Written Answers Nos. 185-204
186. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has satisfied himself that alternative energy production targets can be achieved on time in the course of future years with particular reference to the need to comply with international agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42190/17]
View answer187. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which his Department continues to plan to utilise existing natural resources and invest for the future in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42191/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 187 together.
The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive sets Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland is committed to achieving this target through 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heat and 10% of transport from renewable sources of energy, with the latter target also being legally binding. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, has calculated that 27.1% of electricity, 6.7% of heat and 5.0% of transport energy requirements were met from renewable sources at end 2016. Overall, SEAI analysis shows that 9.4% of Ireland’s energy requirements in 2016 were met from renewable sources. While good progress is being made, meeting our 2020 targets will be challenging.
The total amount of renewable generation connected to the grid is 3,400 MW approximately, of which 3,080 MW is wind generation. It is estimated that a total of between 3,900 MW and 4,300 MW of onshore renewable generation capacity will be required to allow Ireland to meet its 40% renewable electricity target. Given that we have 3,400 MW in place, we will need approximately a further 500 MW to 900 MW of additional renewable generation to meet our 2020 targets.
The Government has a range of policy measures and schemes in place or under development designed to stimulate further progress in the domestic renewable energy sector. These include the Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff, REFIT, schemes for the electricity sector and the Biofuel Obligation Scheme in the transport sector. These schemes have proved successful at incentivising large-scale investment in the renewable industry in recent years.
My Department is also currently developing a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme, RESS, and a Renewable Heat Incentive, RHI, Scheme, designed to encourage further investment in the renewable electricity and heat sectors, respectively. A public consultation on the design principles of the proposed new RESS is currently underway and submissions are invited from the public. The introduction of any schemes - including the overall costs and technologies to be supported - are subject to Government approval and State Aid clearance from the European Commission.
In the transport sector, Ireland aims to meet its renewable target mainly through the increased use of sustainable biofuels, with electric vehicles also making a small contribution. The Biofuels Obligation Scheme, BOS, was increased from 6% to 8% by volume from 1 January 2017. A public consultation on future increases to the Biofuel Obligation Scheme, required to meet the 2020 renewable transport target will take place later this year.
188. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which reliance on landfill waste disposal facilities continues to be monitored with particular reference to the utilisation of best practice in terms of reduce, reuse, recycle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42192/17]
View answerEuropean, national and regional waste policy are all predicated on the management of waste in line with the waste hierarchy, whereby the prevention, preparation for re-use, recycling and other recovery of waste are preferred (in that order) to the disposal of waste. Collectors of waste must conduct their activities in accordance with the relevant legislation and the conditions of their waste collection permits which require that waste is managed in line with the waste hierarchy. Enforcement of waste collection permit conditions is a matter for the relevant local authority.
Waste Management planning, including infrastructure provision, is the responsibility of local authorities under Part II of the Waste Management Act, 1996. The three Waste Management Planning Lead Authorities monitor on an ongoing basis the generation and management nationally of municipal solid waste and other waste streams. Under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act 1996, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance, in specific cases, by a local authority of their statutory functions under the Act.
The Government's policy of increasing the landfill levy to its current level of €75 per tonne has provided a real financial incentive for operators to divert as much material as possible from being disposed of at landfill. The application of this economic instrument has ensured that it is in the financial interest of collectors, who are competing for market share, to encourage effective recycling in an effort to minimise costs for operators and customers alike.
The success of the above policy and legislative measures to encourage waste prevention, preparation for re-use, recycling and other recovery has meant that more waste can be put to environmentally sustainable and productive use as opposed to being buried in the ground. The statistics show that we have come a long way in a relatively short period of time in terms of improving our recycling rates. In this regard, National Waste Statistics - Reports and Bulletins, are available to download at:http://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/waste/stats/, including the recently published table on, Progress towards EU waste recycling, recovery and diversion targets.
My role as Minister is to provide a comprehensive legislative and waste policy framework through which the relevant regulatory bodies, such as the local authorities and the Environmental Protection Agency, operate. The waste collection system is subject to a number of regulatory controls, including the Waste Management Act, 1996, as amended and the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations, 2007, S.I. No. 820 of 2007, as amended. In the interest of encouraging further waste prevention, flat-rate fees for kerbside household waste collection will be phased out over the period autumn 2017 to autumn 2018, as customers contracts come up for renewal. It is worth noting that the measure to phase out flat fees is not "new" for about half of kerbside household waste customers, who are already on an incentivised usage pricing plan, i.e., a plan which contains a per-lift or weight-related fee.
To assist householders in managing their waste, the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices commenced a programme of education and awareness, funded by my Department, earlier this year, with radio advertisements encouraging the use of the brown bin and focusing on food waste prevention. This was backed up with social media campaigns to further encourage the use of the brown bin. The Regional Waste Management Planning Offices will continue to roll out waste awareness and education initiatives this year, re-focussing on the use of the brown bin, but also concentrating on improving and increasing recycling, waste prevention and the correct use of the kerbside collection system. My Department is also undertaking an awareness campaign to inform people about the phase out of flat rate fees, which began during the summer and will continue this year.
189. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, on a matter (details supplied) regarding the Kilcornan traffic calming scheme. [42032/17]
View answerAs 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 the Deputy does not receive a reply within ten working days.
190. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost of issuing a motor tax certificate for those that apply online; the cost of an over the counter application; if this is comparative to the extra cost which is applied to those that tax their vehicles quarterly and six monthly compared to yearly; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42016/17]
View answerMotor tax can be paid on an annual, half-yearly or quarterly basis. The rates of duty for half-yearly and quarterly motor tax are set at a higher rate than a pro-rata proportion of the annual rate of duty. The differential takes account of the extra workload for staff in motor tax offices and my own Department, which operates the online motor tax system, as well as the resultant administrative, banking and printing costs that arise, including the issuing of renewal notices. Each quarterly renewal of motor tax follows the same administrative procedure as the annual renewal process. Consequently, renewing on a quarterly basis generates four times the workload of an annual renewal for the equivalent period.
While motor tax policy is a matter for the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government, I understand, based on motor tax receipts in 2016, receipts from the surcharge associated with the half-yearly and quarterly options was €55.4 million, and accordingly the cost of abolishing the surcharge would be likely to be of that order in a full year. The loss of income that would arise from changing the current arrangements, whether at setting motor tax at a pro-rata rate or introducing a lower percentage additional charge, would have a negative impact on the total collected via motor tax and would have to be borne elsewhere in the motor tax system or through the taxation system generally. The basis of charging for half-yearly and quarterly discs is provided for in secondary legislation.
Data compiled by the Controller and Auditor General Report for a recent report on the, "Administration and Collection of Motor Tax", found that the average cost of a motor tax transaction in a motor tax office (over the counter) as being just over €10, and the cost of an online transaction being just under €5.
191. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is examining the capital expenditure needed to improve road infrastructure which would also include road safety measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42044/17]
View answerAs 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 national road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
In addition, the 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.
Investment priorities for the period to 2022 are set out in the Capital Plan published in September 2015. Decisions on the transport elements of the Capital Plan were framed by the conclusions reached in my Department’s Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport. Based on the findings in that report, it is envisaged that maintenance and renewal of the road network will continue to be the main priority and the bulk of the roads capital budget, approximately €4.4 billion, is earmarked for such essential work with the balance being spent on the PPP road programme and a limited number of road improvement projects.
As regards the allocation of additional funding as part of the Capital Plan Review, decisions on such allocations have yet to be made by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. As Minister, I have to work within the budget available to my Department.
192. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received a more detailed breakdown of the report from the Department of Justice and Equality on An Garda Síochána's report regarding the inflated breath test figures by district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42045/17]
View answerMy officials have received a copy of the report of the examination, carried out by Assistant Commissioner Michael O'Sullivan, of the recording of breath tests at Mandatory Alcohol/Intoxicant Testing, M.A.T./M.I.T., Checkpoints. I understand that the report contains a breakdown, by Region/Division in tabular form, of the number of MAT/MIT Checkpoints, the number of those Checkpoints on PULSE, the average duration (time) of each Checkpoint, the number of breath tests recorded on the roadside breath testing equipment (Drager) and so on. I also understand that a further breadown by district, as referred to by the Deputy, is not anticipated.
193. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Iompair, Turasóireachta agus Spóirt an bhfuil cinneadh déanta aige ar an iarratas atá déanta faoin Deontas Caipitil Spóirt do 2017 ag club iomartha i gContae na Gaillimhe (sonraí tugtha); mura bhfuil, cén uair a bheidh cinneadh déanta ag an Aire agus cén uair a bheidh na deontais faoin Deontas Caipitil Spóirt do 2017 á bhfógairt aige; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [42051/17]
View answerDúnadh babhta 2017 den Chlár Caipitil Spóirt le haghaidh iarratais ar an 24 Feabhra agus is féidir liom a dhearbhú go bhfuil iarratas curtha isteach ag an eagraíocht atá i gceist. Fuarthas líon taifead de 2,320 iarratais a bhí ag lorg € 155 milliún i ndeontais. Is é an méid iomlán atá ar fáil faoi láthair le leithdháileadh faoin babhta seo ná € 30 milliún. Dá réir sin, beidh leithdháileadh na ndeontas dúshlánach.
Tá na 2,320 iarratas uile a fuarthas á scrúdú faoi láthair ag oifigigh i mo Roinn. Tá súil agam go mbeidh sé in ann fógra a dhéanamh maidir le leithroinnt sna seachtainí atá romhainn.
194. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when penalty points for drivers holding a mobile phone while driving will be increased as discussed during the Dáil Éireann debate on the Road Traffic Bill in December 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42059/17]
View answerUsing a mobile phone while driving is one of the four main causes of deaths on our roads, together with speeding, intoxicated driving, and non-wearing of seatbelts. My Department increased the number of penalty points for this offence from two to three on payment of a fixed charge (and to five on conviction) in 2014. The same year, a new offence was created which means that drivers detected texting while driving now face a mandatory court appearance and fine of up to €1,000, reflecting how dangerous this practice is.
My officials keep penalty points under constant review and I am willing to consider increasing the penalty points further for use of mobile phones and the other most serious killer behaviours on our roads.
However, given recent developments in technology, it is no longer quite as easy to define what behaviour falls within the parameters of the Act. Given the many different uses for phones and the various options for hands-free use of phones, a significant body of work is required to adequately legislate for this behaviour. While I am focused on progressing the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017 through the Houses of the Oireachtas, I have also asked my officials to commence work in this area with a view to progressing it in the context of the next Road Traffic Bill.
195. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if officials in his Department are working on the consolidation of the Road Traffic Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42060/17]
View answerThe consolidation of existing road traffic legislation is a significant project, requiring the allocation of resources specifically to deal with such a project over an estimated two- to three-year period. In light of the fact that my officials are currently working on a number of Bills, most of which are primarily focused on road safety, it is not possible to commence such a consolidation project at this time.
196. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding disqualified drivers returning their licences to the Road Safety Authority’s post office box in Cork in view of the fact that figures from the RSA revealed that 98% of disqualified drivers are not surrendering their licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42061/17]
View answerI am sure that the Deputy will agree with me that the key issue with disqualified drivers is that they should not drive while disqualified.
The figure the Deputy quotes is of course a matter of concern, and I have asked the Road Safety Authority to look into it. However, I do not believe that the non-return of licences, unacceptable and illegal though it is, is a central issue. It certainly cannot be interpreted as a proxy figure for numbers driving while disqualified. People could return their licences but still drive while disqualified, and people might retain the physical licence but not drive.
Enforcement of the law on driver disqualification is a matter for An Garda Síochána. In the past, the tools available in the law to address this matter may have been inadequate. However, the Road Traffic Act 2014 introduced a new power of arrest where a member of An Garda Síochána forms the opinion that a person is driving while disqualified. This is an important tool in addressing those who persist in driving in spite of disqualification.
197. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the proposed Boyneside cycle way trail project for Drogheda and east County Meath (details supplied); if the necessary funds will be made available to progress the project to boost tourism and physical activity in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42092/17]
View answerMy Department recently undertook a public consultation process to inform the development of a new Greenways Strategy. Meath County Council contributed to this process, highlighting the merit of progressing the project to which the Deputy refers. My officials are currently reviewing the many submissions received from both citizens and stakeholders, including the submission from Meath County Council. My Department is aiming to have the new Strategy completed by the end of the year. Following completion, it is expected that a new round of funding for greenway infrastructure will be announced, subject to the level of funding available.
Given the National Transport Authority’s, NTA's, responsibility for the provision of cycling infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area and the NTA’s involvement in this project to date, I am forwarding the Deputy’s question to the NTA for any additional comment and direct response to you. If the Deputy has not received a further reply within ten working days, please contact my office.
198. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the contracts awarded to a company (details supplied) by his Department and State agencies under his remit; the fees charged for each contract; the State agency involved in each contract; the nature of each contract in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42093/17]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is available on my Department's website at the following link: External Services. The information is updated every six months. Material is currently being collated for the period January 2017 to June 2017 and will be published as soon as this process is complete.
Information regarding agencies is a matter for the agencies themselves, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the agencies under my remit for direct response to the Deputy. If the Deputy does not hear back from them within ten working days, please don’t hesitate to contact my private office.
199. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 39 of 28 June 2017, the start date for the public consultation process that is to take place as part of the review of the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973. [42118/17]
View answerFurther to my response to the Deputy on 28 June, it is my intention that the public consultation process on the review of the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973 will be considered having regard to the outcome of an initial internal review of the Order.
I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has now commenced its internal review of the Order.
200. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to a letter sent by the UK Civil Aviation Authority to a company (details supplied) and the enforcement action launched against the same company by the UK CAA; and if he has queried with the IAA whether it has done or plans to do the same. [42119/17]
View answer205. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has issued an instruction to the Commission for Aviation Regulation to liaise with the civil aviation authority in the UK in respect of a Europe wide issue with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42176/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 205 together.
The Commission for Aviation Regulation, CAR, is the independent regulator for the enforcement of air passenger rights in Ireland, functioning as the national enforcement body for such matters.
I am aware that CAR has been working directly with Ryanair since the announcements of flight cancellations were made to ensure that the provisions of EU Regulation 261 of 2004 were correctly applied in respect of the passengers affected.
On Friday, 29 September, CAR announced that it has secured agreement from Ryanair that it will comply with the regulations and directly provide affected customers with the necessary information on refunds, rerouting, care and assistance and compensation. Ryanair has also issued a public statement explaining to customers how and when they will be re-accommodated on other Ryanair flights or other airline flights. It is understood that Ryanair has also committed to provide weekly updates to CAR on the number of passengers entitled to compensation and expenses, the number of claims submitted and the number of claims closed-out.
The Commission for Aviation Regulation is part of a close network of national enforcement bodies across the EU, including the Civil Aviation Authority, CAA, in UK. It is noted that Ryanair has recently replied to correspondence received from the UK CAA and has agreed to meet its requirement for customer clarification on Ryanair’s obligations under regulation 261, which are in line with those requested by the CAR.
201. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of an application by a club (details supplied) for a sports capital grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42172/17]
View answerThe 2017 round of the Sports Capital Programme closed for applications on 24 February, and I can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation referred to. 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 to be in a position to make an announcement regarding allocations in the coming weeks.
202. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of an application by a club (details supplied) for a sports capital grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42173/17]
View answerThe 2017 round of the Sports Capital Programme closed for applications on 24 February. By this deadline, no application had been submitted by the organisation referred to by the Deputy. 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 to be in a position to make an announcement regarding allocations in the coming weeks.
203. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of an application by a club (details supplied) for a sports capital grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42174/17]
View answerThe 2017 round of the Sports Capital Programme closed for applications on 24 February, and I can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation referred to. 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 to be in a position to make an announcement regarding allocations in the coming weeks.
204. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of an application by a club (details supplied) for a sports capital grant. [42175/17]
View answerThe 2017 round of the Sports Capital Programme closed for applications on 24 February, and I can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation referred to. 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 to be in a position to make an announcement regarding allocations in the coming weeks.
