Parliamentary questions

Dublin City Centre Transport Study

Timmy Dooley

1. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the changes to transport in the centre of Dublin proposed by Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority in the Dublin city centre transport study; his further views on the proposals to ban private cars from key central routes within the city centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23835/15]

Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme

Dessie Ellis

2. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will commit to providing a portion of the proceeds from any sale of Aer Lingus to protect the pensions of deferred members of the Irish Airlines (general employees) superannuation scheme who worked for Aer Lingus. [23234/15]

Road Improvement Schemes

Catherine Murphy

3. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied the route proposed for the M7 upgrade in County Kildare is the most beneficial and cost effective; the timescale as to when the upgrade will be completed; the public consultation which has taken place to date on the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23837/15]

National Roads Authority Projects

Timmy Dooley

4. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason he decided to refuse the proposed motorway between counties Cork and Limerick, in view of the fact that the National Roads Authority has identified the project as one of the country’s priority road investments. [23836/15]

Rail Network Expansion

Catherine Murphy

5. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for the Dublin Area Rapid Transit underground project, the railway procurement order for which expires in September 2015; the revised options for the project he is considering; the new timeline proposed for completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23838/15]

Services for People with Disabilities

Mattie McGrath

6. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures that are being taken to improve travel and transport facilities for persons with a disability; his assessment of the Government's commitments to the travel needs of persons with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23242/15]

Cycling Policy

Denis Naughten

7. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to resolve the concerns of owners of land between Athlone in County Westmeath and Aughrim in County Galway relating to the routing of the new Dublin-Galway cycleway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23245/15]

Harbour Authorities

Timmy Dooley

8. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on concerns over corporate governance standards at Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company in County Dublin, and the financial viability of a €67.5 million plan to revitalise the harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23474/15]

Tourism Promotion

Denis Naughten

9. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to try to secure direct flights from China to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23231/15]

Cycling Facilities Provision

Catherine Murphy

10. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department is in a position to support the Naas neighbourhood greenway project in County Kildare either in part or in full; the consultation his Department has had relating to the proposal; the advice and support that has been offered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23485/15]

Sports Funding

Timmy Dooley

11. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on his Department's monitoring of all sporting bodies in receipt of public moneys to ensure proper financial auditing and financial governance standards. [23470/15]

Traffic Management

Timmy Dooley

12. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address concerns regarding the impact of traffic congestion in Dublin in preventing companies from growing and creating jobs; his views on whether the traffic densities in Dublin are posing a threat to competitiveness and economic recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23475/15]

National Mitigation Plan

Catherine Murphy

13. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the precise targets and reduction measurement proposals his Department is proposing to mitigate harmful emissions to address the significant shortcomings in the transport sector that are projected, a 22% increase over the 2011 to 2020 period; if his Department has set in place any indicative targets for the profile of domestic fuel use for petrol, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas, electricity, fuel oil, jet kerosene and renewables; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23483/15]

Tourism Promotion

Patrick O'Donovan

14. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to encourage those local authorities who are touched by or adjoin the Wild Atlantic Way to develop localised driving routes, off the main route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23237/15]

Road Safety Strategy

Thomas P. Broughan

15. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report to Dáil Éireann on the pro-social driving programme in County Donegal, on the number of participants over the past three years, on any participants who have re-offended in that period, on whether victims and families of road crash victims have been asked to make presentations to the course and on this pilot programme; the way it is funded; if it will be made permanent and extended to the rest of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23243/15]

Road Network

Bernard Durkan

16. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide further consideration to the proposals to upgrade the Naas-Newbridge-Sallins bypass and the Osberstown Interchange-Monread Road roundabout in County Kildare within the confines of expenditure guidelines; the extent to which either project is ready to proceed; if his attention has been drawn to the considerable economic benefit and alleviation of traffic congestion accruing in the event of approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23391/15]

State Airports

Jerry Buttimer

17. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he recognises that reducing passenger numbers at Cork Airport needs to be addressed by a change in aviation policy; the measures he plans to take in order to assist in facilitating an increase in passenger numbers at Cork Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23239/15]

Road Improvement Schemes

Helen McEntee

18. Deputy Helen McEntee asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if further funding will be made available to County Meath for repairs and restructuring of the roads within the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23465/15]

Public Transport Provision

Dessie Ellis

19. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the legislative problems identified by the National Bus and Rail Union with the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, relating to public tendering of bus services; and the efforts that are being made to correct this. [23236/15]

Harbour Authorities

Richard Boyd Barrett

20. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the recent resignation of a person (details supplied), an accountant and auditor, from the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company in County Dublin, due to concerns over financial matters, and the numerous questions that have been raised with regard to overpayment of expenses and other irregularities, if he considers it is time to dissolve the company and take it back under the aegis of his Department pending the new legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23479/15]

Marine Tourism Promotion

Thomas Pringle

21. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his role in developing the nautical tourism sector, and specifically in the context of County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23471/15]

Public Transport Provision

Mick Wallace

22. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied with the current provision of public transport in County Wexford, in particular his views that it is adequate to serve rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23481/15]

Aer Lingus Sale

Clare Daly

23. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1186 of 9 June 2015, if consideration was given at any stage of the process to using a percentage of the proceeds of the sale of the State's shareholding in Aer Lingus to alleviate the hardship being faced by the Irish airlines (general employees) superannuation scheme's deferred and current pensioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23462/15]

Motor Tax Collection

Mick Wallace

24. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has had discussions with the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government regarding proposals to allow for motor tax to be paid in monthly instalments by direct debit; if he is satisfied that the current system, in which taxpayers are incentivised to pay an annual rate of motor tax, does not unfairly burden those on lower incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23480/15]

Aer Lingus Sale

Jerry Buttimer

25. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way the proposed sale of Aer Lingus to the International Airlines Group will benefit Cork Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23240/15]

Arts Promotion

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

26. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way his Department liaises with other relevant State agencies to use the arts to attract visitors from overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16825/15]

National Roads Authority Funding

Timmy Dooley

27. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on plans to address concerns over a shortfall in funding in the National Roads Authority to maintain the roads network, due to the decision by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to require the funding of public private partnerships from capital budgets; and if he is satisfied that the authority has adequate funding for maintenance and small capital project spending. [23473/15]

Departmental Schemes

Seán Kyne

28. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the status of the active towns smarter travel scheme; if this scheme will be open to new applications; the funding programmes available for initiatives that would meet the criteria of the scheme, such as improvements to pedestrian facilities, including footpaths and bridges beneficial to varied groups in communities, including schoolchildren; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23466/15]

National Car Test

Terence Flanagan

29. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the steps being taken to reduce the backlog for those drivers waiting to obtain a national car test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23232/15]

Road Safety

Thomas Pringle

30. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the issue of dangerous traffic at a school crossroads (details supplied) in County Donegal; his plans in the event that the issue is not addressed at a local level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23469/15]

Taxi Regulations

Patrick O'Donovan

31. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a decision will be made on any changes to the knowledge test for small public service vehicle licensing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23238/15]

Marine Casualty Investigations Board

Mattie McGrath

32. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his statutory relationship to the Marine Casualty Investigation Board; his role in appointing members of the board; his views on whether it is appropriate to appoint persons to the board who have no marine experience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23241/15]

Swimming Pool Programme Status

Catherine Murphy

33. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the planned roll-out of a public swimming pool in the north Kildare area; the timeline for completion of the construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23484/15]

Tourism Promotion

Charlie McConalogue

34. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the plans his Department has in place to develop tourist amenities at Fanad lighthouse in County Donegal; if he will support the recent application for funding received by Fáilte Ireland in respect of the lighthouse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23487/15]

Aer Lingus Sale

Ruth Coppinger

35. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on meetings with workers in Aer Lingus and their trade unions concerning the sale of the State's share of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23477/15]

Harbour Authorities

Richard Boyd Barrett

36. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the fact that aspects of the master plan of Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company in County Dublin do not fall under the heading of commercial shipping activities for which the company needs ministerial consent, his views that his Department was adequately consulted with regards to plans for the development of Dún Laoghaire Harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23478/15]

Rail Services Provision

Terence Flanagan

37. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to deal with overcrowding on the Dublin Area Rapid Transit during peak times; if Irish Rail has requested more funding to provide more trains and carriages during peak times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23233/15]

Aer Lingus Sale

Ruth Coppinger

38. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on meetings held with Aer Lingus executives concerning the sale of the State's share of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23476/15]

Sports Events

Bernard Durkan

39. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport In the wake of recent sporting revelations possibly affecting the hosting of the next soccer World Cup, if he will make a submission to the relevant international sporting body promoting the possibility of hosting the soccer World Cup in this jurisdiction, unilaterally or in conjunction with adjoining jurisdictions; the degree to which the full extent of facilities required may be available here or could be, with augmentation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23392/15]

Road Improvement Schemes

Seán Kyne

40. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the plans for the upgrade to the Oughterard to Maam Cross section of the N59, which is the primary route into north Connemara, and for which the National Roads Authority has allocated funding for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23464/15]

Road Traffic Offences

Thomas P. Broughan

41. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on his recent comments on possible legislation following on from breaches of road traffic regulations by cyclists; the strategy he is pursuing in relation to improving safety for cyclists on Irish roads and streets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23244/15]

Air Safety

Clare Daly

42. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1002 of 26 May 2015, and in view of his awareness of the University of Ghent report on atypical employment in aviation and its potential impact on safety as indicated in his reply, if his Department or the Irish Aviation Authority made any specific contact with the airlines, or undertook any specific action. [23463/15]

Road Improvement Schemes

Charlie McConalogue

43. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to reinstate the specific improvements grant scheme, with particular reference to his plans to specifically provide funding for a new bridge at Cockhill, Buncrana, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23461/15]

Social Welfare Benefits Reviews

Olivia Mitchell

44. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the options available in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 14, who has given up a part-time job because her one parent family payments are under review. [23969/15]

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Noel Harrington

45. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the total number of working-age adults who claim any welfare payment, with the exception of child benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23971/15]

Jobseeker's Allowance Data

Noel Harrington

46. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of jobseeker's allowance who have continuously claimed for over one year, two years, three years, four years and five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23972/15]

Social Welfare Payments Administration

Brendan Smith

47. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of the widespread concern of the Irish Postmasters' Union in relation to the recent issue of revised application forms from her Department; if she will ensure that these forms are officially withdrawn and replaced with the previous issue of forms, where payment at the post office is the first option listed, and no recommendation is made; if she will ensure that these changes are made without delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24001/15]

Social Welfare Payments Administration

Bernard Durkan

48. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the amount of payment received in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24004/15]

State Pensions Payments

Pat Deering

50. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost associated with a €10 increase in the State pension (contributory) and the State pension (non-contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24008/15]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Dessie Ellis

51. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of the cost to the State of providing rent supplement for 2014 and to date in 2015. [24014/15]