Written Answers Nos. 561-577
561. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for the Kildare and Edenderry bus routes which are operated by Bus Éireann; and if another service provider is due to take over the operation of these services. [43265/18]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) 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.
562. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding for an overpass will be provided to replace the dangerous junction at N17 Lisduff, Claremorris, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43332/18]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the planning, design and operation of individual roads is a matter for the relevant road authority in relation to local and regional roads, or for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in conjunction with the local authorities concerned, in relation to national roads.
Noting the above position, I have referred the question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
563. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the precise extra costs on an annual basis for motor tax offices and the driver and vehicle computer services division of the administration of non-annual motor tax payments; and the way in which these relate to the extra payments made by drivers making non-annual motor tax payments. [43339/18]
View answerThe information requested has not been costed by my Department.
The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, in its Report on the Administration and Collection of Motor Tax, published in December 2016, estimated that the cost of a motor tax transaction in a motor tax office is €10 and that the cost of a transaction online is €5. The same processes, and therefore, costs apply to the processing of an application for a half-yearly or quarterly disc as for that of an annual disc.
564. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason there is an administration fee for a person replacing a broken taxsaver travel ticket; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43370/18]
View answer565. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the procedure for a replacement Taxsaver ticket will be reviewed in order to reduce inconvenience to commuters. [43371/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 564 and 565 together.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Matters relating to fees payable by consumers to replace lost annual tickets/smartcards are day-to-day operational issues for the transport operators concerned in the first instance and I have no function in such matters.
If a taxsaver ticket is on a Leap Card then the arrangements for replacement are as per https://about.leapcard.ie/card-replacement-refunds
Since the National Transport Authority is responsible for the Leap Card Scheme, any queries regarding the policy applicable to replacing Leap Cards should be addressed to the Authority.
Noting this I have referred the Deputy’s questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within ten working days.
566. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of engagements, meetings or correspondence that he has had with a person (details supplied) in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43401/18]
View answerNo such meetings took place in the past three years and no correspondence was received from the person either.
567. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a proposal to establish a national fund to survey dangerous roadside trees and hedges will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43411/18]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993.
Works on regional and local roads are funded by local authorities' own resources supplemented by State grants. Within the overall resources available to it, the selection and prioritisation of works is a matter for each local authority.
Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993 sets out the responsibility of landowners to take all reasonable steps to ensure that trees, hedges and other vegetation growing on their land are not, or could not become, a danger to people using a public road or interfere with the safe use of a public road or the maintenance of a public road.
A local authority can serve notice requiring a landowner to take action to address a hazard. This section also allows the relevant road authority to step in where a landowner fails or is unable to take action to remedy a hazard and to seek recovery of reasonable costs from the landowner. This is, therefore, a matter for management between the landowner and the relevant local authority.
As Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the relevant local authority are responsible for maintenance of national roads, I have referred the Deputy's Question to TII for direct reply. If the Deputy does not receive a reply within 10 working days please advise my Office.
568. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider re-establishing the subvention towards the operating costs for daily flights between Dublin and Sligo airports in view of the return to strength of the economy over the past seven years and in view of the fact that there is no motorway link from Mullingar to Sligo (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43540/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will know, Exchequer supports for Sligo Airport ceased following a Value for Money Review of the Regional Airports Programme and an associated Government Decision in June 2011. Accordingly, from 2012, the Regional Airports Programme only provides targeted support in the areas of safety and security to four regional airports at Donegal, Ireland West Airport Knock, Kerry and Waterford.
The Exchequer funding available over the lifetime of the current Regional Airports Programme 2015-2019 will be fully required to provide these limited supports, and to support air services on our two existing PSO routes from Donegal and Kerry to Dublin.
In relation to the road link between Mullingar and Sligo, the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018 to 2027 does provide for a number of schemes on this section of the N4. The N4 Collooney Castlebaldwin scheme is going to Government for approval and, if approved, the local authority will subsequently enter into a tender process. There are two further projects which are at an early stage of appraisal and design, namely the N4 Mullingar to Longford and the N4 Carrick to Dromod.
As the Deputy refers, Project 2040 is Ireland’s overarching policy initiative, which is informed by the NDP. The NDP, which provides for the road projects outlined above, does not include provision for extending funds under the Regional Airports Programme to other airports such as Sligo and there are no plans to revisit this issue.
569. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will seek assurances from the chief executive officer of Iarnród Éireann that additional security personnel will be deployed at a station (details supplied) in the run up to Hallowe'en; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43547/18]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for Iarnród 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.
570. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding allocated by Fáilte Ireland to entities (details supplied) in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018. [43551/18]
View answerI have asked Fáilte Ireland to provide the Deputy directly with any information it has in regard to funding these bodies. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
571. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some tolled roads, including the M1 and Galway-bound toll, charge taxis the commercial rate while others charge taxis the lower non-commercial rate; the reason this is the case; the legislation or regulation under which this anomaly exists; his plans to bring the rates charged in line potentially by charging the lower rate unilaterally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43721/18]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy in relation to roads. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects on national roads are a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the relevant local authority. For regional and local roads it is a matter for each respective local authority.
More specifically, the statutory powers to levy tolls on national roads as well as regional and local roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors are vested in TII (for national roads) and each local authority (for regional and local roads) under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Roads Act 2007).
Noting the above, I am referring the question to TII for direct reply within 10 working days. Please inform my private office if you do not receive the information.
572. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the categories of funding available to local authorities through his Department; the amount of funding provided for each scheme in 2016 and 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43738/18]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is available in the table.
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority 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. Details of the regional and local road grant allocations and payments to local authorities are outlined in the regional and local road grant booklets which are available in the Dáil Library.
The Sports Capital Programme (SCP) is operated by my Department and provides grants to assist in the development or refurbishment of sports facilities and the provision of sports equipment. Grants are available to sports clubs, voluntary and community groups, national governing bodies of sport, and local authorities. My Department also operates the Local Authority Swimming Pools Programme. Details of all allocations and payments, under both schemes, for the years referred to by the Deputy are available on my Department’s website http://www.dttas.ie/sport/english/sports-capital-programme.
|
2016 |
2017 |
Categories of funding |
|
€400,000 |
€400,000 |
Bike Week |
|
€9,970,000 |
€6,500,000 |
Smarter Travel Programmes |
|
€17,500,000 |
€9,300,000 |
STMG Programme |
|
€1,200,000 |
€2,300,000 |
Regional Cities Programme |
|
€2,670,640.40 |
€5,633,702.27 |
Greenways |
573. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the delays in regulatory approval for the proposed compressed natural gas pumps at a filling station (details supplied); if he will take steps to expedite its opening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43740/18]
View answerI am very aware of the significant role that compressed natural gas (CNG), particularly as a pathway towards renewable gas, can potentially play in reducing emissions from the transport sector. I was very pleased that in Budget 2019, the Minister for Finance announced the introduction of Accelerated Capital Allowances for natural gas fuelled vehicles and vehicle refuellers, further underpinning the Government's support for natural gas as a vehicle fuel.
I am informed that the first proposed commercial compressed natural gas (CNG) pumps have been installed at the Topaz Filling Station in Dublin Port. I understand that commissioning of the pumps is subject to necessary regulatory approval and that these processes are ongoing. The determination of individual planning applications is a matter for the relevant local authority. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have no role in any of these processes.
574. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a copy of the regulations under section 1(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1961 allowing local authorities to make by-laws regarding the use of vehicles in public places which may include animal drawn vehicles under section 46(a) of the Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Act 2012 in view of a further incident involving collisions between horse-drawn carriages and mechanically propelled vehicles (details supplied); and if he will commence section 31(1) of the Road Traffic Act 2016 which allows the National Transport Authority to make regulations under section 20(5) of the Taxi Regulations Act 2013 in relation to horse-propelled hackney carriages. [43743/18]
View answerI assume the Deputy means to refer to Part 19 of the Local Government Act 2001. It is under this Part that local authorities can choose to regulate horse-drawn carriages that operate for carriage of persons for reward. Part 19 (as amended) is available at the following link:
Regarding section 31 of the Road Traffic Act 2016, following legal advice received, the prudent decision was not to commence this section. The legal risk associated with this provision was considered unacceptably high with a strong likelihood that the regulations under the provisions could be challenged and ultimately struck down. Understandably, given this information, I decided not to commence section 31.
575. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the most recent breakdown of figures for road casualties and collisions here relate to 2014; and his plans to expedite the making available of such information in a more timely manner. [43744/18]
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.
576. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the provision of a new train station at Pelletstown; the funding being provided in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43750/18]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The NTA has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including the provision of a new train station at Pelletstown on the Maynooth rail line.
Noting the NTA's responsibilities in the matter raised, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
577. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position with regard to a review of the route licensing system in conjunction with the National Transport Authority to ensure wider concerns such as rural isolation or whether competition is sustainable on a route are included in decisions on whether to grant or refuse bus route licences to operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43815/18]
View answerThe regulation of the large public service vehicle industry, including the licensing of bus passenger services, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Public Transport Act 2009.
I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
