Written Answers Nos. 1445 - 1465
1445. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the speed limit review will take place in County Kerry; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1650/18]
View answerWhile the Road Traffic Act 2004 sets default speed limits for various categories of roads, elected members of local authorities have statutory responsibility for deciding on and making appropriate Special Speed Limit bye-laws for roads within their administrative area, and in the case of national roads, subject to the consent of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).
To assist local authorities in the application of Special Speed Limits, my Department's updated Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland, which is available to all local authorities, reiterates the statutory responsibilities of elected members in relation to the making of such Special Speed Limit bye-laws, subject to following Department Guidelines.
Therefore, the undertaking of a speed limits review in County Kerry is a matter for Kerry County Council and the Council is the appropriate organisation to advise on progress in respect of any review.
1446. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress that has been made regarding the removal of overhanging trees to prevent further fatalities and serious injuries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1655/18]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993.
Works on regional and local roads are funded by local authorities' own resources supplemented by State grants. Within the overall resources available to it, the selection and prioritisation of works including the maintenance of road verges is a matter for each local authority.
Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993 sets out the responsibility of landowners to take all reasonable steps to ensure that trees, hedges and other vegetation growing on their land are not, or could not become, a danger to people using a public road or interfere with the safe use of a public road or the maintenance of a public road.
A local authority can serve notice requiring a landowner to take action to address a hazard. This section also allows the relevant road authority to step in where a landowner fails or is unable to take action to remedy a hazard and to seek recovery of reasonable costs from the landowner. This is, therefore, a matter for management between the landowner and the relevant local authority.
As Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the relevant local authority are responsible for maintenance of national roads, I have referred the Deputy's Question to TII for direct reply. If the Deputy does not receive a reply within 10 working days please advise my Office.
1447. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to initiate a programme to stop deer roaming roads to prevent further fatalities, serious injuries and damage to vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1656/18]
View answerManagement measures in relation to deer do not come under the remit of my Department or agencies.
Appropriate road signage, including hazard warning signs regarding deer or other wild animals, is the responsibility of the local authorities.
1448. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided to widen roadside margins and remove vegetation and roadside hedges to create a safe environment for pedestrians and cyclists and to prevent further fatalities and serious injuries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1659/18]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993.
Works on regional and local roads are funded by local authorities' own resources supplemented by State grants. Within the overall resources available to it, the selection and prioritisation of works including the maintenance of road verges is a matter for each local authority.
Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993 sets out the responsibility of landowners to take all reasonable steps to ensure that trees, hedges and other vegetation growing on their land are not, or could not become, a danger to people using a public road or interfere with the safe use of a public road or the maintenance of a public road.
A local authority can serve notice requiring a landowner to take action to address a hazard. This section also allows the relevant road authority to step in where a landowner fails or is unable to take action to remedy a hazard and to seek recovery of reasonable costs from the landowner. This is, therefore, a matter for management between the landowner and the relevant local authority.
As Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the relevant local authority are responsible for maintenance of national roads, I have referred the Deputy's Question to TII for direct reply. If the Deputy does not receive a reply within 10 working days please advise my Office.
1449. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to review the process for replacing a lost or stolen driving licence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1670/18]
View answerThe requirements for an application for a driving licence, including a duplicate licence for one which has been lost or stolen, are set out in regulations for which I am responsible.
The requirements for an application reflect the importance of the driving licence in itself and the wide use of driving licences as proof of identity, and are necessary to ensure that the person is who they claim to be and that all appropriate checks are made.
I have no plans to revise these regulations.
1450. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, or Irish Rail has responsibility for purchasing new train engines and carriages; the way in which the process of purchasing is conducted in the context of the capital plan spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1712/18]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the development and implementation of public transport and sustainable transport infrastructure. Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and Irish Rail each carry out the procurement for their own rail stock - including, as appropriate, trams, engines, railcars and carriages - subject to approval and funding for the investment from the NTA.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please advise my private office if the Deputy does not receive a reply within 10 working days.
1451. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of new train engines and carriages purchased in the past five years; the amount of stock that provided new and/or extended services; the number that replaced old stock; the anticipated delivery of new stock in 2018, 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1713/18]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, Iarnród Eireann operates the heavy rail network and is responsible for assessing rolling stock requirements for the heavy rail network in conjunction with the National Transport Authority.
Noting the responsibility of the agencies in this regard, I have referred the Deputy's question to Iarnród Éireann for direct reply on this issue. Please advise my office if the Deputy has not received a reply within 10 working days.
1452. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of capacity issues and/or deficiencies in service delivery identified by Irish Rail in 2016 and 2017; his plans to rectify the situation as outlined by Irish Rail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1725/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
Iarnród Éireann operates its services under a Public Service Obligation (PSO) arrangement with the National Transport Authority and receives funding from the NTA in respect of this PSO. The arrangements and the funding are governed by a Public Transport Contract between the NTA and the company. The contract sets strict standards of operational performance and customer service and contains penalties for non-performance. The NTA monitors the contracted performance of Iarnród Éireann on a quarterly basis. In light of this, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply as regards the matter of any capacity issues or deficiencies in service identified. Please advise my private office if the Deputy does not receive a reply within ten working days.
More generally, the Deputy will be aware of a report, known as the Rail Review, published by the NTA in 2016, which is a comprehensive analysis of issues facing the rail network, including the levels of funding required to support its maintenance and development.
Over 300 submissions were received by the NTA in response to a public consultation process about the Review, and following its examination of these, the NTA submitted a report of those submissions. When I have reviewed the NTA's report on the consultation process, and when the NTA has updated it to reflect the considerably increased funding that has since been made available for both current PSO subvention and, in particular, the Capital Plan 2018 to 2021, I intend to bring the NTA's document to Government for consideration and would expect that it would be published shortly thereafter by the NTA.
1453. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an appeal by an organisation (details supplied) will be approved in respect of the 2017 sports capital programme allocations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1726/18]
View answerWhen the 2017 Sports Capital Programme (SCP) was advertised, my Department issued a guide to filling out the application form which set out the minimum requirements that applicants had to meet to be considered for funding.
Applications were deemed invalid primarily for one or more of the following reasons:-
- Title/Access requirements of the SCP not satisfied
- Insufficient quotations/estimates submitted
- Evidence of own funding not provided in prescribed format.
All applicants have been informed of the outcome of the assessment of their application, including details of why applications were deemed invalid. Applicants were also offered the opportunity to appeal the Department's decision if they believed that an error was made in deeming their application invalid. The club referred to by the Deputy has lodged such an appeal which is currently under consideration.
Separately, my Department is undertaking a general review of all invalid applications including those where incorrect or incomplete documentation was submitted. Decisions in relation to how to address any successful appeals and improvements to further reduce the level of invalid applications under future rounds of the SCP will be taken once these reviews are complete.
1454. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the rationale for charging children over 16 years of age adult fares on public transport in some parts of the State while others in the greater Dublin area are charged a child's fare between 16 and 18 years of age for bus services; his plans to introduce a State-wide policy whereby all 16 to 18 year olds are charged a child's rate on public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1728/18]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for regulating fares charged by public transport operators. I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if the Deputy does not receive a response within ten working days.
1455. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if every operational local link service will continue to operate in 2018. [1732/18]
View answer1456. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of local link routes that are operational. [1733/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1455 and 1456 together.
My Department provides funding for the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) to the National Transport Authority (NTA) which has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including management of the RTP which now operates under the "Local Link" brand.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if the Deputy does not receive a response within 10 working days.
1457. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the development of the M11 service station at Ballyellen, Gorey, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1770/18]
View answer1458. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the expected date of opening of the M11 service station at Ballyellen, Gorey, County Wexford; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1771/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1457 and 1458 together.
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, including service areas, is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Noting the above, I have referred the Deputy's Questions to TII for direct reply. Please advise my Office if the Deputy does not receive a reply within 10 working days.
1459. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will place the regulation of rickshaws on a statutory footing. [1776/18]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, I asked the National Transport Authority (NTA) to conduct a public consultation on rickshaws, which concluded on 25 September 2017. A report on the consultation, along with recommendations from the NTA, are being considered by my Department as part of a process to develop a Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA). This will entail a detailed examination of all potential viable regulatory options for rickshaws.
I share many of the concerns that have been raised in relation to rickshaws, particularly from a public safety perspective. It is my intention, following completion of the RIA, to progress any legislative provisions deemed necessary to provide an appropriate modern regulatory framework for rickshaws.
1460. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions being considered in order to reduce greenhouse gasses; if companies will be allowed to reclaim VAT on petrol in addition to diesel in order to allow for the purchase of hybrid vehicles; if the Vehicle Registration Tax, VRT, grant for full hybrid vehicles will be extended beyond 31 December 2018; and if the possibility of implementing a free toll policy and the use of certain bus lanes for hybrid and electric vehicles will be investigated in view of the fact that transport was responsible for 19.8% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2015. [1795/18]
View answerThe Environmental Protection Agency estimates that transport emissions in 2016 were 20% of Ireland's total emissions, ranking third behind the Agriculture (32%) and EnergyIndustries (20.5%) sectors. Rising transport emissions are not unexpected given increased transport demand, linked to our increasing population and welcome return to economic growth. Although emission reduction targets are set at national - rather than sectoral - level, transport has a significant role in the mitigation effort, and the challenge is to reduce emissions without hindering economic recovery or social improvement.
We are decarbonising transport through: investing in public and sustainable transport to expand capacity and provide attractive alternatives to private car use where feasible; incentivising the transition from fossil fuels to alternative fuels and technologies; and making the conventional fuel mix more sustainable by incrementally increasing the blend ratio under the Biofuel Obligation Scheme. The suite of transport's emission mitigation measures - both in-use and under consideration - are described in the National Mitigation Plan at https://www.dccae.gov.ie/documents/National%20Mitigation%20Plan%202017.pdf .
Budget 2018 supported further progress on decarbonisation. I secured significant funding that can actively address the climate challenge, including investment of over €400m for public transport infrastructure in 2018 alone as part of a 4-year enhanced capital envelope for this area of some €2.7billion. It also includes over €100m for a new multi-annual investment in cycling and walking routes in urban areas to support greater uptake of active travel.
Following recent work of the Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) Taskforce - co-chaired by my Department and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment - Budget 2018 also had specific tax and expenditure measures showing Government’s support for a low-carbon, electric vehicle (EV) future; one notable such measure was a new, zero-rate benefit-in-kind arrangement for at least three years. Primary responsibility for grant support measures for EVs lies with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, while taxation incentives (including VAT and VRT) are primarily the responsibility of the Minister of Finance.
The LEV Taskforce is now examining the potential for road charging exceptions/reduced tolls for electric and hybrid vehicles. With funding under Budget 2018, I will be introducing some such incentives for EVs, and the design of the arrangements for this will reflect the Taskforce's recommendations when they emerge.
As regards extending bus lane access to EVs, I am informed that jurisdictions who have done this report mixed findings. I am concerned that such a measure would conflict with our broader public transport policy aims. Replacing private car use, where feasible, with greater bus use reduces both congestion and emissions. Ireland's investment in bus lanes is primarily justified because it makes bus travel faster, more reliable, efficient and attractive, thereby promoting modal shift onto public transport away from lower occupancy private cars. However, allowing additional vehicles to use bus lanes could undermine their efficiency for buses and detract from this objective, so at this stage it seems better to pursue transport emissions reduction and EV promotion through the range of other measures already indicated.
1461. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the proportion of employees in his Department or in organisations under its remit registered as disabled. [1865/18]
View answerThe Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is subject to specific legal obligations under the Disability Act 2005. Part 5 of the Act sets out a requirement for public service bodies to meet a target of 3% of employees with disabilities each year.
The National Disability Authority (NDA) reports on compliance with this 3% target. In the last report submitted by my Department to the NDA in March 2017, the total number of employees with a disclosed disability as at 31st December 2016 was 21. This represented 4.32% of the total workforce. Staff in the Department provide this information on a voluntary disclosure basis and do not provide details as to whether or not they are registered disabled with the relevant representative disability organisation/agency.
In regard to organisations under the remit of my Department, the information requested by the Deputy is a matter for the Agencies themselves, however I have forwarded the Deputy’s question to them for their direct response. If the Deputy does not receive a reply within 10 working days please contact my private office.
1462. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the timeframe for the provision of bus based park and ride facilities on the N4 and N7 under the BusConnects project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1890/18]
View answer1463. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to review the decision of the National Transport Authority, NTA, not to include a bus rapid transit corridor on the N7 as part of the BusConnects project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1891/18]
View answer1466. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress being made with the BusConnects project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1894/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1462, 1463 and 1466 together.
As the Deputy will be aware the recently announced 4 Year Capital Plan provides for investment of over €770 million to progress the BusConnects programme to address growing congestion in the Dublin region in the short to medium term.
BusConnects was launched last summer by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and work is ongoing on the redesign of the bus services network and also on infrastructure proposals for Core Bus Corridors which will be an integral part of the programme. When this work is completed the proposals will be launched for public consultation in the first half of this year. The results of the public consultation will inform the final decisions to be made on the network redesign, Core Bus Corridors and park and ride facilities.
1464. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a review of the likely usage of Kishogue station has been undertaken by the National Transport Authority, NTA; if this station will be fully open and operational in advance of the development of the lands in the Clonburris Strategic Development Zone, SDZ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1892/18]
View answer1465. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the provision of an east-west Luas line to Lucan in parallel with the proposed new Clonburris SDZ can be now phased in, given the NTA's adapted transport strategy 2016 to 2035 which proposes its future development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1893/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1464 and 1465 together.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsiblity for the development and implementation of public transport and sustainable transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA).
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter and their previous response to the Deputy of 19th October 2017, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the NTA for an update on the issues raised. Please advise my private office if the Deputy does not receive a reply within 10 working days.
