Written Answers Nos. 232-254
232. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the percentage of plastic waste recycled here; his plans to increase awareness regarding the amount recycled instead of general waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49330/19]
View answerThe EPA is the competent authority for the collation of national waste statistics and reports annually on Ireland’s performance against the recycling and recovery targets set out in the EU Packaging and Waste Packaging Directive. In 2017 Ireland surpassed the material specific target of 22.5% for plastics and achieved a recycling rate of 34%.
While I do not have a percentage figure for plastic waste recycled in Ireland, I understand from Repak, the national packaging compliance scheme, that in respect of their membership, approximately 15% of the plastic packaging collected in Ireland is recycled here while the remainder is exported to the UK and Europe.
We are determined to increase recycling of plastics from 34% to 55% in the coming years and, along with other EU member states, to phase out non-recyclable plastics entirely.
Increasing public awareness to improve recyclate quality through better recycling practices and reduced contamination of waste continues to be a priority for my Department. In this regard my Department is committed to the continued promotion of www.mywaste.ie. This web portal which was launched in November 2018 has been developed by the Regional Waste Management Offices with support from the Department, to provide consumers with a single information resource on all aspects of domestic waste management in Ireland and in particular it focuses on the provision of advice on managing waste more responsibly and efficiently.
To ensure a consistent national message on improving waste management, the Department established a Waste Communications Strategy Group in 2018 consisting of the Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, Repak, the Price Monitoring Group on Household Waste Collection and the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices. This Group continues to meet to help ensure the various bodies involved in waste awareness campaigns co-ordinate to the fullest extent possible.
A full public consultation on the development of Ireland's Waste Action Plan will be launched before the end of this year which will seek views on all matters waste related, including seeking views on increasing the rate of plastic recycling and the need for and delivery of future awareness and education campaigns.
233. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress towards achieving the interim offshore wind energy targets set out in the climate action plan 2019 for 2025. [49331/19]
View answerThe Climate Action Plan includes, inter alia, a suite of actions to decarbonise the electricity sector and boost the quantity of renewable generation in order to meet our target of 70% of demand from renewable sources by 2030; the Plan commits to connecting at least 3.5GW of Offshore Wind by 2030.
In order to achieve this my Department is working closely with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government on the development of a new, streamlined consenting regime for offshore renewable energy which will modernise and streamline the marine development management and enforcements systems. This new regime will replace existing State and development consent regimes and streamline arrangements on the basis of a single consent principle.
My Department have also established a working group on the Framework for Offshore Electricity Grid. This group will assess the options available for a suitable offshore grid model for Ireland allowing us to develop an offshore grid model informed by and aligned to Government Policy such as the forthcoming National Marine Planning Framework.
To support the delivery of the national ambition to further decrease our dependence on foreign fossil fuels my Department is also developing a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which will assist Ireland in meeting its renewable energy contributions out to 2030 by providing supports to a range of technologies including offshore wind projects.
234. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to repurpose the public service obligation levy to support rehabilitation of peatlands; if he will be consulting on the calculation and implementation of the levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49347/19]
View answerMy officials have been engaging with the European Commission to explore the potential for a support scheme, funded through a Public Service Obligation, for the enhanced rehabilitation of Bord na Móna bogs used to harvest peat for electricity generation over and above what Bord na Móna is obliged to do under its EPA licences. A formal pre-notification proposal will be submitted through the Commission's State Aid notification structure shortly.
The relevant rules relating to consultation, whether set out in national or EU law, will be complied with. The verified cost of the enhanced rehabilitation of the peatlands will determine the overall amount of the levy under the Public Service Obligation.
It is expected that about 200 Bord na Mona employees could be engaged in this rehabilitation and restoration work.
235. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the climate action (amendment) Bill will be brought to Dáil Éireann; if he will report on the introduction of a net zero target, development of carbon budgets, preparation of a national long-term strategy and the establishment of an enhanced Climate Change Advisory Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49348/19]
View answerOn 17 June 2019, the Government published the Climate Action Plan 2019, which commits, inter alia, to bringing forward a new Climate Action (Amendment) Bill to amend the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015.
The objective of the Bill is to significantly strengthen the statutory framework for governance of the climate challenge, and ensure delivery of successive Climate Action Plans and Long-term Climate Strategies, supported by a system of carbon budgeting and sectoral targets with appropriate oversight by Government, the Oireachtas and a new Climate Action Council. The Climate Action Plan identifies a number of provisions to be incorporated in the new Bill including:
- Establishing the 2050 target in law
- Making the adoption of carbon budgets a legal requirement
- Requiring the Government to set a decarbonisation target range for each sector, with the Minister with primary responsibility for each sector identified as being accountable for delivering the relevant actions to meet the sectoral targets
- Establishing the Climate Action Council as a successor organisation to the Climate Change Advisory Council
- Establishing that the Climate Action Plan shall be updated annually
- Establishing that a Long-Term Climate Strategy, to match the period covered by the three five-year carbon budgets, shall be published
- Ensuring that the proposed governance arrangements retain sufficient flexibility to allow necessary reorientation of policy in the light of changing technologies, circumstances, challenges and opportunities over the period to 2030 and beyond.
The General Scheme is currently being prepared on the basis of the provisions outlined above with a view to publication of the Climate Action (Amendment) Bill in quarter 1, 2020 as committed to under the Plan.
In parallel to work on the Climate Action (Amendment) Bill 2019, my Department is also in the process of preparing Ireland’s Long-Term Strategy to meet the requirements set out under Article 15 Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action. This strategy will have a perspective of at least 30 years and shall include a range of emission reduction pathways to further illuminate, in each of our key sectors, what changes will be required.
Alongside the Bill and Long Term Strategy, the Climate Action Plan commits to evaluating in detail the changes required to adopt a more ambitious commitment of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, as part of finalising Ireland’s long-term climate strategy. A public consultation has been launched on the Long Term Strategy by my Department. Further details are available on my Department's website.
236. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps being taken to ensure that the review of the security and sustainability of the energy supply here, with input from State-owned companies, is independent; the actions he will take to ensure potential conflicts of interest in his assessment of optimal actions, fossil fuels and technologies are avoided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49349/19]
View answer237. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the State agencies that have a statutory or regulatory function regarding energy security; the agencies and bodies that have an advisory role on energy security; the way in which he will ensure that the regulatory aspects of energy security are not captured by stakeholder bodies such as the ESB and a company (details supplied) that may have strategic commercial interests at stake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49420/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 236 and 237 together.
I have overall responsibility for national policy in the energy sector. This includes policy in relation to energy security, which is fully aligned with EU law and EU policy objectives. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has statutory functions relating to energy security, for both gas and electricity, and is independent in the exercise of its functions. These include functions in the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999, as amended, to promote the continuity, security and quality of supplies of electricity. CRU also is required by S.I. 60/2005 to monitor, and take such measures as it considers necessary to protect, the security of supply of electricity. In relation to gas, the CRU also has a statutory function to secure the continuity, security and quality of supplies of natural gas. The CRU is also the designated competent authority for Ireland, for EU Regulation 2017/1938 concerning measures to safeguard the security of supply of gas.
The National Oil Reserves Agency has statutory responsibility in relation to the storage of oil stocks for use in an emergency, at a level sufficient to comply with the State’s stockholding obligations.
The transmission system operators for gas and electricity, Gas Networks Ireland and EirGrid, have legal responsibilities in relation to gas and electricity security. The electricity transmission system operators are responsible for, inter alia, ensuring the long-term ability of the system to meet reasonable demands for the transmission of electricity, and contributing to security of supply through adequate transmission capacity and system reliability. The gas transmission system operators are required, inter alia, to operate, maintain and develop under economic conditions secure, reliable and efficient transmission facilities to secure an open market, with due regard to the environment.
My Department regularly engages with State Agencies and other stakeholders, including Gas Networks Ireland and the ESB, as part of the normal process of feeding into policy development and formulation.
In relation to energy sustainability and security, I am initiating a major review into Ireland's energy sustainability and security which will:
- Consider the optimal actions that need to be taken, in reaching 70% renewable electricity, to ensure Ireland's electricity system is backed up in a secure, safe and sustainable way.
- Assess the role of gas during the transition, as the lowest CO2 emitting fossil fuel, and consider how and from where it is sourced.
- Review the role that other technologies can play in the transition, including battery storage, pumped storage, the role of interconnection (both gas and electricity) and the possibilities for hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).
- Consider what the roadmap for renewable electricity looks like in the period from 2030 to achieving carbon neutrality in 2050
The review that I have initiated into Ireland's energy security and sustainability will be carried out by an independent body following a public procurement exercise. In advance of commissioning the review,
I have written to the Chairperson of EirGrid, ESB, Bord na Móna, Ervia and CRU to seek their views on the challenges involved in making the transition to a carbon neutral economy.
238. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which his Department will ensure that there is no double counting of carbon sequestered under land use, land use change, forestry via afforestation, peatland restoration and rehabilitation and other projects that are planned to generate carbon credits by Bord na Móna, Coillte and other landowners; the methodologies for carbon sequestration on State lands which will be utilised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49421/19]
View answerThe State’s obligations to report greenhouse gas emissions and greenhouse gas removals in the land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sectors are set out under Regulation 525/2013, while accounting obligations are set out in Directive 529/2013 up to 2020 and Regulation 2018/841 (“the LULUCF Regulation”) for the period 2021-2030. These relate to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the associated Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement. The LULUCF Regulation includes an alignment of land use categories with those reported to the UNFCCC and brings the LULUCF sector into the European Union’s 2030 climate policy framework more directly by including a link between the Effort Sharing Regulation (Regulation 2018/842) and land use accounting. This Regulation forms parts of the implementation of the European Union’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Due to certain specificities and the complex nature of this sector, the LULUCF sector is treated differently to other sectors under the European Union’s climate framework policy. The LULUCF Regulation requires Member States to ensure that accounted emissions from land use are entirely compensated by equivalent accounted removals from the atmosphere through action in the sector, i.e. to ensure that there are no net accounted emissions from those sectors. This obligation covers all managed land use categories in the territory of Ireland and requires the State to account for emissions and removals from both State-owned land and privately-owned land, including forests. Ireland and other EU Member States may employ a capped amount of total accounted removals, in excess of the no net emissions obligation, to meet targets under the Effort Sharing Regulation. It is also possible for Member States to use annual emissions allocations under the Effort Sharing Regulation to meet their obligations under the LULUCF Regulation.
Ireland’s National Inventory Report, prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency, details the methodologies followed in developing estimates of emission and removals for LULUCF. The latest report can be found here: http://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/air/airemissions/ghg/nir2019/.
A carbon credit generally refers to an accounting unit in an international agreement or a regulatory or voluntary market and does not refer to a universally traded asset. There is no inherent private property right to greenhouse gas emissions or removals by forests or other land uses, whether on lands held by the State or privately owned. The State supports the long-term greenhouse gas store in the forest estate through regulation and financial incentives for forest planting and sustainable management, such as the afforestation grant and premium scheme. Land owners may choose to pursue voluntary initiatives outside of such subsidies that do not impact on the State’s reporting and accounting obligations.
239. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of passengers carried by each form of transport (details supplied); the amount in tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions produced by each of the forms of transport in each of the years from 2008 to the most recent year for which figures are available in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49224/19]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated by my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy within 10 working days.
|
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
||
|
Road transportation |
Vehicles Under Taxation |
2,354,656 |
2,324,545 |
2,274,571 |
2,280,378 |
2,262,208 |
2,298,909 |
2,331,790 |
2,386,496 |
2,441,112 |
2,489,280 |
2,536,491 |
|
Kilotonnes CO2 Equivalent |
13086.66 |
11898.62 |
10985.73 |
10735.97 |
10366.24 |
105959.66 |
10841.78 |
11315.48 |
11751.17 |
11493.91 |
11655.86* |
|
|
Railways |
Passenger Numbers (millions) |
44.70 |
38.80 |
38.23 |
37.38 |
36.74 |
36.74 |
37.80 |
39.66 |
42.82 |
45.51 |
47.96 |
|
Kilotonnes CO2 Equivalent |
156.54 |
137.36 |
136.31 |
136.52 |
131.93 |
131.38 |
120.53 |
122.83 |
125.10 |
129.14 |
130.49* |
|
|
Domestic aviation |
Passenger Numbers (millions) |
1.67 |
1.27 |
0.73 |
0.24 |
0.12 |
0.14 |
0.13 |
0.15 |
0.18 |
0.18 |
0.2 |
|
Kilotonnes CO2 Equivalent |
80.53 |
65.62 |
49.51 |
24.65 |
14.99 |
15.37 |
14.69 |
15.55 |
16.78 |
17.46 |
16.78* |
|
|
Domestic navigation |
Passenger Numbers |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Kilotonnes CO2 Equivalent |
204.73 |
199.52 |
200.12 |
173.73 |
183.60 |
179.59 |
224.81 |
221.73 |
266.46 |
235.28 |
260.23* |
|
|
Other transportation |
Passenger Numbers |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Kilotonnes CO2 Equivalent |
145.56 |
150.36 |
163.40 |
151.88 |
139.52 |
145.61 |
145.79 |
137.17 |
135.13 |
126.77 |
139.74* |
|
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
|
PSO Passenger Journeys (millions) |
207.84 |
185.24 |
175.13 |
174.37 |
172.96 |
173.38 |
180.32 |
186.41 |
193.31 |
206.90 |
220.99 |
|
Commercial Passenger Journeys (millions) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
20.10 |
20.75 |
22.73 |
25.25 |
25.78 |
27.51 |
240. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the services which will be available to use contactless payments on public transport; and when they will be introduced in County Cork. [49191/19]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport in Ireland. I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.
The issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA), in conjunction with the public transport providers, 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.
241. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will allocate funding for a bus shelter in Buttevant, County Cork. [49215/19]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development and provision of bus stops and bus shelters throughout the State.
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.
242. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details on each application sent from County Wicklow for the sports capital grant 2019, by successful, unsuccessful and incomplete applications. [49217/19]
View answerDetails of all applications submitted under the latest round (2018) of the Sports Capital Programme are listed on a county basis on my Department's website at https://assets.gov.ie/20000/ececa538f64a48e3ab4540515da4cf95.pdf.
Similarly, details of all allocations under the programme are also published on the Department's website at https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/471ed5-sports-capital-allocations/
In relation to the latest allocations under the Programme as announced earlier this month, my Department will shortly be in contact with all applicants with full details of the outcome of the assessment process. All unsuccessful applicants will be invited to appeal the Department's decision if they believe that their application was not correctly assessed according to the published assessment manual.
243. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of clubs and organisations in Waterford city and county that were unsuccessful in their application for funding under the sports capital grant scheme; the number that failed to meet the criteria; the main reason unsuccessful applicants in Waterford city and county were declined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49242/19]
View answer246. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of applications received under the sports capital grant programme for 2019 from clubs and organisations in Waterford city and county; the amount applied for by such clubs and organisations; the amount approved and declined, respectively, for such clubs and organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49245/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 246 together.
Details of all applications submitted under the latest round (2018) of the Sports Capital Programme are listed on a county basis on my Department's website at https://assets.gov.ie/20000/ececa538f64a48e3ab4540515da4cf95.pdf.
Similarly, details of all allocations under the programme are also published on the Department's website at https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/471ed5-sports-capital-allocations/
In relation to the latest allocations under the Programme which were announced earlier this month, the bottom 25% by score in each county did not receive a grant offer.
For the first time under this latest round, all applicants were given a chance to correct their application during the assessment period. This helped ensure that the level of invalid applications was reduced to 9% which was significantly lower than any previous round of the Programme. The main reason for invalid applications was applicants failing to provide evidence of ownership of the property/land they proposed to develop.
In relation to the latest allocations, my Department will shortly be in contact with all applicants with full details of the outcome of the assessment process. All unsuccessful applicants will be invited to appeal the Department's decision if they believe that their application was not correctly assessed according to the published assessment manual.
244. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a second round of funding under the sports capital grant programme will become available; if so, when the funds may become available; the closing date for additional information and submissions which need to be supplied by clubs and organisations that were unsuccessful in the most recent allocations under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49243/19]
View answerThe 2018 round of the Sports Capital Programme closed for applications on Friday 19th October 2018. By the closing date, 2,337 applications were submitted seeking a total of €162m in funding. This was the highest number of applications ever received. 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. 619 "equipment only" applications were assessed next and 466 allocations with a value of €9.8m were announced to these organisations in May. All unsuccessful "equipment only" applicants were given the opportunity to appeal the decision. The final allocations for capital works were announced earlier this month with a total of €39.5m allocated to 1,009 projects.
In relation to these latest allocations, my Department will shortly be in contact with all of these applicants with full details of the outcome of the assessment process. All unsuccessful applicants will be invited to appeal the Department's decison if they believe that their application was not correctly assessed according to the published assessment manual.
My Department is also preparing a review of all aspects of the operation of the 2018 SCP and this review will include consideration of the timing and scale of the next round of the SCP. It is anticipated that the next round of the Programme will be open for applications in the coming months.
245. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of applications nationally received under the sports capital grant programme for 2019; the amount applied for; the profile of applications in terms of sporting discipline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49244/19]
View answerThe most recent round of the Sports Capital Programme was the 2018 round. 2,337 applications were submitted seeking a total of €162m in funding. The breakdown of applications by sport (as categorised by the Department's online application system) is set out in the table.
|
Sports |
Number of applications |
Total Amount Sought |
|
American Football |
5 |
€51,345 |
|
Angling/Fishing |
6 |
€159,885 |
|
Archery |
8 |
€78,534 |
|
Athletics |
65 |
€4,633,604 |
|
Badminton |
4 |
€104,410 |
|
Basketball |
18 |
€671,841 |
|
Billiards & Snooker |
4 |
€140,457 |
|
Bowls |
10 |
€132,417 |
|
Boxing |
62 |
€1,857,099 |
|
Camogie |
20 |
€866,494 |
|
Canoeing / Kayaking |
30 |
€839,499 |
|
Clay Pigeon Shooting |
3 |
€97,255 |
|
Community Games |
15 |
€652,499 |
|
Cricket |
23 |
€968,259 |
|
Cycling |
19 |
€639,332 |
|
Diving/Snorkelling |
22 |
€1,017,582 |
|
Equestrian Sports |
25 |
€839,157 |
|
Fencing |
2 |
€60,856 |
|
Gaelic Games |
673 |
€57,559,817 |
|
Golf |
146 |
€12,522,253 |
|
Gymnastics |
21 |
€861,064 |
|
Handball |
17 |
€965,370 |
|
Hillwalking |
14 |
€279,879 |
|
Hockey |
36 |
€1,884,352 |
|
Ice Hockey |
2 |
€69,060 |
|
Judo |
3 |
€69,048 |
|
Ladies Gaelic Football |
7 |
€211,653 |
|
Martial Arts |
11 |
€176,296 |
|
Motor Sport |
1 |
€120,775 |
|
Motorcycling |
3 |
€94,116 |
|
Mountaineering |
4 |
€156,246 |
|
Multi-sport |
378 |
€29,095,561 |
|
Olympic Handball |
1 |
€24,830 |
|
Orienteering |
1 |
€8,200 |
|
Pitch and Putt |
20 |
€521,386 |
|
Raquetball |
1 |
€150,000 |
|
Rock Climbing |
1 |
€10,430 |
|
Rowing |
72 |
€3,471,153 |
|
Rugby |
88 |
€8,128,700 |
|
Sailing |
33 |
€2,446,184 |
|
Shooting Sports |
1 |
€8,100 |
|
Skateboarding |
2 |
€192,316 |
|
Soccer |
302 |
€20,833,293 |
|
Squash |
5 |
€303,511 |
|
Surfing |
2 |
€48,000 |
|
Swimming |
40 |
€1,087,704 |
|
Table Tennis |
2 |
€12,830 |
|
Taekwondo |
2 |
€19,614 |
|
Tennis |
70 |
€5,895,639 |
|
Tenpin bowling |
1 |
€15,500 |
|
Triathlon |
17 |
€146,461 |
|
Tug of War |
1 |
€20,000 |
|
Volleyball |
12 |
€97,125 |
|
Waterskiing & Wakeboarding |
1 |
€49,600 |
|
Weightlifting |
4 |
€139,952 |
|
Wheelchair Sport |
1 |
€274,173 |
|
Grand Total |
2337 |
€161,780,716 |
247. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there has been a significant reduction in the spending of the 2019 national roads allocations by TII in conjunction with the local authorities nationwide; if so, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49246/19]
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 and in the context of Project Ireland 2040, the planning, design, and construction, including the distribution of funding for individual national roads, is a matter for 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.
248. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason Limerick City and County Council has only spent €655,000 out of €7,153,000 of its 2019 allocations to date in 2019 for the improvement of national roads; if the underspend is linked to the funding of the national children’s hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49247/19]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and securing appropriate capital funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in the context of delivering the Government's commitments arising out of Project Ireland 2040, the planning, design, construction and improvement, including the distribution of funding for individual national roads, is a matter for 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.
249. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason an application for sports capital grant funding by a centre (details supplied) was unsuccessful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49249/19]
View answer2,337 applications were submitted under the 2018 round of the Sports Capital Programme seeking a total of €162m in funding.
While the club referred to by the Deputy submitted a valid application, due to the level of demand and the amount of funding available, unfortunately it was not possible to allocate grants to every eligible applicant under this round.
My Department will be writing to all applicants in the coming days with details of the outcome of the assessment of their application. All unsuccessful applicants will be invited to appeal the decision if they believe the Department has made an error in assessing their application in accordance with the published assessment manual.
250. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the voluntary river rescue in view of the fact that the Coast Guard has been stood down; if the river rescue will now be the first port of call of An Garda Síochána in the event of a marine casualty situation or emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49259/19]
View answerUnder the National Search and Rescue Plan, An Garda Síochána (AGS) has responsibility for Search and Rescue Operations on inland rivers and lakes and tasking the Search and Rescue Units they have available to them. Where Coast Guard boats are stationed on or near Rivers they respond to incidents on the river when requested by the AGS through the Marine Resce Coordination Centre. These assets are currently unavailable to the AGS. The RNLI have two stations on the Shannon in Lough Ree and Lough Derg which are coordinated by the Coast Guard for inland waterways Search and Rescues missions on the Shannon.
251. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the underspend of the national road maintenance budget which has led to a national surplus of 39.7% and an average surplus per local authority of €2,334,691.70 according to TII data and detailed industry analysis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49282/19]
View answer252. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the underspend of the road maintenance budget for County Kilkenny which has led to a situation in which 90.8% or €3,678,420 of the annual budget has been left unspent as of 31 October 2019 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49283/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 252 together.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and securing capital funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 the planning, design, and construction, including the distribution and management of funding for national roads, is a matter for 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.
253. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of agency staff hired and-or engaged by his Department in the past five years to date; the cost per year of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49305/19]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is being assessed by my officials and will be forwarded to the Deputy within 10 working days.
|
Year |
Number of agency staff hired or engaged |
Cost |
|
2015 |
3 (occasionally 4) |
€306,846.91 |
|
2016 |
3 (occasionally 4) |
€293,474.88 |
|
2017 |
3 (occasionally 4) |
€294,805.93 |
|
2018 |
3 (occasionally 2 or 4) |
€101,398.56 |
|
2019 (to date) |
1 |
€76,390.89 |
254. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the next round of sports capital funding will be opened. [49356/19]
View answerThe 2018 round of the Sports Capital Programme (SCP) closed for applications on Friday 19th October 2018. By the closing date, 2,337 applications were submitted seeking a total of €162m in funding. This was the highest number of applications ever received. 186 of these applications were for projects 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. 619 "equipment only" applications were assessed next and 466 allocations with a value of €9.8m were announced to these organisations in May. The final allocations for capital works were announced earlier this month with a total of €39.5m allocated to 1,009 projects.
In relation to these latest allocations, my Department will shortly be in contact with all of these applicants with full details of the outcome of the assessment process. All unsuccessful applicants will be invited to appeal the Department's decison if they believe their application was not correctly assessed in accordance with the published assessment manual. My Department will also undertake a full review of all aspects of the 2018 SCP. Part of the review will include consideration of the timing and scale of the next round of the Programme but I expect that the SCP will be open for applications again in the coming months.
