Written Answers Nos. 879-904
879. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce Leap cards to County Donegal and other areas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44756/18]
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 and integrated ticketing, including the Leap Card system.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in relation to this matter, 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.
880. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he, his departmental officials and or his ministerial predecessors have met companies and an organisation (details supplied) and or representatives of same in the past three years to date; if so, if a schedule of those meetings and the associated minutes will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44784/18]
View answerMy predecessor Minister Paschal Donohoe T.D. met with the CEO of eNet in August 2015. There are no minutes available of this meeting.
881. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding plans to reduce traffic congestion affecting commuters in County Wexford on the N11 northbound between junction 14 Coyne's Cross and junction 7 Bray south; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44806/18]
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.
882. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if offences such as the continued abuse of wheelchair accessible parking bays by motorists who do not hold a certificate or valid permit will be included on the penalty points system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44818/18]
View answerMotorists who park illegally in a designated disabled bay currently face a fixed charge penalty of €150, rising to €225 if not paid within 28 days. This is considered a very serious offence and the penalty incurred is thus the highest of all fixed charged driving and parking offences.
It is a general principle that penalty points are applied only for driving offences, the one exception, dangerous parking, is included as a penalty point offence because it affects moving traffic.
My Department does not consider it appropriate therefore that this offence, the fixed charge for which is more than twice that of any other fixed charge parking offence, be included in the penalty point system.
883. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the location of the submissions made to the consultations undertaken by his Department in each of the past ten years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44867/18]
View answer884. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the consultations undertaken by his Department in each of the past ten years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44885/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 883 and 884 together.
Since the formation of my Department in 2011 the information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following table.
|
Year |
Consultation |
Replies Received |
Cost |
Location of submissions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2011 |
Stakeholder Consultation on Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 |
6 |
Nil |
Held in Department's records |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2012 |
Merger of Irish Sports Council and National Sports Campus Development Authority |
7 |
Nil |
Held in Department's records |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2013 |
Proposed transfer of Bantry Bay Harbour to the Port of Cork Company |
28 |
€1,849.24 |
Held in Department's records |
|
2013 |
Public consultation on European Commission’s proposals for a Fourth Railway Package. |
4 |
Nil |
Held in Department's records |
|
2013 |
Issues Paper in respect of the development of a National Aviation Policy for Ireland |
74 |
None |
Held in Department's records |
|
2013 |
Tourism Policy Statement |
170 |
€613.37 |
Held in Department's records |
|
2013/2014 |
The development of the Maritime Safety Strategy. |
37 |
€13,765.49 |
Held in Department's records |
|
2014 |
Investing in our Transport Future – public consultation on a Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport (SIFLT) and accompanying, Strategic Environmental Assessment |
64 |
€995 (proof-reading/editing). |
Department’s website |
|
2014 |
Draft National Aviation Policy for Ireland |
78 |
None |
Held in Department's records |
|
2014 |
Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements |
10 |
Nil |
Department’s website |
|
2014 |
Stakeholder consultation on Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013 |
11 |
Nil |
Held in Department's records |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2015 |
English Language Proficiency Requirements for Certificates of Competency and for Recognition of Professional Qualifications for Irish Flagged Fishing Vessels |
8 |
Nil |
Held in Department's records |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2016 |
Statement of Strategy |
60 |
Nil |
Department’s website |
|
2016 |
Review of Regulatory Regime of Airport Charges In Ireland |
22 |
None |
Held in Department's records |
|
2016 |
Consultation on EU Proposal Union certification system for aviation screening equipment |
1 |
Nil |
Held in Department's records |
|
2016 |
Proposal for Amendment to National Legislation concerning Aviation Security Regulation and Related Matters |
6 |
Nil |
Department’s website |
|
2016 |
Proposal for a revision of the European Aviation Safety Regulation 216/2008 |
9 |
Nil |
Held in Department's records |
|
2016 |
Aviation Emissions (CO2) |
8 |
None |
Department’s website |
|
2016 |
Galway to Dublin Greenway Plan |
55 |
€2,385.29 |
Held in Department's records |
|
2016 |
National Sports Policy |
54 |
Nil |
Department’s website |
|
2016 |
Stakeholder consultation regarding the review of the Code of Practice for the Safe Operation of Recreational Craft |
24 |
Nil |
Held in Department's records |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2017 |
National Policy Framework for Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport in Ireland |
47 |
€1,590.19 |
Held in Department's records |
|
2017 |
Adaptation Plan |
10 |
€1,476.60 |
Held in Department's records |
|
2017 |
Limited stakeholder consultation regarding the review of the Code of Practice for the Safe Operation of Recreational Craft |
13 |
Nil |
Held in Department's records |
|
2017 |
Regulatory Impact Analysis for a Proposed Merchant Shipping (International Conventions) Bill |
12 |
Nil |
Held in Department's records |
|
2017 |
Proposal for a Regulation on safeguarding competition in air transport |
5 |
None |
Held in Department's records |
|
2017 |
Strategy for the future Development of Greenways |
5,365 |
€2,498.87 |
Held in Department's records |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2018 |
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on port reception facilities for the delivery of waste from ships |
2 |
€0.00 |
Held in Department's records |
|
2018 |
Inviting views from the rickshaw industry, particularly fleet owners and drivers, on the development of a future regulatory pathway for rickshaw use in Ireland. |
35 |
€2,812.89 |
Held in Department's records |
|
2018 |
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on port reception facilities for the delivery of waste from ships |
2 |
Nil |
Held in Department's records
|
885. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of measures to address overcrowding on the docklands to Maynooth rail service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45005/18]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann 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.
886. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocated funding for the sustainable transport measures grant programme for 2018; and the amount which has been drawn down to date. [45021/18]
View answerThe Deputy may wish to be aware that the sustainable transport measures grant programme is now known as the Sustainable Urban Transport programme and forms part of the overall funding supports made available to support the interlinked programmes of active travel and sustainable transport.
Over the period 2018 to 2021 these programmes will benefit from significantly increased funding allocations:
- €750million as part of the BusConnects programme in Dublin which will include the delivery of around 200 kilometres of segregated cycling lanes where possible;
- €135million for sustainable urban transport and smarter travel measures; and
- €110million for other cycling and walking infrastructure measures in our major urban areas.
Alongside these, there will also be €53million to support the development of new Greenways in more rural areas in line with the recently published Greenways Strategy.
These are all multi-annual capital infrastructure programmes; the annual allocations will vary over the lifetime of the individual programmes, while drawdowns within a particular year will vary considerably depending on the time of year and specific progress on individual projects.
Funding for the Sustainable Urban Transport programme is provided by my Department to the National Transport Authority (NTA), which in turn works with relevant local authorities as required to fund, develop and deliver specific projects in any given year.
Noting the NTA's responsibilities on the matter, 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.
887. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress made on the provision of additional capacity on the Kildare rail line from Hazelhatch and Sallins to Dublin; if additional carriages have been ordered for this service; when it is anticipated these new carriages will be put into use; if consideration has been given to the redeployment of pre-used carriages for this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45121/18]
View answer888. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress made on the provision of additional capacity on the Kildare rail line from Maynooth to Dublin; if additional carriages have been ordered for this service; when it is anticipated these new carriages will be put into use; if consideration has been given to the redeployment of pre-used carriages for this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45122/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 887 and 888 together.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for ensuring the development and delivery of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area including, in consultation with Iarnród Éireann, the provision of rail fleet.
In light of the NTA's responsibility on this matter, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
889. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the powers or actions at his disposal regarding dangerous old suburban link roads that fail considerably when compared with modern standards such as those in the design manual for urban road and streets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45128/18]
View answer918. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to carry out a road safety audit of Hillcrest Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18, in view of section 5.4.1 of the design manual for urban roads and streets (details supplied). [45370/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 889 and 918 together.
The Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS) is available on my Department’s website. The Manual sets out design guidance and standards for constructing new and reconfiguring existing urban roads and streets in Ireland. It aims to end the practice of designing streets as traffic corridors and instead focuses on the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users. DMURS emphasises the role of streets as social spaces, where people come first and uses practical examples from Irish cities and towns to show how these issues can be designed for and managed successfully. The transformation envisaged is not to the total exclusion of the car but is rather about achieving a better balance in how our urban roads and streets are designed and used.
This Manual represents a major change in the design of urban roads and streets and its use is mandatory both in the design of new urban roads and street schemes as well as in instances where significant upgrades are being designed.
Section 5.4.1 of the Manual stipulates that it is mandatory to carry out a Road Safety Audit on any permanent change to the road layout on National Roads and Transport Infrastructure Ireland has published standards in that regard. In addition, the standards are commended to roads authorities for use in preparation of their own road schemes on Regional or Local roads.
Also, my Department requires that Road Safety Audits and Road User Audits are undertaken by roads authorities (i.e. City and County Councils) on certain categories of road schemes funded or co-funded by my Department. In that regard, it should be noted that since the revision of the arrangements for the retention of Local Property Tax in 2015, the Dublin Councils no longer receive any grant assistance from my Department under the main grant categories. Consideration of whether a road safety audit should be carried out on Hillcrest Road, Sandyford would be wholly and solely a matter for Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown County Council.
DMURS was originally launched in 2013 and is currently being updated through the inclusion of some supplementary material towards providing additional clarity. It is intended to launch the updated document, along with a dedicated website, in the near future.
890. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he or his officials have met with either the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, the Minister for Justice and Equality and or his officials or the Office of Public Works, OPW, regarding the Thornton Hall site in the context of using it for the expansion of Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45163/18]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that neither I nor my officials have had any meetings regarding the Thornton Hall site in the context of using it for the expansion of Dublin Airport.
891. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if dedicated funding will be provided for the development of a pedestrian crossing on the Finisklin Road, County Sligo, under the low cost safety works for 2019, when the application is submitted to him by Sligo County Council in view of the ongoing concerns regarding students crossing this road and the potential for an accident to occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45178/18]
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 the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants.
Applications for funding under the Department's Safety Improvement Scheme are invited on an annual basis for funding in the subsequent year. Councils are made aware of the conditions in relation to applications for funding and are advised that preference will be given to proposals in the cost range €2,000 to €30,000 and that proposals in higher cost ranges, (i.e. €30,000 to €200,000) may be considered if the benefit to cost ratio is promising.
Local authorities are asked to submit applications for funding in order of priority and in this context it is up to individual local authorities to prioritise schemes. Local authorities are informed of allocations under the Safety Improvement Scheme as part of the annual grant award process. The 2019 allocations will be announced early next year.
It is also open to Councils to develop pedestrian crossings from their Discretionary grant or from their own resources.
892. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 535 and 536 of 2 October 2018, if he will make further contact with the NTA to seek a further reply to correspondence (details supplied) in view of the fact a reply to correspondence to the NTA from this Deputy has not been received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45180/18]
View answerI note the exchange of correspondence between the Deputy and the National Transport Authority (NTA) dated 16 and 25 October.
In view of the Deputy's request and in light of the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have referred the Deputy's query to the NTA for further clarification and direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
893. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a company (details supplied) has undertaken work within his Department's remit to build or renovate projects over the past ten years; if so, the project name and location; the year in which it was built; if building fire safety inspections have been carried out on the projects since construction; the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45208/18]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) is the legal owner of the properties it acquires to provide office accommodation for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and, accordingly, the OPW is responsible for the purchase/lease of properties in its ownership. This is therefore a matter for my colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works.
894. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 339 of 23 October 2018, the reason he is not in a position to supply the number of troops carried as passengers per flight. [45249/18]
View answer895. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 557, 559 and 560 of 23 October 2018, the number of weapons and munitions and or ammunition carried on each of these five aircraft. [45250/18]
View answer896. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 557, 559 and 560 of 23 October 2018, if decisions whether to grant permission for the use of landing and refuelling facilities at Shannon Airport by aircraft on contract to the US military are not now and have not been since 2001 the same as those applied in years preceding 2001 as was demonstrated in documents discovered by a person (details supplied) from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade records during a High Court case. [45251/18]
View answer897. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which statistics are produced on the number of US troops travelling through Shannon Airport on an annual basis as was done, for example, in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 593 of 27 February 2018; if it is not possible for his Department to supply the number of troops carried as passengers per flight as stated in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 559 of 23 October 2018. [45253/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 894 to 897, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the functions of the Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973, (as amended) relate only to the carriage of munitions on board civil aircraft. My Department does not maintain records of the number of troops transiting through Shannon Airport. It is understood that Shannon Airport Authority maintains statistics on all passenger numbers, including US troops, transiting through the airport. Under the provisions of the Order an exemption is granted in respect of specified aircraft in regard to a particular aircraft operation. A single exemption permit is issued per aircraft and the permit is not based on the number of weapons and munitions carried on board each aircraft.
The granting of an Exemption for the carriage of munitions of war is organised around a long-established procedure for considering applications from airlines to land aircraft in Ireland or transit through Irish sovereign airspace with munitions of war on board. Decisions on whether to grant permission for the carriage of munitions are guided by the views of other relevant Government Departments, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Justice. In the event that any objections are raised in relation to prevailing Foreign Policy considerations, the relevant applications are refused by my Department.
898. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of rail passengers using the train at locations (details supplied) in north County Kildare in each of the years 2012 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45258/18]
View answerThe 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.
899. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of buses that will be added to the Dublin Bus fleet in 2019. [45259/18]
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 including the purchase of additional bus fleet.
Noting the NTA's responsibilities on the matter, 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.
900. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 559 of 23 October 2018, the reason he does not have a record (details supplied) in view of the fact that a photograph taken at Shannon Airport on 10 October 2018 clearly shows the aircraft in question as being present. [45271/18]
View answer901. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 559 of 23 October 2018, the cargo an aircraft (details supplied) was carrying; and if it had permission from his Department to land at or carry munitions through Shannon Airport. [45272/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 900 and 901 together.
Further to my reply to Question No: 559 answered on Tuesday 23rd October 2018, officials from my Department have made further enquiries into the matter with Shannon Airport.
It appears that, due to an administrative error, the aircraft with registration number N710CK was incorrectly recorded as N701CK.
No application for a munitions of war permit in accordance with the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders, 1973 and 1989 was made to my Department in respect of either aircraft N710CK or N701CK for the date in question.
902. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress being made on works to the N11 to ease chronic traffic congestion. [45293/18]
View answer903. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a review will be requested into the ability of emergency services to respond to accidents on the N11 in view of the congestion on the road. [45294/18]
View answer904. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extra safety measures he is taking in view of the heightened danger to road users amid congestion on the N11. [45295/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 902 to 904, inclusive, together.
As 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 Deputy's question to TII for a more detailed and direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
