Written Answers Nos 288-296
288. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to publish the full list of successful appeals under the sports capital programme in addition to the list of unsuccessful appeals; and the reason given in each case. [13003/18]
View answer298. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of applications his Department received for sports capital funding; the details of those that were granted and refused the funding, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13130/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 298 together.
The 2017 round of the Sports Capital Programme (SCP) closed for applications on 24 February 2017. By the closing date, a record number of 2,320 applications seeking €155 million in grants were received. In November and December of 2017, Minister Ross and I announced €60m in allocations to 1,800 projects under the 2017 round of the SCP. Following the announcement of these allocations, all applicants deemed invalid or partially invalid were invited to appeal the Department’s decision if it was felt that an error had been made in the assessment process. 149 appeals were submitted and of these 35 appeals were upheld. Full details of all allocations including those made on foot of the appeals process, as well as a list of all appeals received, are published on my Department's website at http://www.dttas.ie/sport/english/sports-capital-programme.
289. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the 2018 sports capital grant will open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13012/18]
View answer303. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the next sports and community grants will be available to organisations and communities that wish to develop facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13237/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 303 together.
The 2017 round of the Sports Capital Programme (SCP) closed for applications on 24 February 2017. In November and December last, Minister Ross and I announced €60m in allocations to a record 1,800 projects under the 2017 round of the SCP. Following these announcements, all applicants deemed invalid or partially invalid were invited to appeal the Department’s decision if it was felt that an error had been made in the assessment process. 149 appeals were submitted prior to the deadlines. 35 of these appeals were upheld by the reviewers looking at these appeals and all appellants have now been informed of the result of the appeals process.
In relation to future rounds of the SCP, my Department is now undertaking a general review of the 2017 round with a view to making recommendations on how to improve the process for future calls. This work is also examining what is feasible in terms of the scale and timing of the next round. I expect this review to be complete shortly and an announcement regarding the next round of the SCP will be made at that stage.
290. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the possibility of capping motor insurance premiums at 150% of the vehicle value being insured for fully licenced drivers under 25 years of age will be examined. [13059/18]
View answerThe Cost of Insurance Working Group chaired by the then Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Eoghan Murphy, T.D., published a Report on the cost of motor insurance in January 2017 http://www.finance.gov.ie/what-we-do/insurance/the-cost-of-insurance-working-group/.
This report stated that age is a risk factor for collisions and that "the age of the driver is indicative of the probability generally of loss or damage, with younger drivers having a higher risk ... Higher premiums are traditionally charged for younger drivers compared with middle aged ones".
The EU framework for insurance expressly prohibits Member States from adopting rules which require prior approval of the pricing of insurance products. Insurance companies are private companies and the provision of insurance cover and the price at which it is offered is a commercial matter for those companies and is based on an assessment of the risks they are willing to accept and adequate provisioning to meet those risks. These are considered by insurance companies on a case by case basis.
Mandatory motor third party liability insurance required under the Road Traffic Act 1961 covers not just property damage but also personal injury caused by the driver who is at fault. So, confining or capping motor insurance premiums to a percentage of a particular vehicle’s value – in some cases for a vehicle whose value is negligible - would not be practicable even if it were possible.
Insurance Ireland operate a free Insurance Information Service for those who have queries or difficulties in relation to obtaining insurance. If a person is unable to obtain a quotation for motor insurance or feels that the premium proposed or the terms are so excessive that it amounts to a refusal to give them motor insurance, they should contact Insurance Ireland, 5 Harbourmaster Place, IFSC, Dublin 1 Postcode DO1 E7E8 quoting the Declined Cases Agreement email: declined@insuranceireland.eu Tel. 01.6761820. See http://www.insuranceireland.eu/consumer-information/general-non-life-insurance/declined-cases-agreement.
Under the Declined Cases Agreement, which all motor insurers must adhere to under the Central Bank’s ‘General Good Requirements for Insurance and Reinsurance Undertakings’, https://www.centralbank.ie/docs/default-source/Regulation/insurance-reinsurance/solvency-ii/requirements-and-guidance/general-good-requirements-2012.pdf?sfvrsn=4 the Declined Cases Committee of Insurance Ireland, which includes consumer representatives, deal with any cases of difficulty in obtaining motor insurance.
291. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the rural taxi scheme will be reviewed to make it more accessible to applicants; and his plans to consult with rural community organisations to ensure the scheme is fit for purpose going forward. [13060/18]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. While the Deputy refers to a rural taxi scheme, it is understood that the question relates to the licensing of local area hackneys.
Under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (Local Area Hackney) Regulations 2013 , the NTA is also responsible for the granting and renewing of local area hackney licences.
In this regard, I have referred your question to the NTA for their direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
292. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for the introduction of a travel pass for third level students which would allow unlimited use on all modes of public transport for a certain time period. [13061/18]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with public transport providers and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
293. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the outcome of a meeting he had with councillors regarding additional funding for an international sporting event in County Donegal in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13070/18]
View answerThe Irish Open is a very important part of the Irish sporting calendar and has received Government support through Fáilte Ireland and Sport Ireland.
Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism development authority, is the statutory body with responsibility for the encouragement, promotion and support of tourism.
Sport Ireland is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and coordination of sport in Ireland including responsibility for the allocation of funding.
I understand that a total of €1m, involving contributions by both Failte Ireland and Sport Ireland on behalf of the Government, is being provided by to support the hosting of the event in 2018.
It may be noted that Ballyliffin Golf Club, which shall be hosting this prestigious event, was successful in its application for funding under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme and has received grant approval for the sum of €59,000 in respect of refurbishment of dressing rooms and academy links.
Following the exceptionally heavy rainfall which occurred in August 2017, Minister of State Brendan Griffin visited a number of sports clubs and organisations in Donegal, including Ballyliffin Golf Club, to see the impacts of the flooding and indicated our willingness to assist the relevant clubs as an exceptional measure. In this regard, my Department made contact with relevant sports clubs impacted by the flooding but whose damage was deemed to be outside the terms of the previously announced Irish Red Cross Scheme. In the case of Ballyliffin Golf Club however, I understand that an insurance claim was submitted for the flood damage in question so no allocation has been provided by my Department in that respect.
I met with Councillors from the area last month and discussed a request which was received from Donegal County Council for an estimated contribution of €3 million for road infrastructure costs related to facilitating the Irish Open Golf Tournament. In response my Department notified Donegal County Council that unfortunately, given the competing demands for funding and the continued need to try to restore funding for maintenance/rehabilitation programmes along with funding a limited number of improvement projects under the Capital Plan, the Department would not be in a position to provide funding over and above Donegal's annual road grant allocation to assist with the works proposed on the access roads to the Irish Open Golf Championship in 2018.
I informed them, that in this context, my Department's approach in such circumstances is allow the relevant local authority to make whatever adjustments are needed to its restoration programmes arising from works associated with Irish Open Golf Championship.
294. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the regular flight plan routes into Dublin Airport; if there are approach routes which travel over Lusk; if so, the altitude at which aircraft should fly if approaching over Lusk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13074/18]
View answerThe issues raised are operational matters for the Irish Aviation Authority. I have referred the Deputy's question to them for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
295. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of failures recorded by individual applicants for taxi and public service vehicle licences in respect of local knowledge by county; if a particular reference such as applications (details supplied) are used by the examiners; if repeated failures of up to ten times has occurred in a particular county; the reason this should be the case in view of the availability of GPS technology; his views on whether the examination fee needs to be examined in view of the fact that it would appear to be a factor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13081/18]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the licensing and testing of drivers within this sector, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.
I have referred your questions to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
296. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons waiting for tests at the Road Safety Authority test centre in Sarsfield Road, Cork; and the average waiting time. [13086/18]
View answerThis is a matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
