme 2014-2016 for the construction of a greenway along the sections of the disused Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties (SLNCR) railway within their jurisdiction. Cavan County Council also submitted an application for the Ballinamore to Belturbet greenway along the Cavan to Leitrim Railway. Unfortunately these proposals did not secure funding at that time, due to the significant over-subscription for funding. Leitrim County Council were also unsuccessful in their application for funding under the INTERREG VA ERDF Programme.
The Programme for Partnership Government commits to making additional funding available for greenways into the future and I am pursuing this in the context of the mid-term review of the Capital Plan. When the capital plan review is finalised and there is clarity on the totality of the funding that will be available for greenways in the coming years, my Department will issue further funding calls and local authorities would then be able to submit projects for funding. My Department's advice to all local authorities wishing to progress greenway projects is to advance the planning and design elements to the greatest degree possible so as to be best placed in the event of future funding calls. Clarity on ownership of routes and agreement on access is also very important in this regard.
The Deputy may be aware that I recently launched a public consultation process to inform the development of my Department's new Strategy for the future development of greenways. A public consultation paper is available on my Department's website, http://www.dttas.ie/public-transport/publications/english/greenways. All interested parties are invited to make submissions by 14 July, 2017 and I would welcome your views as part of this process.
533. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the additional resources that will be provided to roll out further orbital bus routes around the greater Dublin area to improve connectivity between the outer suburbs and commuter towns in the greater Dublin region in addition to the routes that have been put out to tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31150/17]
View answer534. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the measures his Department proposes to fund in conjunction with the National Transport Authority to improve bus frequencies and express bus services from commuter towns into Dublin city centre to improve commute times for persons working in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31151/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 533 and 534 together.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) recently launched the BusConnects initiative which proposes a radical transformation of the bus system in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) that will involve, inter alia, the development of a network of 'next generation' bus corridors and a complete redesign of the network to be accompanied by a network of bus-based park and ride sites at strategic locations.
I am seeking additional funding for public transport investment in the mid-term review of the Capital Plan to support this initiative.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, 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 ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
