Written Answers Nos. 586-598
586. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of the availability of recycling facilities for residents of apartment blocks; the recycling rates among these residents; and the action he plans to take to improve the levels of recycling in such dwellings. [10061/18]
View answerCollectors of household waste, which includes waste collected from apartment blocks, are required by the conditions of their permit to provide for the separate collection of recyclable waste. Waste statistics, including figures on household waste recycling, are available from the Environmental Protection Agency's website
https://www.epa.ie/nationalwastestatistics/
A Template for a Bye-law on Waste Presentation is being prepared by the three regional waste management offices with a view to standardising such by-laws across the State. It is understood that the template will contain specific provisions for multi-user buildings and apartment blocks, including with regard to the storage and collection of recyclate. Once the template is finalised, it will be open to local authorities to adopt such by-laws.
587. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department has completed a cost benefit analysis and review of Eircode; the uptake of Eircode; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10168/18]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 243 of 7 February 2018. The position is unchanged.
588. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the history of the bridge crossing at Ballina and Killaloe project; the year this project first commenced; when the first moneys were allocated to commence the project; when various moneys were allocated in each of the years since the commencement of the project and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9403/18]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants.
Clare County Council is the road authority responsible for the Shannon Bridge Crossing at Killaloe which is one element of the overall Shannon Crossing/Killaloe Bypass/R494 upgrade scheme. The Council is, therefore, best placed to advise the Deputy in relation to the overall history of the project. However, I can advise the deputy that the Government first committed to assist the funding of the project in its capital investment plan for 2016-2021, "Building on Recovery", subject to planning permission.
As regards State grant expenditure on the scheme, this information is included in the Regional and Local Roads Payment and Allocations Booklets which are available in the Oireachtas library.
589. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to an anomaly that exists whereby a motor vehicle that has not been in use for a number of months cannot be declared officially off the road until motor tax arrears are paid in view of the fact that arrears cannot be paid unless the vehicle has a valid motor insurance certificate thus forcing the owner take out an insurance policy on a vehicle which is not intended for use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10060/18]
View answerThe Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 came into effect on 1 July 2013. The Act provides for a declaration of non-use of a vehicle to be made at any time in the month before tax falls due. Where a declaration is not made within the required timeframe, motor tax must be taken out for the minimum period provided for in legislation, along with any arrears incurred by the vehicle owner. A new declaration can then be made at any stage during the final month of the new motor tax disc if the vehicle is thereafter not going to be in use in a public place. These arrangements were well publicised at the time of introduction of the legislation.
In relation to insurance, Article 2(5) of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing)(Amendment) Regulations 1992 provides that, on each application for motor tax, the owner of a vehicle shall produce to the licensing authority (motor tax office), if so requested by that authority, relevant evidence of insurance in respect of the vehicle. Relevant evidence of insurance generally means a certificate of insurance showing that when the motor tax disc comes into operation, there will be in force an approved policy of insurance covering the use of the vehicle.
Notwithstanding the fact that there is already a provision for discretion to be exercised by licensing authorities, I will consider the matter further insofar as it applies to those applying for motor tax in the circumstances described by the Deputy.
590. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has examined alternative roadside drug tests such as a device (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10071/18]
View answer591. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there will be a review of the effectiveness and efficiency of a device (details supplied) from April 2018 when it will have been one year in operation; if future reviews are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10072/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 590 and 591 together.
The statutory responsibility for testing and approval of devices to be used in preliminary drugs tests under the Road Traffic Acts rests with the Medical Bureau of Road Safety. I have therefore referred these Questions to the Bureau for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
592. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is possible to appeal penalty points after the fact; the timeframe for appealing such penalty points; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10077/18]
View answerA motorist who is alleged to have committed a driving offence is issued with a fixed charge notice (FCN), which sets out clearly that the fixed charge may be paid in order to avoid prosecution, and also refers to the number of penalty points which will be endorsed on the motorist's licence.
A motorist who pays the fixed charge is accepting the offence, and there is no appeal possible after that payment has been made.
A motorist can apply to have a fixed charge cancelled before paying it by completing an FCN Cancellation Request form and sending it to an Garda Siochana's Fixed Charge Processing Office. If a decision is made to cancel the FCN, the motorist will be informed in writing immediately.
A motorist may also opt not to pay the FCN, and to argue his case in Court on receipt of a summons for non-payment of an FCN, and it will then be a matter for the Court to accept the motorist's case or to convict him for the driving offence.
593. Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce legislation for cyclists with regard to a minimum passing distance that motorists would have to adhere to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9273/18]
View answerWhile there are some perceived difficulties with both the enforcement and prosecution of such an offence by An Garda Síochána, I have asked my officials to examine possible legislative provisions to introduce a minimum safe passing distance for cyclists taking account of the research being conducted by the Road Safety Authority, at my behest, into best international practice and experience in this area.
My officials have received the Authority's report and are in the process of examining its findings. I will be taking action in this area shortly.
594. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of freedom of information requests his Department has received in the past eight years; the number of which were accepted without further escalation and not accepted respectively; the number requested which were not accepted that were escalated to the Information Commissioner; the number of which the Information Commissioner ruled in favour of the person requesting the freedom of information; the number of which the Information Commissioner ruled against his Department; the number his Department appealed to the High Court; the number the High Court ruled against his Department in favour of the applicant; the number which were then brought to the Court of Appeal by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9299/18]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is being collated and will be forwarded within 10 working days. If the information is not received within this timeframe please contact my private office.
595. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the action being taken to address the dangerous junction at a location (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the safety issues at this junction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9334/18]
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 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.
596. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of US troops who passed through Shannon Airport in 2017, by month. [9337/18]
View answer597. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the munition of war permits requested between 1 September and 31 December 2017 under Article 5 of the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973; the date of each request; the aircraft operator in each instance; the locations they were flying to and from; the goods being carried that required the permit; if the permit was granted; if permit requests were refused in that period, the name of the aircraft operator; and the basis for refusal of the permit request. [9338/18]
View answer598. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the munition of war permits requested between 1 January and 31 December 2016 under Article 5 of the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973; the date of each request; the aircraft operator in each case; the locations they were flying to and from; the goods being carried that required the permit; if the permit was granted; if permit requests were refused in that period, the name of the aircraft operator; and the basis for refusal of the permit request. [9341/18]
View answer599. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the munition of war permits requested between 1 September and 31 December 2015, under Article 5 of the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973; the date, the aircraft operator, the locations they were flying to and from; the goods being carried that required the permit; if the permit was granted; if permit requests were refused in that period, the name of the aircraft operator; and the basis for refusal of the permit request . [9342/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 596 to 599, inclusive, together.
The functions of the Minister under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order, S.I. 224 1973, as amended, relate to munitions or weapons of war.
I have no function in relation to the transport of troops by air and on this basis my Department does not have records of the number of troops transiting through Shannon Airport.
Shannon Airport Authority has informed my Department that the number of US troops that passed through Shannon Airport from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017 was 60,968. The monthly breakdown for 2017 is as follows: January 5,087, February 3,358, March 4,214, April 5,982, May 4,304, June 3,604, July 3,816, August 3,732, September 3,252, October 13,807, November 5,394, December 4,418.
Details of applications processed under the Order for the periods requested in 2015, 2016 and 2017 are in the following links.
