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Thursday, 15 Feb 2018

Written Answers Nos. 259-268

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Questions (259, 274, 276)

Robert Troy

Question:

259. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when his Department will adjudicate on the sports capital appeals; if he envisages unsuccessful clubs; and if there is a budget to deal with successful appeals. [7866/18]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

274. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which applications for capital grants that were unsuccessful in 2017 for various reasons will be examined with a view to possible accommodation in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8011/18]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

276. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he will engage with applicants for sports capital grants that were deemed invalid in 2017 with a view to possible success in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8013/18]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 259, 274 and 276 together.

The 2017 round of the Sports Capital Programme (SCP) closed for applications on the 24th February. In November and December last, Minister Ross and I announced €60m in allocations to a record 1,800 projects under the round. Full details of all of these allocations are available on my Department's website.

In relation to invalid applications, several improvements were introduced for the 2017 programme to improve the application process. Measures included a significantly shortened application form, more on-line validation of applications and the hosting of a series of regional seminars for potential applicants. These measures were generally successful with the proportion of invalid applications falling from over one third in previous rounds to one fifth in 2017.

Following the announcement of the allocations, all applicants that were deemed invalid or partially invalid were invited to appeal the Department’s decision if it was felt than an error had been made in the assessment process. The deadline for the submission of appeals from applicants for local projects was 20 December 2017 and in relation to regional projects the deadline was 19 January 2018. 149 appeals were submitted prior to the deadline and decisions on these submissions are now being finalised. Decisions in relation to how to redress any successful appeals, including funding for same, will be taken once this work is complete and I expect that all applicants will be informed of the outcome of their appeal in the coming weeks.

Separately, my Department is undertaking a more general review of the 2017 round of the programme including all invalid applications where incorrect or incomplete documentation was submitted. I expect this review to be complete in the coming months and an announcement regarding the next round of the SCP will be made at that stage.

Tourism Project Funding

Questions (260)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

260. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7902/18]

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Written answers

My Department's role in relation to tourism lies in the area of national tourism policy development.  It is not directly involved in the management or development of individual tourism projects, which are operational matters for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland.  While the Department provides funding to Fáilte Ireland to invest in tourism offerings, it does not have a role in the administration of Fáilte Ireland's tourism capital programmes.

I can confirm, however, that my Department has no involvement in the project mentioned by the Deputy.  I have had enquiries made with Fáilte Ireland who have confirmed that they also have no involvement with the project. 

If the Deputy wishes to provide further details on the project I would be happy to examine the matter.

Bus Éireann Staff

Questions (261)

Imelda Munster

Question:

261. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason that an application for Garda vetting has not been processed by Bus Éireann for a person (details supplied). [7936/18]

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Written answers

The issue raised is a 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.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.

Haulage Industry Cabotage Regulations

Questions (262)

Brendan Smith

Question:

262. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the outcome of discussions he has had with his British counterpart relating to legislation in the British Parliament regarding the certification of hauliers' licences and vehicles and its implications for the haulage industry here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7997/18]

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Written answers

“The Haulage Permits and Trailer Registration Bill” is designed to put in place a system of UK international road transport permits for UK operators that will then provide the option of mutual recognition between EU road transport permits (Community Licences) and UK road transport permits and facilitate continued liberalised access for commercial haulage – such a provision will be vital if the final EU/UK deal requires a permit system, which will not be clear until negotiations have reached final agreement.

The Bill also provides for the establishment of a trailer registration scheme in line with the 1968 Vienna Convention, to ensure that UK operators driving on the continent can comply with the requirements of those EU countries which require the registration of all trailers travelling on their roads. Ireland already registers trailers, so this is not an issue for us.

I welcome the Bill as a constructive contingency measure in preparation for Brexit. My Department has asked for time to examine it in detail before reverting to the UK Department for Transport with any observations or questions.

The focus of the Government in Brexit negotiations is to protect Ireland’s interests and to advance our priorities. In the context of the haulage sector it is vital to minimise the impact of Brexit by avoiding any new regulatory burden for hauliers travelling to or transiting the UK. I can assure you that I and other Government Ministers will continue to work with our EU counterparts, both in EU capitals and within the EU institutions, to protect the interests of the Irish haulage sector.

EU Directives

Questions (263)

Robert Troy

Question:

263. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the consultation he has held with relevant stakeholders regarding Directive 2015/2302/EU; the meetings held; when this will come into effect; and if a regulatory impact assessment has been carried out. [7998/18]

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Written answers

Directive EU (2015/2302) on package travel and linked travel arrangements is due to be applicable in Irish law with effect from 1 July 2018. Officials in my Department are currently preparing regulations to accomplish this. In 2014, my Department carried out a public consultation as well as undertaking a Regulatory Impact Assessment on the proposed Directive.

More recently, as part of the preparations to transpose the Directive, the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) commissioned a report from Indecon Economic Consultants in 2017 on matters arising on foot of the introduction of the Directive. Indecon consulted extensively with industry stakeholders and trade bodies for the report.

Following receipt of the draft Indecon report, CAR opened a consultation process with travel trade stakeholders to take into account their views in relation to the Directive.  CAR anticipates that a final report incorporating the industry views will be completed presently.

Whilst the final report from CAR will be considered, it should be noted that the Directive is a maximum harmonisation directive and Member States are required to implement all of its measures.

Rail Network Expansion

Questions (264)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

264. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he plans to meet or exceed expectations in the extension of commuter and inter-city rail services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8001/18]

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Written answers

As the Deputy is aware, the NTA's Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035 which provides a framework for the planning and delivery of transport infrastructure and services in the GDA over the next two decades, proposes implementation of the DART Expansion Programme. 

In line with the Government’s budgetary framework set out in Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021 published in September 2015, the Government's Budget 2018 provides for an increase in the multi-annual capital investment for public transport with a four-year capital envelope of €2.7 billion over the period 2018-2021. 

This includes funding in the region of €230 million for mainline rail and DART capacity enhancement.  This will enable commencement of the initial stages of the DART Expansion programme, focussing on additional fleet and extending the electrified DART system.  It will also allow further progress to be made on the electrification of both the Northern rail line to Balbriggan and the Maynooth line.  

My priority over the next few years is to rapidly increase investment in public transport while also increasing public transport services for the GDA and around the country.  Following Government’s commitment to public transport in Budget 2018 and the 4 Year Capital Plan to 2021, and in the context of the forthcoming 10 year National Development Plan being led by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, we are gearing up for a huge acceleration in the total level of investment and in the number of projects which we can progress.

Rail Network Expansion

Questions (265)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

265. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he foresees, in the context of the national development plan, a new role for rail transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8002/18]

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Written answers

As the Deputy is aware, the Government’s ten-year National Development Plan will be published shortly along with the National Planning Framework.  The National Development Plan will prioritise key investment actions that protect the quality and value of the existing extensive public transport networks.  It will also progress new key capital public transport programmes over the period to 2027 to address urban congestion and emerging capacity constraints in our main cities.  Investment in any new public transport programmes under the National Development Plan will be subject to the relevant appraisal processes and value for money tests as required under the Public Spending Code.

The role and potential of rail is intrinsically linked to where people live, work and wish to travel and these very issues form the core of the Government’s new National Planning Framework over the period to 2040. The National Planning Framework will form an important context for consideration of issues raised by the Rail Review Report which was undertaken jointly by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Iarnród Éireann and published in late 2016.  As the Deputy is aware, the NTA held a public consultation on the published Review which helped to begin an informed discussion about the current and future role of rail transport in Ireland. Over 300 submissions were received in response to that consultation process. The NTA has prepared a report of those submissions, which it is currently updating to reflect the additional funding which has been made available for rail infrastructure and services in Budget 2018. Once I have received and reviewed the NTA’s updated report on the Rail Review consultation, it is my intention to bring it to Government for consideration. 

Rail Services Provision

Questions (266)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

266. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration will be given to a rapid rail system which might enable persons to commute longer distances by rail thereby facilitating employment opportunities, reduction of road traffic congestion and more efficiency in terms of travel time for commuters in the context of encouraging or stabilising the population of rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter [8003/18]

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Written answers

Investing in public transport as a whole is a key priority for the future.  As the Deputy is aware, the Government’s ten-year National Development Plan will be published shortly along with the National Planning Framework.  The National Development Plan will prioritise key investment actions that protect the quality and value of the existing extensive public transport networks.  It will also progress new key capital public transport programmes over the period to 2027 to address urban congestion and emerging capacity constraints in our main cities.  Investment in any new public transport programmes under the National Development Plan will be subject to the relevant appraisal processes and value for money tests as required under the Public Spending Code.

In line with the recommendations of my Department's 2015 Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport, prioritisation of the type of investment in transport to protect the quality and value of the existing extensive rail networks is also a key finding of a recent Public Investment Management Assessment which was conducted by the International Monetary Fund at the invitation of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. 

The role and potential of rail is intrinsically linked to where people live, work and wish to travel and these very issues form the core of the Government’s new National Planning Framework over the period to 2040.  The National Planning Framework will form an important context for consideration of issues raised by the Rail Review Report which was undertaken jointly by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Iarnród Éireann and published in late 2016.  As the Deputy is aware, the NTA held a public consultation on the published Review which helped to begin an informed discussion about the current and future role of rail transport in Ireland.  Over 300 submissions were received in response to that consultation process.  The NTA has prepared a report of those submissions, which it has just updated to reflect the additional funding which has been made available for rail infrastructure and services in Budget 2018.  Once I have reviewed the NTA’s updated report on the Rail Review consultation, it is my intention to bring it to Government for consideration. 

Rail Network

Questions (267, 268)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

267. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for the electrification of the rail service from Dublin to Leixlip, Maynooth, Kilcock and Enfield and if feasible further afield; if this is incorporated in the national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8004/18]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

268. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for the electrification of the rail service from Dublin to Hazelhatch, Sallins, Newbridge and Kildare and if feasible further afield; if this is incorporated in the national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8005/18]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 267 and 268 together.

Investing in public transport as a whole is a key priority for the future.  As the Deputy is aware, the Government's new 10-year National Development Plan (NDP) will be published shortly. It will prioritise key investment actions to progress new key capital transport programmes and projects over the period to 2027 and that will be subject to the relevant appraisal processes and value for money tests as required under the Public Spending Code. In line with the recommendations of my Department's 2015 Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport, a continuing key priority for investment in transport under the NDP will be to protect the quality and value of the existing extensive rail networks, including the areas referenced by the Deputy, to ensure quality levels of service, accessibility and connectivity. Prioritisation of this type of investment is also a key finding of a recent Public Investment Management Assessment which was conducted by the International Monetary Fund at the invitation of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. 

The National Transport Authority's (NTA) “Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) 2016-2035” provides a framework for the planning and delivery of transport infrastructure and services in the GDA over the next two decades.  The DART Expansion Programme which is a cornerstone project of the strategy, seeks to progress a series of projects that will create a full metropolitan area DART network for Dublin with all of the lines linked and connected to provide fast, high-frequency electrified services to Drogheda on the Northern Line, Celbridge/Hazelhatch on the Kildare Line, Maynooth and M3 Parkway on the Maynooth/Sligo Line, while continuing to provide DART services on the South-Eastern Line as far south as Greystones. While it currently does not envisage electrification of existing rail services beyond these destinations, it is subject to review in 2021.

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