Written Answers Nos. 485-504
485. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an emergency review of ways to alleviate congestion on the N11 will be commissioned in view of the ongoing worsening congestion on the N11 during peak-traffic periods, the hardship endured by commuters stuck in traffic jams and the hours lost to businesses in terms of employees delayed by traffic on the road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39285/19]
View answer487. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of all works underway and planned on the N11, including estimated delivery time in the context of the rapidly deteriorating congestion situation on the road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39293/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 485 and 487 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 operation, maintenance 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 the question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
486. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of feasibility studies carried out on transport routes in each of the past five years and the cost of each study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39288/19]
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 statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area and regional cities, including the carrying out of feasibility studies on public transport routes, in consultation with the relevant Agencies.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
With regard to feasibility studies for road routes Transport Infrastructure Ireland are the statutory body responsible, and conduct the feasibility studies for my Department. Transport Infrastructure Ireland have been contacted to provide further information on this and will provide a reply within 10 days.
488. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the timeline for a decision to be made on an existing application for a public swimming pool to be built in west County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39297/19]
View answer489. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of representations made by the Minister for Health for funding to provide a community swimming pool in west County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39307/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 488 and 489 together.
The Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund opened for applications on 19th November 2018 and the closing date for receipt of applications was 17th April.
72 applications were received in total including an application from Wicklow County Council for funding towards design and site appraisal of a swimming pool in Blessington in West Wicklow. Details of the scheme and all applications received have been published on the Department's website along with the evaluation procedures and guidelines.
Assessment of the applications received has commenced. In view of the detailed information contained in each application, I am advised that it will take a number of months to have all of them assessed. Accordingly, I expect that it will be towards the end of this year before any allocations are announced.
I am regularly updating Minister Harris and his office in relation to progress on the LSSIF and look forward to continuing to work with Minister Harris in this regard. In relation to any representations. I am also aware that his Office recently contacted mine to request a meeting on the matter and a response to this will issue shortly.
490. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of tests carried out and the maximum number that could have been carried out had they been at full capacity during the past 12 months with regard to NCT centres (details supplied). [39308/19]
View answerUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No.477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has responsibility for the operation and delivery of the vehicle testing in the State.
Accordingly, I have referred this Question to the RSA for direct reply to the Deputy. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
491. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the progress of implementing the Shannon Foynes Port Company Vision 2014 master plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39371/19]
View answerShannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC) is the second largest port in the State in terms of total tonnage handled and the third largest in terms of turnover (after Dublin and Cork). SFPC is Ireland’s deepest sheltered water course and is the only port handling capsize vessels (17.5 draft). There are currently six terminals on the Estuary.
Vision 2041 is a thirty year plan setting out a port development strategy that is aligned with all stakeholder interests. The primary objectives, inter alia, of Vision 2041 is to promote Shannon Foynes Port Company as a key economic driver for the region and to positively influence policy at the national, regional and local level thereby enhancing the attractiveness of the Shannon Estuary for marine related industry and investment. The Master Plan recognises the importance of a consistent plan led or integrated approach to future port development.
The Port are still in the early stages of the implementation of Vision 2041 at year 8 of 30 and significant progress has been made to date on implementing its some of key objectives.
A summary of some of the major milestones achieved to date include;
- National Ports Policy designates the SFPC as a Port of National Significance (Tier 1).
- The Port's development is also recognised in the National Planning Framework - Project 2040.
- At a European level, the port is included within the TEN-T Regulation as a ‘core’ port and the port has been successful in obtaining EU grant funding towards some of their developments.
- The zoning of nine strategic deep water sites on the Shannon Estuary consisting of up to 1200 hectares for marine or port related development. One of these sites includes the development of a new deep water jetty on Foynes Island.
- The Expansion program at Foynes is well underway with Phase 1 infill of land behind the east jetty already completed with planning consents for phases II to IV . A contract for phase II will be awarded shortly.
- Pre-planning for a new deep water berth at Foynes Island has commenced.
- There has been investment of €3.5m in new cranes in Limerick and Foynes.
- The Port has successfully promoted and facilitated the investment of c. €40m by the private sector in the Foynes port estate since the Vision 2041 launch.
- The Limerick Docklands Framework Strategy was launched, which will lead to port expansion at Limerick as well as commercialising other port assets in Limerick.
- 90 acres for a new port business and logistics hub has been acquired.
- Detailed design for the reinstatement of the Limerick to Foynes rail line is completed.
- The Port has been vigorous in promoting the requirement for improving the hinterland connection to Foynes Port. Planning for the 40km Limerick to Foynes Road Scheme is due to be published in October.
- As a Tier 1 Port the continued commercial development of the Company is a key strategic objective of Government approved National Ports Policy to provide for overall national port capacity and maritime connectivity.
492. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the €34 million in funding promised for the Ardee bypass can be ring-fenced in order that the project will not lose out if funding is needed elsewhere in the interim period in view of the fact that there is a proposal for a review of the scheme design for the Ardee bypass in advance of progressing to construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39398/19]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and securing capital funding in relation to the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
TII is, therefore, responsible for the distribution of funds under the Capital Programme for the implementation of the national roads programme in accordance with Project Ireland 2040, within the framework of the National Development Plan (NDP). Consequently, TII is best placed to advise on the current status and funding in respect of the above scheme.
Noting the above position, I have referred the 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.
493. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to extend the deadline for persons here driving with UK licences in order to swap their licence for an Irish licence in the event of a no-deal Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39399/19]
View answerMotorists resident in Ireland with a UK, including NI driving licence are being advised to exchange that licence for an Irish driving licence before the 31 October 2019. In the event of a no-deal Brexit, the UK will no longer be a Member State and so the UK driving licence will not be recognised. People resident in Ireland will no longer be able to drive on a UK driving licence.
However, legislation exists to allow for the recognition of foreign driving licences for exchange purposes in the Road Traffic Acts. If there is a no deal Brexit, the UK becomes a 3rd country and the potential then exists for arrangements to be made under those Acts. Ireland will be pursuing this option. This may take a little time to complete as it involves a formal agreement and legislation here in Ireland, as well as corresponding steps by the UK.
494. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the applications made for funding under the sports capital programme for the 2018-2019 funding round in County Cork. [39405/19]
View answerDetail of all applications under the 2018 Sports Capital Programme are published on a county basis on the Department's website at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/010023-2017-sports-capital-programme-all-applications-submitted/
495. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the applications made for funding under the sports capital programme for the 2018-2019 funding round for County Dublin. [39407/19]
View answerDetail of all applications under the 2018 Sports Capital Programme are published on the Department's website on a county basis at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/010023-2017-sports-capital-programme-all-applications-submitted/
496. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the applications that were made for all forms of funding under the Sports Capital Programme for the 2018-2019 funding round for County Tipperary in tabular form. [39412/19]
View answerDetail of all applications under the 2018 Sports Capital Programme are published on the Department's website on a county basis at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/887916-2018-sport-capital-programme-applications/.
497. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if all internal correspondence between persons (details supplied) will be published. [39456/19]
View answer498. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the correspondence between the Secretary General of his Department and the Secretary General of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to 22 September 2019. [39459/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 497 and 498 together.
I wish to be as helpful as possible to the Deputy in addressing the issue raised. My Department would be happy to facilitate and assist the Deputy in seeking correspondence or records of this nature through the normal channel for this type of query which is the Freedom of Information Act 2014.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A
499. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a matter in relation to a grant awarded to a club (details supplied) will be investigated with the sports capital section of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39464/19]
View answerThe organisation referred to by the Deputy do have an outstanding Sports Capital Programme grant. I understand that the club has been contacted by the official with responsibility for all grants in Sligo to assist them in changing the club's contact details so that they can progress the drawdown of their grant.
500. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff employed in each division of his Department by grade. [39487/19]
View answerMy Department is divided into six sectors with an Assistant Secretary charged with responsibility for each sector. Details on the Divisions that fall under each sector and the numbers of staff in each sector by grade are available at the following link:
Corporate Affairs and Central Policy Coordination
This sector is made up of the following Divisions: Human Resources Division, Finance Division, Information Services Division, Corporate Support & Communications Division, Policy Governance & EU Division, Legal Services Division, the Minister and Minister of State's Offices and the Department's team in the Irish Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels.
501. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a cost estimate of the administrative cost of establishing a new division within his Department will be provided. [39488/19]
View answerIt is not possible to provide an estimate of the cost of establishing a new Division in my Department. Costs would depend on the function/role of any such Division and the staffing requirements associated with that role.
502. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of hiring an additional economist and statistician, respectively, to his Department. [39489/19]
View answerThe estimated cost of hiring an additional economist and statistician to the Department is approximately €95000. This estimate is based on point 1 of each scale with Employer PRSI of 10% as of September 2019. The precise cost would be determined by the individuals' scale point on joining the Department.
503. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding provided to Fáilte Ireland in 2019. [39490/19]
View answerDetails of the annual funding allocations provided by my Department to Fáilte Ireland are available in the Agency Statement for Fáilte Ireland under Vote 31 in the 2019 Revised Estimates Volumes for Public Services published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
504. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding provided to Tourism Ireland in 2019. [39491/19]
View answerTourism Ireland is funded through the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland. Funding from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in 2019 amounts to €52,624,000.
The breakdown of the total Exchequer provision for tourism services from my Department's vote is available in the annual Revised Estimates Volume (REV) for Public Services, which is published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and available on that Department's website.
