Written Answers Nos. 1060-1079
1060. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of plans for electrification of the northern rail commuter line to Balbriggan; and if a related tendering or design process has been initiated. [3252/20]
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 including implementation of the DART Expansion Programme which includes consideration of the issues raised by the Deputy.
As the Deputy may be aware, in May 2019 the NTA and Iarnród Éireann commenced pre-qualifying in relation to a 10-year procurement framework for a minimum of 300 electric and battery-electric units with the potential for that to increase to 600 over the life of the procurement framework. This proposal forms part of the DART Expansion Programme which will see electrification of the Kildare Line, Maynooth Line and Northern Line and a business case in relation to the overall programme will be submitted for Government approval later this year.
Noting the NTA's responsibilities in the matters raised, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
1061. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the 2009 baseline figures were used in the 2015 calculations to estimate the cost-benefit analysis figures for extending the Dunboyne rail line to Navan; if they were used to inform the greater Dublin transport strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3277/20]
View answer1062. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the timeline for the review of the Navan rail line and the associated review of the transport strategy for the greater Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3278/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1061 and 1062 together.
As the Deputy is aware the issue of a potential extension of the existing Dunboyne/M3 Parkway line to Navan was considered by the National Transport Authority (NTA) during its development of the statutory Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016 to 2035.
The development of the Strategy was informed by extensive research and analysis and the Navan Corridor Study is one of 13 background papers and reports published by the NTA and available to view on its website - https://www.nationaltransport.ie/background-technical-reports/. I note that the Navan Corridor Study refers to 2011 as being the base year for the purposes of establishing travel demand with 2035 the forecast year.
While the Strategy stated that based on current population and employment forecasts, the level of travel demand between Navan, Dunshaughlin and various stations to the city centre was insufficient to justify the development of a high-capacity rail link at that current time, it proposed an enhanced bus service along the corridor and the development of a bus hub in Navan. Importantly, the Transport Strategy clearly states that the issue of a rail link to Navan should be kept under review and that the corridor previously identified for a Navan rail link should be protected from development.
This issue remains under review and will be specifically considered again as part of the statutory review of the current Strategy which must be reviewed every 6 years following publication. I understand this will commence during 2020.
1063. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans, including locations and timelines, for the installation of new bus shelters in Kells and Navan, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3280/20]
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, including provision of bus stops and bus shelters throughout the State.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
1064. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount committed to an association (details supplied) following recent events in the organisation; if he is satisfied that this represents good value for the taxpayer; his plans to reform the organisation in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3300/20]
View answerOn 30th January the Government approved an agreement to participate in a joint funding package for the association mentioned by the Deputy, subject to certain conditions. The agreement involves the restoration of Sport Ireland funding to the association of €2.9 million and the allocation of an additional €2.9 million for football development for the period 2020 to 2023, to bring the total funding to €5.8 million per annum for the period 2020 to 2023.
The funding package also includes the provision of a grant in the sum of €7.6338 million to the company which owns and operates the Aviva Stadium, in recognition of the importance of the continued operation of the stadium. The grant is to be paid in three instalments of €2.5446 million, directly to the company, in each of the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 towards the licence fee payable to the company. The grant will be recouped from 2024 onwards.
My officials are currently finalising the precise terms for the funding agreement, which will be set out in relevant legal documents.
The funding package approved by the Government and the conditions that apply to that funding are set out in a Memorandum of Understanding between my Department and the association. The Memorandum of Understanding is published on my Department's website and is available at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c58dee-memorandum-of-understanding-between-minister-for-transport-tourism-a/.
This funding will ensure that the people involved in the sport – players, coaches, officials, volunteers and supporters – can focus once again on developing their sport, which has a hugely positive influence on our communities.
The Memorandum for Government, along with the Report of the Governance Review Group published in June 2019, outline a range of reforms relating to corporate governance and financial controls which the organisation is required to implement. Some important governance reforms have already taken place, most notably the appointment of a new Independent Chairman and Independent Directors to the Board of the organisation. In our discussions with the new Chairman, Minister of State Brendan Griffin and I have emphasised the need for a culture change in the association and to implement structural reforms to safeguard the changes made so far.
1065. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3351/20]
View answer1066. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3352/20]
View answer1069. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether there was a clear break of governance in relation to a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3372/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1065, 1066 and 1069 together.
Sport Ireland is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards. This includes the allocation of funding across its various programmes and governance oversight of National Governing Bodies of Sport.
I understand that facilitated talks between the two organisations mentioned by the Deputy have been taking place. I am informed that Sport Ireland met with representatives of one of the organisations on 12 December 2019 and it was agreed that the organisation would contact Sport Ireland again following a meeting with its club network on 11 January 2020 to discuss potential proposals to advance the talks. I am further informed that Sport Ireland has not received any further correspondence from the organisation following that meeting.
I would encourage both parties to continue with the facilitated talks and to work together to address the identified issues so that a resolution can be found in the interests of everyone involved in the sport.
I have referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply with any additional relevant information on this matter. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
1067. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the N11 consultation process; the main issues raised; the number of submissions received; when the consultation will be closed; if he anticipates significant changes to the project as a result of the consultations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3367/20]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and 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.
1068. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Sport Ireland oversees governing bodies and monitors their governance. [3371/20]
View answerThe governance of National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) is a matter for the NGBs themselves and Sport Ireland as the statutory body with responsibility for governance oversight of NGBs.
All sporting bodies in receipt of public funding must work towards compliance with the Governance Code for Sport. The Government’s National Sports Policy 2018-2027 recognises the importance of good governance for the effective and efficient running of sport and it includes an action that Sport Ireland will oversee a process to have all NGBs and Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) adopt the Governance Code by the end of 2021. As part of this process, Sport Ireland is identifying and putting in place the training and supports needed by the different organisations to assist with the adoption process. My Department and Sport Ireland have underlined that future funding for NGBs and LSPs will be conditional on compliance with the Governance Code.
Sport Ireland continues to support NGBs in building the Governance capability in their organisations.
1070. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for the discontinuation of the social car scheme under the LocalLink programme in County Leitrim in view of the lack of public transport in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3462/20]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
Under the Taxi Regulation Act 2013, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the regulation of the small public service vehicle sector, including exemptions for Community Transport Services. It also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including management of Local Link.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities in this matter, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
1072. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the post of chairperson of Tourism Ireland be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3500/20]
View answerFollowing the suspension of the Northern Ireland Executive in 2017, the North South Ministerial Council was not able to meet and to exercise its role in appointing board members, chairs and vice-chairs to the Boards of the North South Implementation bodies and Tourism Ireland. In December 2019, the terms of four Southern Directors of Tourism Ireland, including that of the Chairperson, expired. The Executive has subsequently been re-established in Northern Ireland and it is expected that this matter will shortly be resolved by the resumption of the NSMC.
1073. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of requests made by the European Commission in relation to privatisation of Irish Rail under the EU’s fourth railway package; the response provided to such requests; his plans to transpose EU Directive 2016/2370 into national law and open up the market for Irish domestic rail passenger services and the governance of rail infrastructure here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3674/20]
View answerThe focus of the EU 4th Railway Package is on the completion of the EU single market for rail services. The package contains no measures relating to the privatisation of State-owned railway undertakings and, as such, no requests from the European Commission have been received in this regard.
The Department continues to engage with the Commission regarding the transposition of Directive (EU) 2016/2370 into Irish law and every effort is being made to provide for this as soon as possible.
1074. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a successful funding application by a local authority (details supplied); if funding has been drawn down; the next phase in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3706/20]
View answerOn 10th January Minister Ross and I announced provisional allocations totalling €77.4m for 25 projects under Stream 2 (construction) of the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). On 13th January we announced further provisional allocations of €5m for a further 7 projects under Stream 1 (design) of the LSSIF. A provisional allocation of €837,680 was announced for a Regional Sports Campus in Cavan under Stream 1 of the fund. My Department wrote to the Council confirming this on the 16th January.
The evaluation procedures and guidelines for the LSSIF provide that once provision allocations are announced, the successful projects will undergo a further process of due diligence. This process includes a further review of projects including economic appraisals and feasibility studies as appropriate to comply with the public spending code. This work is underway and the Department will continue to liaise with the successful promoters in the weeks ahead to advance all proposals.
1075. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to update the Dublin Carriage Act 1853 in order to introduce a modern licensing system for the hire of horses and cabs in the Dublin area (details supplied). [3734/20]
View answerThe preparation of the necessary legislative proposals in regard to the regulation of horse-drawn carriages is a complex issue requiring engagement by my Department with several Government Departments and local authorities.
Last December the Government approved to a proposal to repeal the Dublin Carriage Acts 1853-55 and to draft a General Scheme of a Bill to assert the power of local authorities, including Dublin City Council, to regulate and set standards for horse-drawn carriages within their respective functional areas.
My Department continues to engage with all relevant stakeholders, including Dublin City Council, on the development of a General Scheme of the Bill.
1076. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the implications of the Covid-19 outbreak for the transport of goods into and through Italy; the discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the implications for the transport sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3872/20]
View answerThe Deputy may wish to be aware that the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade outlines, in respect of travel to Italy, notes that "there has been an increase in the number of confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Italy. As a result, the Italian government has isolated the towns of Codogno, Castiglione d’Adda, Casalpusterlengo, Fombio, Maleo, Somaglia, Bertonico, Terranova dei Passerini, Castelgerundo and San Fiorano (which are in Lombardy) and Vo’ (which is in Veneto). In a wider area comprising Lombardy and Veneto, as well as Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont, certain public services, tourist attractions, bars, restaurants and/or cultural events etc. may be curtailed depending on decisions taken by local authorities. For the moment, we are advising against non-essential travel to the regions of Lombardy, Veneto, Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna". The website further notes that "implemented measures may vary depending on the region. The website for each region of Italy will have more information, and citizens should consult these accordingly".
Representatives from the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) met officials from my Department on 27 February in the context of Brexit, with the IRHA noting also at that meeting that some truck parking/rest areas for HGV drivers in these areas in Northern Italy may be closed, meaning drivers might be required to drive to alternative parking areas elsewhere, in order to take their required rest or break. This could impact, for example, on drivers’ hours rules, and is a matter for the Italian authorities in the first instance. My officials asked that the IRHA keep in touch on this matter, should the situation evolve.
The Department of Health is the lead Government Department in relation to public health matters, including Covid-19. Measures to protect public health are decided by the National Emergency Public Health Team within the Department of Health, and we follow their advice. All queries in relation to public health should therefore be directed to the Department of Health. You can find more information from the HSE and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre here: HSE and here: Health Protection Surveillance Centre.
1077. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused a special needs assistant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2654/20]
View answer1078. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of a special needs assistant for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2737/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1077 and 1078 together.
AIM Level 7 provides additional assistance in the pre-school room where this is critical to ensuring a child’s participation in the free ECCE preschool programme. In line with emerging best practice to support the integration and independence of children with a disability, AIM does not fund Special Needs Assistants (SNAs). Rather, it provides financial support to the pre-school provider, which can be used either to reduce the adult to child ratio in the pre-school room or to buy in additional assistance to the pre-school room. Accordingly, AIM Level 7 assistance is a shared resource for the pre-school setting.
AIM level 7 funding is allocated in response to need, reflecting both the needs of the child and the needs of the specific pre-school setting that the child attends, and is not allocated on the basis of diagnosis. Assessments of a child's needs in the context of the pre-school setting are made by Better Start early years specialists.
In the case to which the Deputy's question refers, a Better Start early years specialist carried out both a telephone review and an observation visit to the setting. It was found that AIM Level 7 funding was not critical to the child's meaningful participation in the pre-school setting. In this case the ratio of staff to children in the room was deemed sufficient to support the child's needs. AIM Level 4 supports, which involve the provision of expert educational advice and mentoring by Better Start to the setting, were recommended to be sufficient in this case.
1079. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason home tuition is not bring provided for a child (details supplied) in County Cork; the steps being taking to ensure they are receiving a proper education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2759/20]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that the provision of home tuition supports is a matter for the Department of Education and Skills.
Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) has engaged with the child in this case. I have asked TESS to reply directly to the Deputy.
