Parliamentary questions

Hydraulic Fracturing

Denis Naughten

604. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason Queen's University in Belfast has withdrawn from the Environmental Protection Agency’s study into hydraulic fracturing; if he is aware of the fact that the lack of engagement by independent researchers in providing oversight undermines the credibility of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40691/15]

Public Transport Provision

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

605. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware that responsibility for delivering objective 1.5 of the national positive aging strategy, relating to age-friendly public transport, is assigned to his Department; the progress he has made in delivering this objective; the work completed to date; the contact there has been with other Departments or State bodies towards achieving this objective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40047/15]

Roads Maintenance Funding

Michael McCarthy

606. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received a request for emergency funding from Cork County Council to carry out necessary and vital repairs to a road (details supplied) in County Cork; if he will support this request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40086/15]

Rail Services Provision

Thomas P. Broughan

607. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for closure of the lift at a location (details supplied) in Dublin 13, which leads to disabled persons and persons with children in buggies unable to access the platform; if this will be immediately remedied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40134/15]

Sports Capital Programme Administration

Brendan Griffin

608. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there will be a sports capital programme in 2016, what the budget will be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40174/15]

Public Transport Initiatives

Dessie Ellis

609. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the work completed to date in integrating various Government funded agencies such as the Health Service Executive, the Irish Wheelchair Association and others in relation to the provision of public transport, detailing resources provided and barriers to integration identified; and if the National Transport Authority has any target of integration or a timeframe for this. [40196/15]

Public Transport Initiatives

Dessie Ellis

610. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to further integrate charities and community groups struggling with transport needs into transport co-ordination units; and if they will be available to assist these organisations. [40197/15]

Public Transport Initiatives

Dessie Ellis

611. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the rationale for the National Transport Authority abandoning the community bottom-up ethos of the rural transport programme; the provision there is for the voluntary boards to make choices that fit local needs; if there is no such provision, if he will provide an explanation for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40198/15]

Rural Transport Programme

Dessie Ellis

612. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the value for money on the rural transport programme report which was completed in 2009 recommended that management of the programme be transferred to the National Transport Authority to achieve savings in the administration of the programme. [40199/15]

Public Transport Initiatives

Dessie Ellis

613. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to review the impact of the changes to the rural transport programme, such as the transfer of management to the National Transport Authority; and the details of any administrative savings that have been made, or any targeted savings. [40200/15]

Rural Transport Programme

Dessie Ellis

614. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport given that the value for money recommendations indicated that the rural transport programme might benefit from being under the aegis of the National Transport Authority's responsibility, his views that its ethos and fundamental structures require change, in that it was only recommended that economies and skills on the supply side be looked at; and his further view that the authority has gone too far. [40201/15]

Public Transport Initiatives

Dessie Ellis

615. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of work to improve and ensure that the objective of social inclusion remains a primary role of the transport co-ordination units, as it was under the rural transport programme. [40202/15]

Public Transport Initiatives

Dessie Ellis

616. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the work completed to ensure the high standard of training and health and safety standards remains in the rural transport programme. [40203/15]

Public Transport Initiatives

Dessie Ellis

617. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the rationale for the removal of the procurement function of the rural transport programme from the transport co-ordination units, and its centralisation; and how this will affect the ability of the units to address specific local needs. [40204/15]

Public Transport Initiatives

Dessie Ellis

618. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position and plans of the National Transport Authority to subsume the rural transport programme and the transport co-ordination units into local authority structures; and the rationale for this plan. [40205/15]

Integrated Ticketing

Pearse Doherty

619. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the leap card system operated by the National Transport Authority is accepted for journeys made using public transport to destinations within County Donegal, and for journeys to and from the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40253/15]

Road Signage

Finian McGrath

620. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the issue of inadequate road signage, and the lack of visible road speed signage around Dublin city (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40275/15]

Park and Ride Facilities

Timmy Dooley

621. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the schemes, grants and amounts he and the National Transport Authority provide to fund the development of park and ride facilities, by local authorities and by county, for each of the years 2011 to 2015 to date, in tabular form. [40281/15]

Transport Infrastructure Provision

Finian McGrath

622. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the huge transport problems for those with a disability during and following the construction of the new Luas line, as they will lose their taxi service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40315/15]

Shannon Airport Facilities

Clare Daly

623. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 8 of 23 September 2015, if he will provide the information he referred to during the oral discussion with regard to the 190 tons of ammunition and bullets which had been transported over Shannon from the United States of America to Afghanistan; and his views on the matter, having undertaken to provide this information on the day. [40392/15]