Written Answers Nos. 473-494
473. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of electricity generated from non-fossil fuel generation facilities; the extent to which this can be increased in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53972/18]
View answerI refer to the reply for Question No. 545 of the 18th December 2018.
In addition, my Department is developing the new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) the High Level Design of which was approved by Government in July 2018. It is expected that the first renewable electricity auctions will take place under RESS in 2019. The RESS will provide for a renewable electricity ambition of 55% by 2030. Furthermore, the National Development Plan will support Ireland’s offshore renewable energy potential through upgrading domestic and international grid connectivity.
474. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of imported biomass in each of the past five years to date; the location from which it came; the generating stations at which it was consumed; the amount of electricity produced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53973/18]
View answer475. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of entities importing biomass; the generating stations to which the fuel is deployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53974/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 474 and 475 together.
Information regarding the sources of electricity generation including biomass are publicly available in the report entitled Energy in Ireland, published by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) earlier this month and available on the their website at www.seai.ie.
SEAI’s data shows that in 2017, approximately €439 million in fossil fuel imports were avoided by the use of renewable energy and that electricity generated from biomass accounted for 8% of renewable electricity in 2017. In terms of Ireland’s energy balance, imports of renewable energy in 2017 were 159 kilo tonnes of oil equivalent (Ktoe) which includes biomass for use in electricity generation.
Specific data regarding the fuel supply of individual generating stations is a commercial matter for the companies involved. Regarding biomass used for electricity generation at the Edenderry co-firing plant, Bord na Mona’s most recent annual report states that 80% of the biomass used in the Edenderry power station in the year to end March 2018 came from domestic sources.
The table below provides data from SEAI in tonnes of oil equivalent of biomass used for electricity generation for biomass co-firing and Combined Heat and Power from 2012 to 2017.
|
Biomass (ktoe) |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Input in cofiring |
1,158 |
1,969 |
2,304 |
1,689 |
3,553 |
3,440 |
|
Input into CHP |
179 |
161 |
127 |
105 |
122 |
121 |
|
Output from cofiring |
159 |
213 |
251 |
184 |
379 |
366 |
|
Output from CHP |
20 |
14 |
14 |
13 |
16 |
16 |
478. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to support additional rural transport schemes; if consideration will be given to supporting the roll out of a service (details supplied) in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53766/18]
View answer484. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration has been given to the roll out of a service (details supplied) in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53765/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 478 and 484 together.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has regulatory oversight of the small public service vehicle sector, including the licensing of vehicles and drivers.
My view is that the regulation of ridesharing services should be determined in the context of consumer protection and helping to ensure personal safety. My Department continues to keep abreast of emerging technologies and is open to considering innovative initiatives.
As regards rural transport, I should also explain that the NTA has been assigned responsibility for integrated local and rural transport. This includes, since 2012, responsibility for the Rural Transport Programme which now operates under the "Local Link" brand.
Given the two distinct roles of the NTA in this regard, 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.
479. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if licensed taxi drivers are permitted to seek and acquire insurance for work vehicles from insurance companies in other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53508/18]
View answerInsurance companies are regulated by the Central Bank, and neither my Department nor I have any role in the matters which the Deputy is raising. I understand that my colleague the Minister for Finance, within whose remit the Central Bank fall, answered a question on this matter recently - Question No. 48 of 25 October 2018 - and I would advise the Deputy to direct any further requests for information to him.
480. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of wheelchair accessible taxis by local authority or county and whether it is a hackney or taxi; the percentage this represents of the taxi fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53527/18]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the licensing of wheelchair accessible taxis and wheelchair accessible hackneys, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.
Accordingly, 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.
481. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount spent by his Department on public advertising and the purchase of external communications and publicity in 2018 by advertising campaign including specific amounts on social media campaigns (details supplied) or other digital platforms; the amount spent on public relations or other communications support in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53584/18]
View answerInformation on all external expenditure is published on my Department's website and can be found at the following link: http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/expenditure-external-services
The information is published on a six monthly basis. The second part of 2018 (July to December) will be published early in 2019.
Just to note my Department has no expenditure on social media including Facebook and Twitter
482. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding provided by Transport Infrastructure Ireland to Cavan, Meath and Monaghan county councils since 2014 for maintenance works on national roads in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53625/18]
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 maintenance, improvement 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.
483. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the next sports capital grants programme for large scale projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53763/18]
View answerThe National Development Plan (NDP) and the National Sports Policy contain a commitment to establish a new “Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund” (LSSIF) with at least €100 million available over the coming years.
The LSSIF opened for applications on 19th November and the closing date for applications is the 17th April 2019. Full details of the scheme and application forms are available on my Department's website at http://www.dttas.ie/sport/english/large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif.
The aim of the fund is to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects where the Exchequer investment would be greater than the maximum amount available under the Sports Capital Programme (SCP). Initially, the scheme is confined to National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) and Local Authorities.
The scheme outlines the types of projects that are eligible for assistance but is not prescriptive. Funds for the scheme are limited and applicants should be aware that it is a competitive process. Simply meeting the minimum criteria under the headings set out in the scheme will not guarantee funding.
All project proposals will be subject to appropriate economic analysis. It is a requirement of the scheme that all applicants can show a minimum own funding of 30% of the overall project cost. Furthermore all NGB's and local authorities will be asked to prioritise the applications which they submit.
485. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of road passenger transport operators that submit returns in relation to the number of passenger journeys on licensed services by county of address of each operator; and the number of passengers carried by each operator in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018. [53772/18]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the licensing of public bus passenger services under the provisions of the PublicTransport Regulation Act 2009.
Accordingly, 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.
486. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to make disability awareness training mandatory for drivers of all public service obligation funded road passenger services. [53774/18]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 the National Transport Authority (NTA) has functional responsibility for promoting the development of an integrated, accessible public transport network. In addition, the NTA has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities in this matter, 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.
487. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will request TII to investigate the surface finish on the M7 between Roscrea and Birdhill in view of the volume of accidents on the route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53781/18]
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, maintenance and improvement 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 matter to TII for their direct response to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
488. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ensure no delays are experienced on a road project (details supplied) in County Kildare as a result of decisions required from a semi-State transport company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53854/18]
View answerThe Athy Southern Distributor Road is among the road improvement projects included in the National Development Plan 2018-2027. Implementation of the scheme is the responsibility of Kildare County Council.
Sections 13(1) and 13(3) of the Transport Act 1950 and section 11 of the Transport Act 1964 provide Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) with the statutory power to acquire, dispose or develop property, subject to the consent of its Board. It is, therefore, a matter for CIÉ to liaise directly with Kildare County Council in relation to the issue raised. I have forwarded the Deputy's question to CIÉ for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
489. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of National Transport Authority taxi inspectors on duty by county or local authority basis; if National Transport Authority inspectors have been granted additional resources to inspect taxis at ranks or from the roadside over Christmas 2018 and the 2019 new year period outside of regular office hours (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53908/18]
View answer490. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of taxi plates and or licences revoked in 2017 and to date in 2018, by county; the general reasons a licence or plate is revoked by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53909/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 489 and 490 together.
The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA).
As the Deputy is aware, the NTA is responsible for appointing taxi enforcement officers and issues relating to the working hours of these officers is a matter for the Authority.
To be of assistance, I have referred your questions to the Authority for direct reply to you. I trust that they will be able to provide you with the statistics you have requested. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
491. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding provided to each local authority in 2017 and 2018 for the purposes of local and regional roads maintenance by county. [53966/18]
View answerThe 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 to local authorities are outlined in the regional and local road grant booklets which are available in the Dáil Library.
492. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of driver licence holders here in each year since 2006, in tabular form. [53967/18]
View answerAs this 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.
493. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the PSO funding that has been provided to each public transport operator in 2018; and the amount that will be provided in 2019, in tabular form. [53968/18]
View answerSince 2010 my Department no longer pays subvention for public transport services paid directly to operators.
The award of Public Service Obligation (PSO) funding falls under the independent statutory remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA). The allocations to the companies are decided by the NTA in exercise of its statutory mandate and, in accordance with the various contract arrangements that it has in place with PSO service providers. I have therefore referred 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.
494. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding provided to date in 2018 for the purposes of building cycle ways and greenways by county. [53969/18]
View answerIn relation to cycleways specifically, the NTA has statutory responsibility to secure or provide cycling infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area and the Regional Cities of Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford. I have therefore 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.
As the Deputy may be aware, over the period 2018 to 2021 I have secured significantly improved funding allocations which will benefit both cycling and walking.
These improved allocations over the 2018 to 2021 period include:
- €110million specifically dedicated to cycling and walking infrastructure in our major urban areas;
- €135million for sustainable urban transport measures; and
- €750million towards the BusConnects programme in Dublin which will include the delivery of around 200 kilometres of segregated cycling lanes, where possible.
As can be seen from the above, these are multi-annual capital expenditure programmes which will positively assist with the better development and provision of cycling and walking infrastructure across the State.
In addition to these infrastructure measures, my Department also provides funding to the National Transport Authority (NTA) in relation to behavioural change programmes and to Cycling Ireland to develop a new national cycle training standard - "Cycle Right" – which was rolled out in January 2017 and expected to train approximately 20,000 primary school students this year.
In regards to Greenways, €3,256,402 was drawn down in 2018 by existing projects that have been allocated funding.
Waterford City and County Council drew down a total of €1,398,565 in 2018. This was to cover additional works on the Waterford Greenway.
Kildare County Council drew down a total of €1,130,843 this year to cover work on their section of the Galway to Dublin Greenway.
Meath County Council had a drawdown of €111,000 for the year for their work on the Royal Canal Greenway.
I expect that the Maynooth to Athlone section of the Galway to Dublin Greenway will be open by summer 2019.
Kerry County Council drew down €597,304 on planning and design works for the South Kerry Greenway.
Clare County Council had a drawdown of €11,716 on the West Clare Greenway in 2018.
An allocation of €6,973 was also made given to Sport Ireland Trails for their Trail inspection programme and Eurovelo assessments.
