Written Answers Nos. 30-47
30. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to develop the Ireland's Hidden Heartlands tourism brand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14770/19]
View answerIt is now almost one year since I launched the Ireland's Hidden Heartlands tourism experience brand. I am satisfied with progress so far and the area has great potential for further development.
As a tourism experience brand, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands stands to benefit from a broad programme of Fáilte Ireland supports. Initial investment has been designed to help develop visitor experiences and associated tourism infrastructure, products, services and marketing. The next phase of brand development includes Tourism Master Plans for the River Shannon and Beara Breifne Way – the two centrepieces of the brand offering.
The development of Ireland's Hidden Heartlands on the ground is led by Fáilte Ireland and I have asked the agency to provide the Deputy with further detail as to the development plans. Please contact my private office if you have not received a reply within ten working days.
31. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if drivers crossing the Border will require green cards for the purposes of insurance after Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9849/19]
View answerLet me explain first what the Green Card system is. Green Cards were introduced before the Treaty of Rome, as a way of facilitating travel within Europe. Before the creation of the Green Card system, persons travelling with mechanically propelled vehicles between countries had to make separate insurance arrangements and carry separate documentation for each country they entered. The Green Card is a document which functions as proof of insurance, to be produced as such when required. It is not an insurance policy.
48 countries, including all EU Member States, are party of the Green Card system. However, under the terms of the EU Motor Insurance Directive, Green Cards are not required for travel within the EU. When the UK leaves the EU it will ceases to be a Member State and will therefore cease to be covered by the Directive.
What follows depends on the circumstances in which the UK leaves the EU. In the case of a departure based on the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated between the EU and the UK, there would be a transition period to December 2020, during which Green Cards would not be required. The intention is for this period to be used to negotiate a lasting arrangement between the EU and the UK, which would also avoid the need for Green Cards. Were such a final agreement not to be in place at the end of the transition period, the Backstop element of the Withdrawal Agreement would take effect. Once again, this should mean no need for Green Cards.
In the event of the UK departing from Europe with no deal in place, the default position would be that Green Cards would be required for EU-registered vehicles entering the UK and for UK-registered vehicles entering the EU. The body responsible for Green Cards in Ireland is the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland (MIBI). In order to prepare for the contingency of a possible no deal Brexit, the MIBI rightly took measures, in conjunction with insurance companies and brokers, to be ready to issue Green Cards if necessary. I understand that planning began last Autumn. During March 2019, given the lack of certainty on the future of the Brexit process, the issuing of Green Cards to motorists began.
It is possible under the Directive for the EU Commission to waive the requirement for Green Cards from any particular Third Country. In order for this to happen, it is a requirement that the national Motor Insurers Bureaux of all the Member States unanimously request it. I gather that all of the Bureaux have indeed made this request in respect of the UK, to take account of the possibility of a no deal outcome. The Commission has not responded to date, and we continue to request a decision.
If in spite of all efforts to the contrary a no deal Brexit should occur, and pending any decision by the Commission on a waiver of Green Cards, the default position will be that Green Cards will be required.
As I have said, the Green Card is used as proof of insurance and is not an insurance policy. The essential question for Irish motorists will then be whether their insurance policies cover driving in the UK. I understand that the vast majority of Irish motor insurance policies already include cover for travel in the UK and will continue to do so even in a no-deal Brexit. However, they will need to carry the Green Card as proof of insurance if no other agreement is reached in the meantime.
It is possible that some policies may not cover driving in the UK in the event of a no-deal Brexit. I would therefor advise drivers who may be travelling to or through Northern Ireland or Great Britain to check their motor insurance policies and, if in doubt, check with their insurers that such travel would be covered.
The position taken by authorities in Northern Ireland and Britain in relation to Green Cards for vehicles entering their jurisdiction from the EU in the event of a no deal Brexit is a matter for those authorities.
32. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the Irish Aviation Authority (Amendment) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15127/19]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, a draft Irish Aviation Authority (Amendment) Bill was discussed at the Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport in November 2017 as part of pre-legislative scrutiny. As explained during that session, the purpose of the Bill was to provide an additional funding stream for the IAA - by way of an industry levy - in respect of its civil aviation security responsibilities. As I recall, the Committee was broadly supportive of the proposals.
However, during follow-up consultations with the Office of the Attorney General, further legal consideration was given to whether the proposals set out in the draft Bill were more appropriate to be provided for in Regulations made under Section 3 of the European Communities Act 1972, and therefore brought forward under Statutory Instrument. Further instructions in that regard have recently been provided by my Department to the Office of the Attorney General, the outcome of which I hope will be final clarity on the way forward on this matter.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the issue is entirely around establishing whether the proposals should be brought forward under primary or secondary legislation. The substance of the proposals remains as discussed with the Committee.
33. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied that the public consultation process for residents along the proposed MetroLink and BusConnects route in the Griffith Avenue, Drumcondra, Dublin 9 area was carried out in good faith; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15149/19]
View answerThe Deputy will be well aware of the need to transform public transport. In order to embark on that transformation, the relevant agencies of course need to consult with communities.
Since the launch of BusConnects and MetroLink, the NTA has engaged in an extensive consultation process with citizens and community groups across the city.
There's been a wealth of information published online and in the press in relation to MetroLink and for each and every one of the 16 BusConnects corridors, as well as a huge amount of detail provided last summer in relation to the proposed new BusConnects network as it was first published.
There’s also been active and sustained personal engagement with communities and citizens across the city to explain the proposals but also, of course, to listen to people’s views.
As well as the above, the NTA has written to each and every individual property owner who might be personally impacted by the proposals under BusConnects and has offered a one-to-one meeting to explain, in person and in detail, the implications, the timelines and the process involved.
As it embarks upon this transformation to improve transport services, the NTA is actively engaging with all local communities, listening to a wide range of views and publishing revised proposals to address many of the issues raised.
I am very satisfied that these consultations have been substantial in terms of their scale, reach and depth of engagement and that local communities will continue to engage with the NTA in the ongoing consultations.
34. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the sports capital programme funds will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15100/19]
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.
186 of these applications were for projects that were deemed invalid under the 2017 round of the programme that subsequently submitted corrected documents. These applications were assessed first and approximately €7m in allocations to 170 projects were announced on the 17th January.
Work is now under way in assessing the new 2018 applications. 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 the third quarter of this year before the full set of allocations are announced.
36. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the process by which he could direct the National Transport Authority, NTA, to consider and develop alternative alignments for the southside section of the metro. [15087/19]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to his previous question Priority Question No. 5 which I answered earlier.
37. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on an alteration to the design of MetroLink to ensure the section running from the estuary roundabout in Swords along the R132 to south of the Fosterstown lands remains underground as opposed to the current plan of part underground and part in a cut; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15168/19]
View answer60. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the MetroLink project; if a cost-benefit analysis has been carried out on the new route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15102/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 60 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 statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including MetroLink.
In relation to a cost-benefit analysis, all expenditure of public money must comply with the requirements of the Public Spending Code and for projects such as MetroLink it is a requirement of that Code that a detailed business case be submitted to Government for its approval before the project can proceed to planning. I am informed that the NTA expects to submit a Railway Order application to An Bord Pleanála in Quarter 2 2020. I expect therefore that a such a detailed business case will be submitted to my Department in advance of that Railway Order application.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputies' questions to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
38. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the rationale for rescheduling funding from the upgrade project of the A5 motorway; if funding will be provided for same in the future; the revised timeline indicated for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9752/19]
View answerThe planning and implementation of the A5 upgrade project is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland authorities.
The current funding arrangements in relation to the A5 are governed by the Stormont House Agreement and Implementation Plan - A Fresh Start. Under this Agreement the Government is committed to provide funding of £75 million (sterling) towards the cost of Phase 1a of the A5 upgrade scheme. The aim of this commitment was to facilitate the delivery of this phase of the scheme as soon as possible once the planning process in Northern Ireland was concluded.
As part of the Capital Plan Review in 2017 financial provision was made for meeting the Government's commitment regarding the A5 in 3 tranches over the period 2019 to 2021. When those allocations were put in place it was anticipated that the planning process would have concluded and construction of the 1st phase started before now.
However, legal challenges to the approval of the scheme have resulted in unavoidable delays to the timeframe for implementation of the scheme. Following judicial review proceedings last year the scheme approval was quashed.
Allowing for the time required by the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure (DfI) to review work previously undertaken on the scheme and implement necessary statutory procedures, it was evident, following liaison at official level, that the initial €27 million tranche of funding would not be drawn down this year and would need to be rolled forward. As was the case for previous Government contributions, it is envisaged that payments towards the cost of the A5 will be based on an agreed protocol and linked to the achievement of construction stage milestones. Funding has been assured from 2020 onwards.
39. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided for the extension of the M3 motorway to Cavan town and the east-west link which are needed in the north east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15165/19]
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.
With regard to upgrading the East - West road linking Dundalk to Cavan it should be noted that there are a considerable number of financial requests from Local Authorities for road improvement projects across the country. However my Department has provided an allocation this year to Cavan County Council to allow the project appraisal for this road to be updated.
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 construction of individual national roads (including any upgrade of the N3) is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
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.
40. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the continuous reliability issues affecting the 115 Bus Éireann service in Kilcock, County Kildare; the steps he is taking to ensure this issue is resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15163/19]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for Bus Éireann, in conjunction with the National Transport Authority, 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.
41. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the Bonagee link road project in County Donegal; when the project will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14945/19]
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 construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
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.
42. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has had discussions with the NTA and other stakeholders with regard to increasing the Dublin Bus fleet in view of the increasing urgency of action on climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15052/19]
View answerAs 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 including the provision of additional buses to the PSO bus fleet in Dublin.
I am aware that the overall bus fleet has increased in the Dublin over the last number of years and those increases are supporting extended and improved services across the city. It is also the case that the overall PSO bus fleet in Dublin will increase again this year through the bus purchase programme as part of BusConnects.
Noting their responsibility in relation to this matter, I have forwarded your queries to the NTA for their consideration and direct reply. Please notify my office if you have not received a reply within 10 working days.
43. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce measures in order to allow asylum seekers to apply for driver licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15106/19]
View answerI have asked my officials, in consultation with my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, to re-examine the question of whether we should issue driving licences to asylum-seekers. I understand that the Minister for Justice and Equality is seeking background material from the European Migration Network as to interpretation and implementation of Article 12 of Directive 2006/26/EC.
44. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the policy initiatives he is considering to ensure better public transport services in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15098/19]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
The Deputy will be aware that in recognition of the value and benefit of rural transport to many communities, the Programme for a Partnership Government undertakes to examine how best to improve integration of services in the rural bus network within regions. This matter is being examined and developed by my Department in the context of the wider work on which it has embarked around a review of public transport policy, which is another commitment in the Programme for Government.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. It also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including management of the Rural Transport Programme which now operates under the Local Link brand.
The Action Plan for Rural Development, “Realising our Rural Potential”, contains a number of commitments in relation to public transport initiatives in rural areas, ie Actions 252-255 and 257. The Department of Rural and Community Development, which has responsibility for “Realising our Rural Potential”, publishes Progress Reports on all Actions in the Plan, including initiatives relating to public transport in rural areas.
I am committed to the further development of public transport services in rural areas and that is why funding has been increased over the past number of years, for both PSO and Local Link services in rural areas. The NTA is continually working with Bus Éireann to provide improvements on its contracted services, including improvements to many non-urnban services made last year with more changes planned for this year. The increased funding has also enabled the introduction of 66 new commuter services into the Local Link network, operating five, six or seven days per week, as well as demand-responsive services. Key features of these new services include greater integration with existing public transport services and better linkage of services between and within towns and villages.
As the Deputy will be aware, I tasked the NTA to examine the potential to extend existing Local Link services into the evening. Subsequently, the NTA approved funding for 65 new pilot evening and late night Local Link services, operating across all 26 counties, to run on a pilot basis for 6 months to end December last. Following a review of the services by the NTA, the pilot was extended until end quarter 1 2019, to allow the NTA to conduct a further review of the performance of the services.
45. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his role in the mediation process between Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and a club (details supplied) with regard to a swimming pool; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15049/19]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to his similar question on this matter today (Question No. 28 refers) in which I set out my role in this matter and which I have copied below for the Deputy's information.
The key policy objective of the Sport area of my Department is “To contribute to a healthier and more active society by promoting sports participation and supporting high performance and the provision of facilities.” Within the Sport area, the Sports Capital Programmes Division facilitates the building and maintenance of sports facilities by clubs, local authorities and National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of sport.
The case to which the Deputy refers involves a Local Authority swimming pool that is now closed and requires a multi-million euro investment to become fit for purpose. The Local Authority needs to come to an agreement with one local sports club, whose lands surround the swimming pool, prior to proceeding. It would be expected that any works to the pool could cause significant disruption to the activities of the local sports club. For example, access and egress by construction traffic to the swimming pool site, the storage of construction materials close to the site, and potential cordoning off of the site during construction.
Over the last number of years, the sports club and the Local Authority have engaged on how best to move forward with the swimming pool renovation project. Progress has been quite slow due to a wide range of complex issues. The issue was brought to my attention and I discussed it with my official who in turn consulted Sport Ireland. Sport Ireland has experience in resolving sport related disputes and grievances and use a panel of experienced facilitators in this regard.
Given the relatively slow pace of progress in recent years, my official suggested to the Local Authority and the sports club that the services of a facilitator might be useful. Both parties were agreeable and Sport Ireland recommended some facilitators who might be suitable. My official contacted one of the facilitators, Mr. Austin Kenny, and Mr. Kenny agreed to facilitate discussions between the Local Authority and the sports club. I understand that discussions between the Local Authority and the sports club commenced soon afterwards. I further understand that considerable detailed technical work is underway by both parties and that once this work is completed, more material discussions will take place.
Facilitation is a voluntary process entered into by the relevant parties. The status of the ongoing mediation process, along with terms of reference, timelines and costs, is a matter for the relevant parties.
Sport Ireland would, from time to time, advise NGBs on dispute resolution, including efficient approaches to mediation, facilitation and arbitration. Requests from NGBs for assistance with the costs of facilitation are considered by Sport Ireland and are treated on their merits.
46. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 222 of 14 February 2019, the munitions for which his Department granted an exemption on an aircraft (details supplied). [15028/19]
View answerThis aircraft was granted an exemption for the carriage of munitions of war in respect of the personal weapons of the troops on board with no ammunition present pursuant to Article 5 of the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders, 1973 and 1989.
47. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the efforts being made to increase overseas tourism numbers both nationally and in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15101/19]
View answerThe matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the tourism agencies. I have referred the Deputy's Question to Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
