Written Answers Nos. 302-315
302. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if emergency funding to local authorities to undertake emergency repairs of road surfaces and footpaths damaged during recent extreme weather conditions will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17245/18]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of local authorities, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council'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.
I announced the 2018 regional and local road allocations on 29th January and all grant funding available to my Department has now been allocated. It is a matter for each Council to determine its priorities and decide its work programme on that basis, taking available grant funding and its own resources into account. There is no additional funding available to my Department at present.
303. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact no buses serve Dublin Airport from Dublin 13; his plans to introduce new bus routes which will serve the Airport from Dublin 13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17142/18]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with the relevant transport operator 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 reply within ten working days.
304. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he and his Department continue to assess the need for upgrade to facilitate extra traffic on the N4 Maynooth to Dublin and other similar over trafficked routes; when such plans will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17153/18]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and operation of the national road network is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
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.
305. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has received a request from Kildare County Council for extra funding to repair the damage to roads in the county following the recent inclement weather; when he expects to be in a position to respond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17154/18]
View answer309. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received correspondence from Kildare County Council outlining the extent of damage to local and regional roads in County Kildare as a result of severe weather conditions; if the precise costs have been determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17206/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 305 and 309 together.
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of local authorities, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council'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.
I announced the 2018 regional and local road allocations on 29th January and all grant funding available to my Department has now been allocated. To date I have not received any correspondence from Kildare County Council relating to damage on regional and local roads arising from recent severe weather. It is for each Council to determine its priorities and decide its work programme taking available grant funding and its own resources into account. At present, there is no additional funding available to my Department.
306. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the remedial works being carried out in view of his Department's recent contact with boat operators that carry tourists to Inishmurray Island off County Sligo to immediately cease advertising or carrying out visits to the island; when they will commence and be completed in order to save the 2018 tourist season in the north west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17165/18]
View answerWith specific regard to the remedial works to which the Deputy refers, I understand that these relate to landing facilities for boats on Inishmurray Island following concerns conveyed by my Department relating to safety during embarkation and disembarkation at the island. Neither my Department nor its agencies have any role or responsibility with regard to such facilities or related remedial works. I suggest that this may be a matter more relevant to the Local Authority – in this case, Sligo County Council – for which the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government is responsible.
307. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Iompair, Turasóireachta agus Spóirt an bhfuair sé iarratas ó Choiste Dhoire Fhearta ar an gCeathrú Rua i Mí na Márta nó le gairid á iarraidh air casadh le toscaireacht ón gcoiste chun drochstad Bhóthar Dhoire Fhearta a phlé; má fuair, cén uair atá sé i gceist aige casadh leis an gcoiste; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [17184/18]
View answerBhí teagmháil agam le Cumann na nÁitritheoirí maidir le drochbhail Bóthar Derrartha le linn cuairt a thabhairt ar Ghaillimh Dé hAoine 2ú Feabhra. Is féidir liom a dhearbhú go raibh teagmháil níos mó ag an ngrúpa liom le déanaí agus cé nach bhfuil mé in ann bualadh leo thug mé nuashonrú don ghrúpa maidir le hiarratais ó údaráis bóithre reachtúla a bhreithniú maidir le cúnamh deontais le haghaidh feabhsúcháin bóthair oibreacha. Is é Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe an t-údarás bóthair reachtúil sa chás seo agus tá sé freagrach as bóithre a fheabhsú agus a chothabháil ina réimse freagrachta.
308. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will liaise with the National Transport Authority to put a commuter daily rate ticket scheme in place for persons who avail of the rail network to get to work on a daily basis (details supplied). [17205/18]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day to day operations of public transport, nor decisions on the issue of rail fares in any part of the country.
Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in December 2009, the NTA is the statutory body with responsibility for the regulation of fares charged by the public transport providers.
I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
310. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of passengers who availed of student tickets on Irish Rail in each year since 2011, in tabular form. [17230/18]
View answer311. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of passengers who availed of student Leap cards on Dublin Bus in each year since 2011, in tabular form. [17231/18]
View answer312. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of passengers who availed of student tickets on Bus Éireann in each year since 2011, in tabular form. [17232/18]
View answer313. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of passengers who availed of child tickets on Irish Rail in each year since 2011, in tabular form. [17233/18]
View answer314. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of passengers who availed of child tickets on Dublin Bus in each year since 2011, in tabular form. [17234/18]
View answer315. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of passengers who availed of child tickets on Bus Éireann in each year since 2011, in tabular form. [17235/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 310 to 315, inclusive, together.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the collection and publication of statistics relating to public transport and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
