Written Answers Nos. 1085-1104
1085. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 2179 of 24 July 2018, if permission was given for munitions or explosives to be taken through Shannon Airport on an aircraft (details supplied) which landed at the airport on 11 July 2018. [35659/18]
View answer1086. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 2179 of 24 July 2018, if the attention of authorities and fire personnel at Shannon Airport was drawn to munitions and or explosives on board an aircraft (details supplied) which landed there on 11 July 2018 while it was parked very close to civilian passenger aircraft at the main terminal building; and the special precautions taken to minimise the danger to civilians at the airport. [35660/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1085 and 1086 together.
Shannon Airport Authority has confirmed that the aircraft in question transitted through Shannon Airport as a technical stop for aviation fuel on a number of ocassions during July 2018.
I understand that the Airport Authority has no information of there being either munitions or dangerous goods on board the aircraft. No application for an exemption under S.I. 224/1973 was made to my Department.
1087. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the N81 upgrade project; if the project will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35667/18]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. However, the planning, design and operation of individual roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Noting the above position, I have referred the question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
1088. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of fatalities involving road traffic accidents on the N81 in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35668/18]
View answerThe number of fatalities on the N81 from 2011 to 2018 is set out in the table.
Number of fatalities by year which happened on the N81
|
Year |
Fatalities |
|
2011 |
3 |
|
2012 |
0 |
|
2013 |
3 |
|
2014 |
1 |
|
2015 |
2 |
|
2016* |
1 |
|
2017* |
1 |
|
2018* |
0 |
|
Total |
11 |
*provisional and subject to change. Correct up to 10/08/2018
It should also be noted that on the N81, of the eight fatalities that happened between 2013 and 2018, five resulted in the death of a motorcyclist.
1089. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a review of train fares for Newbridge, Kildare and Athy rail commuters that remain outside the short-hop commuter zone will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35674/18]
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 you do not receive a response within ten working days.
1090. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be made available in 2019 for the restoration of Coughlanstown Road, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35706/18]
View answer1091. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Coughlanstown Road, Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare will be considered for national funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35707/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1090 and 1091 together.
The position remains as previously outlined to the Deputy in response to PQ3260/18:
The 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.
As the selection and prioritisation of works is the responsibility of the local authority, it is a matter for the Council to assess the options open to it in relation to this road, taking the position regarding utility services into account.
1092. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the NTA rail review document will be published. [35718/18]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) and Iarnród Éireann report on the Rail Review was published in 2016. Since then, the NTA has held a public consultation on the Review. Over 300 submissions were received in response to that consultation process.
A report of those submissions has been submitted to my Department by the NTA and I intend to bring the report to Government for consideration. It is my intention that the NTA's report on the consultation would be published by the NTA following consideration by Government.
In advance of that, no decisions have been taken regarding matters such as the future of individual rail lines. I have stated previously that there are no plans for the closure of any parts of the rail network. The Taoiseach has also given assurances in the Dáil in recent months that there are no plans in this regard.
1093. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on an organisation's (details supplied) request that a fully wheelchair accessible transport system be provided in view of the fact it will dramatically change the lives of persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35767/18]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. My Department's high level policy goal for accessible public transport is embodied in the concept of 'Transport Access for All'. This policy is based on the provisions of the Disability Act 2005 and related Government strategies, in particular the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021.
Accessibility features, such as wheelchair access, are built into all new public transport infrastructure projects and vehicles from the design stage. Newer systems such as LUAS are fully accessible.
My Department funds an ongoing programme of accessibility improvement grants to upgrade older existing infrastructure and facilities which is managed by the National Transport Authority (NTA). In Budget 2018 I secured a trebling of the funding provided for the accessibility retro-fit programme to €28m, as part of the 4 year capital envelope announced. This additional funding will facilitate the continued roll-out of the programmes to install accessible bus stops, upgrade train stations to make them accessible to wheelchair users and provide grant support for the introduction of more wheelchair accessible vehicles into the taxi fleet.
Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 the NTA has functional responsibility for promoting the development of an integrated, accessible public transport network, as well as having responsibility for the management of the accessibility retro-fit programme. The NTA has provided information on (i) the accessibility status of existing public transport infrastructure, (ii) the cost of making public transport services wheelchair accessible and (iii) the accessibility improvements planned with the available funding for the 4 year period 2018-2021 under the retro-fit programme. That information is available on my Department's website www.dttas.gov.ie.
Investment in public transport will be accelerated under the National Development Plan (NDP) over the next ten years and beyond to support the development of an integrated, accessible and sustainable national public transport system. A number of key new major public transport programmes are proposed to be delivered under the NDP over the period to 2027 and these will be fully accessible as part of the normal design. In addition, there will be continued investment in the retro-fit programme under the NDP.
I would like to advise the Deputy that the organisation to which he refers is represented on my Department's Accessibility Consultative Committee, which monitors progress in relation to accessible public transport for people with disabilities.
In addition, I recently appointed to the Boards of the public transport companies, new directors with direct personal experience of disability. One of these new directors is also a member of the organisation to which the Deputy refers. I look forward to all 5 new directors ensuring that the voices of people with a disability will be heard at the top of those bodies responsible for the provision of public transport.
1094. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if all sections of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2018 have been commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35772/18]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for his concern to see this Act in effect as soon as possible, a concern which I share.
To date, no sections of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2018 have been commenced. The Act addresses two principal matters, drink driving and driving by unaccompanied learners. In each case, preliminary arrangements need to be put in place by my Department and An Garda Síochána before commencement, and work is well under way on this.
At this point it is not possible to give a date for commencement, but I am happy to assure the Deputy that the provisions of the Act will be commenced as soon as practicable.
1095. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a driver test will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35803/18]
View answerThe driving test service is run by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and this Department has no input into the scheduling of appointments.
The RSA provides a facility where driving test cancellations are made available to applicants who may need an urgent appointment. An applicant should contact the RSA directly and request that they be placed on the cancellation list.
In order to be fair to all applicants, cancellation places will be assigned in order of the date of placement on the list. If an applicant requires a driving test urgently for employment or emigration purposes, the RSA will make every effort to accommodate them.
1096. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to regulate the use of drones in a circumstance (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35812/18]
View answerThe Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has statutory responsibility for aviation safety regulation in Ireland, including the regulation of remotely piloted aircraft systems (drones), as provided for under S.I. No. 563/2015 - Irish Aviation Authority (Small Unmanned Aircraft (Drones) and Rockets) Order, 2015. I have referred the Deputy's question to the IAA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
1097. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the implementation of a road safety measure (details supplied); if there is a timeframe for its delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35899/18]
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 operation of individual roads 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.
1098. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason some persons that have applied for driver tests in Tullamore in January 2018 have still not been called. [35907/18]
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.
1099. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a driver test for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36001/18]
View answerThe driving test service is run by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and this Department has no input into the scheduling of appointments.
The RSA provides a facility where driving test cancellations are made available to applicants who may need an urgent appointment. An applicant should contact the RSA directly and request that they be placed on the cancellation list. In order to be fair to all applicants, cancellation places will be assigned in order of the date of placement on the list.
If an applicant requires a driving test urgently for employment or emigration purposes, the RSA will make every effort to accommodate them.
1100. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of efforts to address issues with regard to rickshaws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36009/18]
View answerMy Department has considered a range of options for regulating rickshaws from the perspectives of proportionality, public safety and enforcement as well as regarding the question of costs and benefits. Options considered included introducing a framework to regulate rickshaws up to introducing a full prohibition. Following formal legal advice in the matter from the Attorney General and further consideration, I now believe that the appropriate response to the concerns raised is to regulate rickshaws with the introduction of a licensing regime. Licensing provisions will, first and foremost, be designed as a framework to help ensure improved public safety and an enhanced rickshaw passenger experience.
My Department is considering the detail of how the new regime could work, including whether it might involve setting new standards that would permit only certain types of rickshaw to be licensed while other types would not be allowed to ply for hire or reward.
1101. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures being undertaken to assist trainee pilots and their families affected by the collapse of a college (details supplied); the consideration he has given to the testimony provided by families affected by the collapse of the college at a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport on 24 May 2017; if he will engage with those families to resolve the issues affecting them as a result of the collapse of the college; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36024/18]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the matter that he raises dates from 2012 when the privately-owned company Pilot Training College Waterford failed and left many of its clients stranded in Florida. The company was regulated by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) in accordance with EU civil aviation rules and regulations, but this oversight does not extend to the contractual arrangement between the company and its customers.
It is a deeply regrettable situation, and I am advised that at the time the IAA took remedial action, insofar as it could, to alleviate the immediate impact on the trainee pilots affected. For instance, the IAA paid for repatriation flights to bring the stranded trainee pilots back home from Florida - where they were training - and IAA staff travelled to both Waterford and Florida to secure the training records relating of those affected and provided advice on continuation of training with other providers. Clearly this does not address the financial loss experienced by the trainee pilots from the company reneging on its contractual obligations, but ultimately the resolution of the financial liabilities arising from the company failing remains a legal matter between the company and its clients.
1102. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a matter (details supplied) in relation to tractors on public roads will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36054/18]
View answerSection 56 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 (Dangerous driving) provides that a person shall not drive a vehicle in a public place in a manner (including speed) which, having regard to all the circumstances of the case (including the condition of the vehicle, the nature, condition and use of the place and the amount of traffic which then actually is or might reasonably be expected then to be on it) is is likely to be dangerous to the public.
In addition, under Part II of the Roads Act, 1993, a person who permits any material to fall from a vehicle they own or use on a public road such that the material is left to pose a hazard or potential hazard to persons using a public road, or obstructs or interferes with the safe use of a public road or the maintenance of a public road, is guilty of an offence.
Enforcement of the legislation is a matter for An Garda Síochána.
1103. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding a road junction in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36077/18]
View answerThis is a matter for Kerry County Council, in consultation with Transport Infrastructure Ireland where national roads are involved. I would therefore advise the Deputy to contact the Council in the first instance.
