Written Answers Nos. 1374-1394
1374. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the timeframe for the publication of the Moran inquiry report; if he has met with the Attorney General on this matter in June to date in 2017; if this report will be published before September 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35862/17]
View answerI wish to confirm that I have now received advice on this matter from the Office of the Attorney General.
In relation to the publication of the Moran inquiry report, as I have previously indicated in this House, the timing of its publication will be subject to my consideration of the matter, including the advice now to hand from the Office of the Attorney General, which I expect to complete imminently.
I have also previously stated that I want to be in a position to publish the report as soon as possible. It would be my hope and expectation that this will occur before September 2017.
1375. Deputy Maria Bailey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the 23% VAT rate reduction on the M50 toll charge which was introduced in April 2017 will be passed on to motorists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35886/17]
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 (TII, 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).
Resulting from a Decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union, VAT on tolls charged by TII was abolished. This was implemented by TII with effect from 1 April 2017. Prior to that date the position with regard to VAT on tolls was that TII absorbed the imposition of VAT within the pre-existing toll charge. By that I mean VAT was shown as part of the total toll charge. From 1 April 2017, the toll charge will no longer show a VAT element. There has been no variation in the overall toll cost since 2010.
1376. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the bus service for the Lusk area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35939/17]
View answer1377. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the bus service for the Donabate and Portrane areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35940/17]
View answer1378. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the bus service for the Skerries area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35941/17]
View answer1379. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the bus service for the Malahide area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35942/17]
View answer1380. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the bus service for the Swords area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35943/17]
View answer1381. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the bus service for the Balbriggan area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35944/17]
View answer1382. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the bus service for the Rush area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35945/17]
View answer1383. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the bus service for the Portmarnock area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35946/17]
View answer1384. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the bus service for the Kinsealy area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35947/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1376 to 1384, inclusive, together.
The issues raised are matters for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with the relevant transport providers and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if a response is not received within ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
1385. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the planning for the extension of the DART to Balbriggan, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35976/17]
View answerThe National Transport Authority's (NTA) 'Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035', which was approved and published in 2016, proposes implementation of the DART Expansion Programme which will provide DART services as far north as Drogheda, to Hazelhatch on the Kildare Line and to Maynooth in the west and to the M3 Parkway.
Almost €70m has been allocated under the existing Capital Plan for some elements of the DART Expansion Programme. Funding is included for the extension to Balbriggan on the Northern line; progress of design and planning for Expansion of DART to Maynooth and Hazelhatch; and for work on the redesign of the tunnel.
The NTA in collaboration with Irish Rail has commenced work on the pre-planning stages of the DART Expansion Programme. A project team has been established and will develop a programme of work that can be delivered on an incremental basis in line with available funding.
Subject to availability of funding and approval of the detailed business case for the project, it is envisaged that the extension of the DART to Balbriggan would commence in 2020.
1386. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the provision of metro north from Dublin city centre to Lissenhall and Swords in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35977/17]
View answer1416. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the construction of metro north will commence; the timeframe for construction; the target completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36587/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1386 and 1416 together.
Over the period to 2022, funding of over €700 million has been allocated under the Government's Capital Plan for planning, design and commencing construction of new Metro North. Funding in the initial years of the Capital Plan is for planning and design work with construction expected to commence in 2021 with a view to delivering the project by 2026/2027. The Programme for Partnership Government commits to proceeding with the New Metro North project.
The decision to proceed with new Metro North followed consideration of the Fingal/North Dublin Transport Study and the National Transport Authority's (NTA) recommendations on the study, which identified the light-rail link as the optimum long term public transport solution on the Swords/airport/city centre corridor. It is expected that the service will offer capacity for 9,900 passengers per hour per direction with the potential to expand services in the future if demand requires.
The NTA and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) have commenced preparatory work on the planning and design of new Metro North and a dedicated project Steering Group has been established which is meeting on a regular basis. The NTA, in collaboration with TII, is undertaking an option analysis and selection study of possible metro alignments and station locations. Arising from this work a final route and station configuration will be established. It is my understanding that the NTA and TII expect that this process will be complete by the end of 2017, after which a public consultation process will be undertaken in 2018.
1387. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the train service for Balbriggan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35981/17]
View answer1388. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the train service for Skerries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35982/17]
View answer1389. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the train service for Rush and Lusk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35983/17]
View answer1390. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the train service for Donabate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35984/17]
View answer1391. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the train service for Malahide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35985/17]
View answer1392. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the train service for Portmarnock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35986/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1387 to 1392, inclusive, together.
The issues raised are matters for the National Transport Authority (NTA), in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann, and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions 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.
1393. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to the delay in granting a tour operator licence to an airline carrier (details supplied), the steps that have been taken to inform persons on an individual basis regarding their proposed travel plans; the steps the company has taken to proceed with refunds to their customers; the way in which persons can obtain those refunds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36065/17]
View answer1394. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he expects the tour operator licence to be issued to a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36066/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1393 and 1394 together.
The Commission for Aviation Regulation was established under the Aviation Regulation Act 2001 to regulate certain aspects of the aviation and travel trade sectors in Ireland, and its functions include the licensing of tour operators and travel agents in accordance with the Transport (Tour Operators and Travel Agents) Act, 1982 as amended.
The matter therefore is the statutory responsibility of the Commission for Aviation Regulation. I have referred the Deputy's questions to the Commission for direct reply as regards the granting of a tour operator licence to an airline carrier (details supplied). I understand that the Commission were informed by the airline carrier that all customer refunds were completed.
Please advise my office if you have not received a reply from the Commission within 10 working days.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A.
Aer Southeast is not an airline. It does not hold an air carrier licence. Neither does it hold a Tour Operator Licence from the Commission for Aviation Regulation, which is the licensing authority in Ireland for air carriers, tour operators and travel agents. Pursuant to the Transport (Tour Operator and Travel Agents) Act, 1982, Irish companies are prohibited from trading as a tour operator or a travel agent without a licence. An important element of the travel trade licensing regime in Ireland is that licensed firms put in place a bond for the protection of passengers in the event of a collapse.When the Commission became aware that Aer Southeast intended to operate a new service, and in the knowledge that it did not hold the required licence, it issued a letter to Aer Southeast to cease trading and provided the company with the relevant application forms to apply for a Tour Operator Licence. As of 27 July 2017, the Commission has not received an application from Aer Southeast for any licence. Accordingly, there is no delay in issuing a licence as this company has never applied for one. The matter of informing customers and processing refunds is a matter for Aer Southeast itself. Given that customers have been dealing with an unlicensed entity refunds do not come within the remit of the Commission.
