Written Answers Nos. 1549-1569
1549. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the existence of rail infrastructure, such as unused narrow gauge rail tracks, small locomotives and wagons, formerly used to transport peat on bogland; and if so, the scale of the unused rail infrastructure and the location of same. [37540/17]
View answerI have no responsibility for the rail infrastructure referred to by the Deputy. I understand that the rail infrastructure is operated by Bord na Móna which is under the remit of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
1550. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a local funding scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37566/17]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the local authority's 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.
Maintenance of private laneways/roads not taken in charge by local authorities is the responsibility of the landowners concerned. Due to the major cutbacks in roads funding it was necessary for my Department to cease making separate allocations to local authorities in respect of the LIS. The approved scheme remains intact and local authorities can use a proportion of their Discretionary Grant (15%) for LIS should they wish to do so.
While there is a modest increase in funding for roads this year, it will take some years yet under the Capital Plan to restore "steady state" funding levels for regional and local roads. The primary focus has to continue to be on the maintenance and renewal of public roads.
In light of the provision in the Programme for Government indicating that, as the economy recovers, the Government will promote increased funding for Local Improvement Schemes, I will review the scope for making a separate grant allocation once the planned Review of the Capital Plan is completed.
1551. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views regarding the recent decision of the Port of Cork to enter into a joint venture with a company (details supplied) to import liquefied natural gas extracted through fracking in the United States in view of the recent ban on fracking here due to of the serious environmental damage caused by same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37610/17]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have no involvement in the business operations of the commercial port companies. Commercial decisions made by the Port of Cork are a matter for the company.
I have been informed by the Port of Cork that it is not currently entering into a joint venture with any company to import liquefied natural gas (LNG). The Port of Cork has, however, confirmed that it has entered into a Non Disclosure Agreement with NextDecade, a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) development company focused on LNG export projects in Texas in the United States, to explore the feasibility of importing LNG through FSRU (Floating Storage and Regasification Unit) technology into Cork Harbour.
The NextDecade-Inisfree LNG Project in Cork Harbour is envisioned as being based around a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU). The terminal would be capable of offloading LNG from a large range of LNG vessels in current operation. If constructed, the Project would substantially increase and diversify Ireland’s supply of natural gas.
The Port has also stated that it is by no means certain that most or all of the Project’s LNG will come from North America, nor is it reasonable to assert that the US gas that is produced and exported comes from production based on fracking technology. The Cork Harbour LNG Project would be capable of sourcing LNG from multiple countries and sources.
This proposed NextDecade LNG project will provide an LNG refuelling and bunkering facility for ships at the Port of Cork in the future which would meet the requirement under the EC Alternative Fuels Directive for TEN-T ports. This facility would also be able to provide competitive bunkering to all Irish Ports.
1552. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to hold meetings with the Minister for Justice and Equality regarding reviewing eligibility for tourism visas in view of Brexit. [37663/17]
View answerEase of access is an important consideration for visitors from developing tourism markets. Tourism into Ireland has benefitted from initiatives such as the visa waiver scheme and the British Irish Visa Scheme. In respect of Brexit, one of the priorities from a tourism perspective is that joint visa arrangements with the UK are maintained. My Department has emphasised the importance of maintaining the existing arrangements at various formal inter-departmental groups and groups that include stakeholders from outside the public service. The visa arrangements matter has been discussed at the External Trade Council, the Cabinet Committee on BrExit, the BrExit Economy and Trade Work Group, the BrExit Common Travel Area Work Group as well as the Brexit Tourism Work Group. Officials from my Department and officials from the Department of Justice and Equality attend these fora.
As the Deputy is aware, eligibility for travel visas is the responsibility of the Minister for Justice and Equality. My officials are in regular contact with that Department in respect of visas from a tourism perspective. For example, in July, officials from my Department and Tourism Ireland attended a working group meeting on visas at the Department of Justice and Equality, with particular emphasis on visa arrangements for China. Further meetings of this Working Group are planned to discuss issues in respect of visas.
1553. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the discussions he has had with his European counterparts regarding the impacts of Brexit in the Border areas; and the date on which he met them. [37665/17]
View answerI have held a number of meetings with my EU and UK counterparts and the European Commissioner for Transport in relation to Brexit and the border. These meetings were very useful in promoting an understanding of transport Brexit-related implications for Ireland, including the impacts of Brexit on the border areas and the details are summarised below.
12/12/16 Minister Chris Hazzard,Minister for Infrastructure Northern Ireland Executive NSMC matters and Brexit, including also the interdependencies of cross-border trade on the island of Ireland.
04/04/17 Prof. Péter Balázs European Coordinator for the North Sea Med Corridor Connecting Europe Facility Core Corridor EU: European Commission Implications of Brexit on TEN-T (including border)
25/05/17 Minister Anna Johansson Minister for Infrastructure Sweden: Brexit, Road safety
26/05/17 Rt. Hon. Chris Grayling Secretary of State, Department for Transport: UK, Brexit
08/06/17 Commissioner Violeta Bulc European Commissioner for Transport EU: European Commission Brexit and European Issues
08/06/17 Jörg Leichtfried Minister for Transport, Innovation and Technology, Austria: Brexit and Road Safety.
1554. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the Government’s commitment to the A5 upgrade from Donegal, Derry, Tyrone and Monaghan as committed to in the St. Andrews Agreement; the progress made by his Department in the past year on this key infrastructure project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37666/17]
View answerThe planning and implementation of the A5 project is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland authorities.
The Stormont House Agreement and Implementation Plan - A Fresh Start - sets out the Government's commitment to contribute £75 million to ensure that Phase 1 of the project (Newbuildings to north of Strabane) can commence as soon as the necessary planning process in the North has been concluded.
1555. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the N2 Clontibret to the Border road scheme which is essential in view of the commitment to advance the A5 upgrade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37667/17]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects (such as the N2) is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for TII in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act. 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.
1556. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of illness-related absences there have been in Bus Éireann in the Cavan, Monaghan and north Meath area in the past year. [37668/17]
View answerThe issue raised is an operational matter for Bus Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
1557. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation to Sport Ireland in 2016 and 2017; and the distribution of Sport Ireland funding to sports bodies in receipt of Sport Ireland funding in the same period, in tabular form. [37669/17]
View answerThe Current Funding allocation to Sport Ireland (including Dormant Accounts current funding) in 2016 and 2017 is as follows:
2016: €50.968m
2017: €53.835m
Sport Ireland is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport. This includes responsibility for the allocation of funding to the National Governing Bodies of sport. I have therefore referred this aspect of the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
1558. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation to Tourism Ireland in each of the years 2011 to 2016; the allocation for 2017; and the intended allocation for 2018. [37670/17]
View answerThe breakdown of the total Exchequer provision for tourism services, including Tourism Ireland, from my Department's vote, is available in the annual Revised Estimates Volume (REV) for Public Services, which is published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and available on that Department's website. Funding for 2018 is the subject of the annual estimates discussion with the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform and will be confirmed in the REV for 2018.
1559. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding expended on the local improvement scheme programme on an annual basis in each of the years 2010 to 2016; the associated number of projects supported in each of those years; the average payment made in each of those years; and the allocation for 2017. [37671/17]
View answerDue to the major cutbacks in roads funding arising from the financial crisis, it was necessary for my Department to cease making separate allocations to local authorities from 2012 in respect of the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS). Details of the allocations in respect of LIS made to local authorities for 2010 and 2011 are set out in the following table. The management of the Scheme, including the selection of projects for funding, is a matter for each local authority.
|
Year |
Total LIS Allocation |
|
2010 |
€4,904,338 |
|
2011 |
€4,808,855 |
No monies were provided by the Department for LIS in 2012.
Since 2013, while there is no separate allocation for LIS, the allocation of funding for LIS has been devolved to local authorities, who can use a proportion of their Discretionary grant funding for LIS should they wish to do so. The allowable proportion of Discretionary Grant was 7% in 2013 and this was increased to 15% from 2014 onwards.
Details of the regional and local road grant payments to County Councils in the period 2010-2016 are outlined in the regional and local road grant payment booklets which are available in the Dáil Library. Details of the 2017 regional and local road grant allocations to each County Council are also available in the Dáil library.
In light of the provision in the Programme for Government indicating that, as the economy recovers, the Government will promote increased funding for Community Involvement and Local Improvement Schemes, I will review the scope for making a separate grant allocation once the planned Review of the Capital Plan is completed.
1560. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation for the upgrade and maintenance of regional and secondary roads in each of the years 2006 to 2017. [37672/17]
View answerThe regional and local road grant allocations and payments made to local authorities in the period 2006 to 2016 are included in the allocation and payment booklets available to Deputies in the Dáil library. The 2017 allocation booklet is also included.
1561. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the annual allocation for public cycle lanes in each of the years 2006 to 2017; and the details of maintenance on existing cycle lanes and expenditure on new cycle lanes for each of those years. [37673/17]
View answerThe numbers cycling have increased year on year, with the recent Census showing a 43% increase in the numbers cycling to work.
I believe that the time has come for a step change in the level of investment in cycling infrastructure, as this will allow us to further increase the numbers cycling thereby easing congestion, improving public health and enhancing the liveability of our cities.
To achieve this, I will be proposing a significant package of increased investment in cycling infrastructure, to be targeted primarily on investment in segregated radial routes in the GDA and the Regional Cities. The package, if approved, will have a transformative effect on our cities over the next five years.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities for the administration of the Sustainable Transport Management Grant and Regional Cities Programmes, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply in relation to funding provided for cycling under those programmes. In relation to the funding provided directly by my Department for cycling under the Smarter Travel Programme, the information requested by the Deputy is being collated at present and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. If the Deputy does not receive a full response within 10 working days, please contact my private office.
1562. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the public service obligation in each of the years 2011 to 2017; and the intended allocation for 2018, in tabular form. [37675/17]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware the allocation for Public Service Obligation (PSO) public transport services is subject to the annual Budgetary process and as such future allocations are yet to be determined. I will of course be engaging with my Ministerial colleagues as Budget 2018 is developed and the PSO subvention programme will obviously form part of that engagement.
Since 2010 the award and subvention of PSO contracts falls under the independent statutory remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA), which has direct responsibility for this area along with the routes covered. The NTA publishes details of PSO subsidy levels through its statistical bulletins available on its website www.nationaltransport.ie
In addition, the issue of PSO funding for public transport was selected this year by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as part of its Spending Review analysis of priority areas of expenditure. The published paper contains details of PSO subsidy levels since 2001 and is available to view at http://www.per.gov.ie/en/spending-review/
1563. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the public service obligation in each of the years 2011 to 2017 for CIÉ recipients, Dublin Bus, Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann, in tabular form; and the intended allocation for 2018. [37676/17]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware the allocation for Public Service Obligation (PSO) public transport services is subject to the annual Budgetary process and as such future allocations are yet to be determined. I will of course be engaging with my Ministerial colleagues as Budget 2018 is developed and the PSO subvention programme will obviously form part of that engagement.
Since 2010 the award and subvention of PSO contracts falls under the independent statutory remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA), which has direct responsibility for this area along with the routes covered. The amount of PSO subsidy awarded to each operator is comprehensively detailed in the NTA's Statistical Bulletin Number 02/2017 entitled Bus and Rail Statistics for Ireland – State Funded Services which is available to view on their website www.nationaltransport.ie
1564. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the Exchequer funding provided to the GAA in each of the years 2008 to 2017, inclusive. [37677/17]
View answer1565. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the Exchequer funding provided to the FAI in each of the years 2008 to 2017, inclusive. [37678/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1564 and 1565 together.
Sport Ireland replaced the Irish Sports Council and the National Sport Campus Development Authority on 1 Oct 2015. Sport Ireland (and previously the Irish Sports Council) is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport and the allocation of grant funding to National Governing Bodies of Sport, including the FAI and the GAA. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct response. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
In addition, both the FAI and the GAA would have benefitted from funding under the Sports Capital Programme for the period in question. Details of all allocations and grant payments under the Sports Capital Programme are available on my Department’s website. Payments made in 2017 will be published early in the new year.
1566. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation made to the sports capital grant scheme in each of the years 2008 to 2017, inclusive; the details of the distribution and associated allocation to sports bodies in 2016 and 2017. [37679/17]
View answerDetails of all of the allocations and payments under the Sports Capital Programme for the period referred to by the Deputy are published on the Department's website: http://www.dttas.ie/sport/english/sports-capital-programme-awards-new
1567. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the renewal of driver licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37682/17]
View answerThere is no policy change involved.
When the National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) was introduced in 2013, it was intended that an online renewal system would be available within 12 to 18 months. It would then have followed that people who had already had their photo captured at an NDLS centre would not need to appear in person at a centre again.
The online application will now be introduced next year in two phases, with the first targeted for March 2018.
Driving licences are issued for periods of 10 years, 5 years, 3 years, or 1 year. A person who had their photo captured at an NDLS centre for a 10- or 5-year licence will not come up for renewal before the online system is available (the NDLS centres went live in October 2013). I understand from the RSA that there is a postal renewal facility for people who have a 1-year licence, but that regretfully there are logistical difficulties with extending this to people with a 3-year licence, the period to which the Deputy refers.
1568. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a crash barrier on a dangerous section of the road (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37700/17]
View answerI understand that the section of road referred to by the Deputy is at a junction on the N22.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This also applies to the maintenance and management of national roads. 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.
1569. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the date the sports capital grant funding will be announced. [37765/17]
View answerThe 2017 round of the Sports Capital Programme closed for applications on the 24th February. By the closing date, a record number of 2,320 applications seeking €155 million in grants were received. The total amount currently available to allocate under this round is €30 million. Accordingly, the allocation of grants will be particularly challenging.
All of the 2,320 applications received are currently being assessed by officials in my Department. I expect that an announcement regarding allocations will be made in the coming weeks.
