Written Answers Nos. 561-580
561. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the commercial vehicles theory test is only available two days per month in Killarney, County Kerry; his plans to increase the number of days per month that the commercial vehicles theory test can be taken there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53016/18]
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.
562. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the moneys paid to the private partner of the M3 Clonee-Kells PPP in traffic-related guarantee payments in 2017 and to date in 2018. [53045/18]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. However, 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 your 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 Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the moneys paid to the private partner of the Limerick tunnel in traffic-related guarantee payments in 2017 and to date in 2018. [53046/18]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. However, 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 your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
564. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to a crossing point (details supplied) in County Kildare that is not fit for purpose; his plans to rectify the situation; if provision can be made for safe crossings for non-motor vehicle traffic and foot traffic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53058/18]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant County or City Council, 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 Council.
Prior to the financial crisis, applications for funding for road improvement projects would have been considered as part of the Specific Improvement, and Strategic Regional and Local Road Grant Schemes. However, the extent of the cutbacks in grant funding during the crisis meant these grant schemes had to be curtailed after 2013 because expenditure on maintenance/renewal was falling well short of what was required to adequately maintain the regional and local road network.
The NDP does provide for the gradual build up in funding for the road network but it will take some years yet to reach the level required for the adequate maintenance and renewal of the network. For this reason there is limited scope at present for funding projects under the Specific and Strategic Grant Programmes.
Any projects proposed by local authorities for consideration under the Specific and Strategic Grant Programmes are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis. All projects put forward by local authorities for consideration must comply with the requirements of the Public Spending Code and my Department's Capital Appraisal Framework and it is important for local authorities to prioritise projects within their overall area of responsibility with these requirements in mind.
Under the capital project appraisal process a Preliminary Appraisal has to be submitted in relation to each proposed project. Once an appraisal is received it is assessed taking into account other competing projects and the overall roads budget. In this case, a Preliminary Appraisal has been received by my Department from Kildare County Council in relation to the Celbridge Relief Road and Second Liffey Crossing. This Preliminary Appraisal is currently under review.
An application in relation to this Scheme was also submitted under the NDP Urban Regeneration and Development Fund administered by my colleague Minister Murphy's Department and approval in principle has been given by that Department for the allocation of funding in 2019 for technical assistance for the advancement of the Scheme.
565. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a matter (details supplied) regarding providing transport to and from rural public houses will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53063/18]
View answerThe Deputy refers to a specific company, which is licensed as a dispatch operator in Ireland and which, in other countries, provides a ridesharing service. As you know, the National Transport Authority (NTA) as Regulator of the small public service vehicle sector has regulatory oversight of the sector, including the licensing of vehicles and drivers. The current regulatory regime is in place to protect the consumer and to help ensure personal safety. My view is that the regulation of ridesharing services should also be determined in the context of these important objectives. My Department continues to keep abreast of emerging technologies and is open to considering innovative initiatives.
As regards rural transport, the NTA has been assigned responsibility for providing integrated local and rural transport. This includes responsibility for the Rural Transport Programme which now operates under the "LocalLink" brand.
With this in mind and given the two distinct roles of the NTA in this respect, I have also referred your question to the Authority for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
566. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated number of unofficial Border crossings with Northern Ireland in addition to the 208 public road Border crossings; the location of such crossings; the classification of the roads leading to such crossing points; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53150/18]
View answerMy Department recently worked with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland to determine and agree on public road border crossings on the island of Ireland. The resulting Report is available on my Department’s website together with the associated 'crossings point data' set.
The process in preparing the Report involved joint working prior to a final agreement on the number and type of public road border crossings. Unofficial border crossings were outside the scope of the Report.
567. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the public transport capital projects that will commence in 2019; when each capital project will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53229/18]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018 to 2027 will enable extensive investment across Ireland's transport sector supporting the overall development of an integrated and sustainable national public transport system.
As stated in the NDP, €8.6 billion has been indicatively allocated over the period 2018 to 2027 toward the delivery of National Strategic Outcome 4 – Sustainable Mobility, of which the following is allocated toward specific programmes:
- BusConnects €2.4 billion
- MetroLink €3 billion
- DART Expansion €2 billion.
In addition to the above, the NDP also commits toward the construction of a new National Train Control Centre and the Luas Green Line Capacity Enhancement project.
All of these programmes and projects are in various stages of development and implementation and, noting the NTA's responsibility for implementation of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply in relation to the various projects. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
568. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an application for funding has been received as part of the sports capital programme (details supplied) for shared playing and recreational facilities in County Donegal; if his attention has been drawn to the merits of the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53230/18]
View answerThe 2018 round of the Sports Capital Programme opened for applications on Friday 7 September and the application period closed on Friday 19th October. By that deadline, a record 2,337 applications were submitted seeking a total of €162m in funding.
I can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation referred to by the Deputy. The sharing of sports facilities is a stated objective of the Sports Capital Programme and any applicant that provides evidence of sharing of facilities, by way of a licence agreement between the local sports groups and/or schools, will receive extra marks at assessment stage.
For the first time, applicants who have submitted incorrect documentation under this round will be given the opportunity to correct their application during the assessment period. While there will be no undue delay in completing the assessment process, in view of the opportunity to correct documentation, the record number of applications received and the detailed information contained in each application, it is likely to take a number of months to have all applications assessed. Accordingly, I expect that it will be at least the second quarter of next year before the full set of allocations under this current round of the programme are announced.
569. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be allocated for a project (details supplied). [53303/18]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant County or City Council, 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, where applicable. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the Council.
570. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a transport strategy (details supplied). [53304/18]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have no statutory function in relation to the development of the transport strategy in question.
I understand however that there has been engagement between the local authority and the National Transport Authority (NTA) in relation to the strategy and I have therefore referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for their consideration and direct reply.
Please notify my office if you have not received a response within 10 working days.
571. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the roll-out of defibrillators across the Luas network and the training of personnel in their use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53309/18]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for the Luas operator Transdev in conjunction with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the Department of Health. Therefore, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
572. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress made regarding the establishment of a motor insurance database; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53339/18]
View answerRecommendation 28 of the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance concerns the establishment of a motor insurance database, known as the Motor Third Party Liability (MTPL) insurance database, to identify uninsured driving. Phase 1 relating to privately owned motor vehicles will provide insured and uninsured vehicle lists to An Garda Síochána based on vehicle licence plate number and insurer name. This includes providing a list of uninsured vehicles that can be loaded into the An Garda Síochána Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System.
Phase 2 of the project, which includes the capturing of driver numbers, has an expected date for its completion by the end of 2020.
I acknowledge the commitment of the insurance industry, including their financial commitment, to deliver the MTPL insurance database project as soon as possible. In tandem with the efforts of the insurance industry, my Department will do everything possible to support the efforts of the industry, including through any road traffic legislative measures necessary to support these efforts, in developing the database.
573. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be made available for a western orbital route to help alleviate traffic congestion on the M50 especially between the N4 and N7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53340/18]
View answerTransport Infrastructure Ireland, in association with South Dublin County Council, undertook and published a N4/N7 Corridor Study last year. This Study assessed future traffic patterns in this area and possible measures to address forecast travel demand. A Western Orbital Route is one of the possible measures examined.
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 the local authority's own resources supplemented by State road grants, where applicable. Arising from the arrangements in place in relation to Local Property Tax receipts the four Dublin Councils became self-funding for regional and local roads under the main road grant categories from 2015.
As regards the possible measures identified in the TII/ South Dublin County Council N4/N7 Corridor Study, the further assessment of options is a matter for the local authority taking into account the National Transport Authority's Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area.
574. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions he is taking to improve traffic congestion in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53341/18]
View answerMy priority in improving the efficiency and sustainability of transport in Dublin and relieving traffic congestion is to provide an attractive alternative for drivers using private cars as their primary mode of transport. This will be done through the delivery of increased public transport capacity, improved service quality, and a greater choice of public transport, as well as making it easier and safer for people to walk and cycle.
As the Deputy is aware, the National Transport Authority’s (NTA) Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035 provides the overarching framework for the planning and delivery of transport infrastructure and services for Dublin. Building on the strategy and a number of recently completed projects which have already improved public transport capacity and quality, the National Development Plan 2018-2027 identifies a number of major investments in public transport for Dublin. The NDP commits to delivering the new Metrolink, the DART Expansion Programme, and BusConnects Dublin.
Planning of these major public transport investment projects is underway and is scheduled for delivery progressively over the lifetime of the NDP.
Meanwhile, in the shorter term, a range of other measures are being undertaken that will help ensure the more effective functioning of public transport services in Dublin. These include:
- improving timetables to intensify the frequency of passenger services, as has happened this year on both PSO bus and rail networks;
- expansion of the PSO bus fleet, which has increased by approximately 17% in recent years and will increase again next year;
- extending trams on the Luas Green Line and increasing the number of trams on the line too; and
- providing upgraded cycling and walking infrastructure, and a number of significant projects are due to commence construction in 2019.
The NTA meets regularly with the relevant local authorities and public transport service providers to monitor and react to traffic issues in Dublin and to identify and implement service improvements. The alleviation of traffic congestion requires a combination of these short term measures, together with a substantial programme of the medium and longer term projects which I have outlined.
575. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a proper road intersection will be provided at the junction of Kennelsfort Road, Palmerstown, Dublin 20 and the N4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53342/18]
View answerI would like to explain that this section of the "old N4" is now classified as a regional road (the R148) and that 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.
As regards funding, roadworks on regional and local roads are funded from each local authority's own resources supplemented by State road grants, where applicable. Arising from the arrangements in place in relation to Local Property Tax receipts, the four Dublin Councils are largely self-funding for works on regional and local roads since 2015 and my Department no longer provides grants to these Councils under the main road grant categories.
576. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration has been given to bringing forward plans to develop a Luas line to Lucan in view of significant congestion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53343/18]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development and implementation of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area including light rail projects.
Noting their responsibility in relation to this matter, I have forwarded your query to the NTA for their consideration and direct reply. Please notify my office if you have not received a reply within 10 working days.
577. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration has been given to providing a small number of child-sized bicycles in certain stations under the public bike scheme in operation in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway. [53380/18]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to cycle and public transport infrastructure. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport, including the management of public bike schemes.
Noting the NTA's statutory responsibilities in relation to the provision of cycling facilities and schemes to promote cycling 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.
578. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the engagement he has had with Waterford City and County Council on the establishment of a public bike scheme in the city. [53381/18]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation public transport and cycling infrastructure. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations, including the management of public bike schemes.
Noting the National Transport Authority's statutory responsibilities in relation to the provision of cycling infrastructure, I have referred the Deputy's question to it for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
579. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when approval will be given by the NTA to an application made by Iarnród Éireann (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53402/18]
View answerThe issued raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply.
Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten days.
580. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 1172 of 7 September 2018, the ratio of families-to-support worker for each of those years; if there is a waiting list for allocation of support workers; the average length of time each family is waiting for the support; her views on the Tusla reply that such data are not centrally collated and therefore not provided; if she has requested such data from Tusla; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52807/18]
View answerI have not requested this data from Tusla. As Tusla outlined to the Deputy in its response to his question of 13 December, Tusla does not collate this data centrally. To do so would necessitate an examination of information held locally in individual files, which would require a significant investment of time and resources. It should be noted that Tusla collates a great deal of information across the range of its services, much of which is made publicly available on its website.
