Parliamentary questions

Departmental Bodies Reports

Dessie Ellis

322. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the working group of officials, comprising senior representatives from his Department, local authorities and other relevant bodies, to bring forward proposals for new urban regeneration measures chaired by the Minister of State, Deputy English, has met; and if so, the timeframe for publishing proposals on urban regeneration. [26545/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Dessie Ellis

682. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if he will review the situation in the case of a person (details supplied). [27022/16]

Services for People with Disabilities

Dessie Ellis

724. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the lack of qualified staff, especially nurses, which impacts on the ability of children to attend certain schools, for example, in the case of a person (details supplied). [27287/16]

Rental Accommodation Scheme

Dessie Ellis

567. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if pre-2011 RAS tenants can be precluded from consideration for social housing where household income has changed. [24717/16]

JobPath Implementation

Dessie Ellis

767. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons on the live register who are currently contracted to SEETEC; the hourly rate paid to SEETEC for providing assessment and training, per person, for the long-term unemployed; the types of training provided by SEETEC; the success rates of SEETEC to date; and the number of long-term unemployed persons who have gained employment as a result of their time with SEETEC. [25693/16]

Services for People with Disabilities

Dessie Ellis

1062. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if he will review the funding allocation for new wheelchairs in the Dublin North West area (details supplied). [24562/16]

Public Transport Provision

Dessie Ellis

1815. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the proposed date for the opening of the Phoenix Park tunnel; and the expected number of passengers who will use this facility. [25882/16]

Light Rail Projects

Dessie Ellis

1817. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the proposed cost of the Metro North, including a breakdown of the total; and the projected start date for this project. [25884/16]

Waste Disposal Charges

Dessie Ellis

194. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress of discussions with a company (details supplied) on the change of price plan; his views that for customers to stay on the current plan they have to contact the company, while they automatically transfer to the new pay-by-weight scheme in the aftermath of the pay-by-weight issues and his agreement with the waste management companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22990/16]

Garda Data

Dessie Ellis

126. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí based in Finglas Garda station; the number of Garda vehicles available to them during each of the past six years; and the most up-to-date figures for same. [22508/16]

Garda Data

Dessie Ellis

127. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí based in Santry Garda station; the number of Garda vehicles available to them during each of the past six years; and the most up-to-date figures for same. [22509/16]

Garda Data

Dessie Ellis

128. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí based in Ballymun Garda station; the number of Garda vehicles available to them during each of the past six years; and the most up-to-date figures for same. [22510/16]

Garda Data

Dessie Ellis

129. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí assigned to K District of DMR west division of An Garda Síochána, Dublin; the number of Garda vehicles available to them during each of the past six years; and the most up-to-date figures for same. [22511/16]

Garda Data

Dessie Ellis

130. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí assigned to H District of DMR north division of An Garda Síochána, Dublin; the number of Garda vehicles available to them during each of the past six years; and the most up-to-date figures for same. [22512/16]

Community Policing

Dessie Ellis

131. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community gardaí based in Finglas Garda station, Dublin, during each of the past six years; and the most up-to-date figures for same. [22513/16]

Community Policing

Dessie Ellis

132. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community gardaí based in Santry Garda station, Dublin during each of the past six years; and the most up-to-date figures for same. [22514/16]

Community Policing

Dessie Ellis

133. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community gardaí based in Ballymun Garda station, Dublin during each of the past six years; and the most up-to-date figures for same. [22515/16]

Coroners Service

Dessie Ellis

337. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if county councils are required to pay for the county coroner; and if so, the amount this costs on a county basis. [22153/16]

Urban Renewal Schemes

Dessie Ellis

370. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the projects in Ballymun that received funding from the regeneration programme; and his plans to bridge any gap in funding that may occur from the completion of the programme in 2017. [22646/16]

Housing Adaptation Grant Funding

Dessie Ellis

125. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to make funding available through the Health Service Executive or Fingal Council to assist persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21457/16]

Orthodontic Services Data

Dessie Ellis

101. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the number of orthodontic treatments that the Health Service Executive has outsourced for patients who are waiting over four years for routine orthodontic treatment and for how many patients; the hospitals these treatments have been outsourced to; how many patients are waiting one, two, three and more than four years for these treatments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20931/16]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Dessie Ellis

112. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for corrective surgical procedures for scoliosis; the number that have been waiting for three, six, nine, 12, 18 and 24 months; the progress being made to ensure the necessary posts are filled to ensure these surgeries take place; if alternatives have been considered to ensure that these surgeries take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20930/16]

Legislative Programme

Dessie Ellis

599. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health when he will implement the provisions for donor assisted reproduction Parts 2 and 3 further to the passing of the Children and Family Relationship Act 2015. [21215/16]

Regeneration Projects Funding

Dessie Ellis

122. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to the request this Deputy made to provide a breakdown of 2016 commitments on regeneration projects which were €28 million for Limerick city, €11 million for Cork city, €5 million for Dublin city and €2 million each for Tralee, Dundalk and Sligo, which amounts to €50 million overall (details supplied), if the total allocation for regeneration in 2016 is €104 million. [20028/16]

Regeneration Projects Funding

Dessie Ellis

123. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the breakdown of the allocation of the €32 million to the regeneration of Dolphin House and St. Teresa's Gardens in Dublin 8 (details supplied). [20043/16]

Services for People with Disabilities

Dessie Ellis

483. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health to make funding available through the Health Service Executive to assist persons (details supplied). [19267/16]

Regeneration Projects Funding

Dessie Ellis

14. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to provide a breakdown of the current programme of the 2016 allocation for existing commitments on regeneration projects which is €50 million. [18511/16]

Regeneration Projects Status

Dessie Ellis

29. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the start date for the regeneration projects in the Dublin city area (details supplied); and the amount of funding allocated to these projects. [18513/16]

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Dessie Ellis

100. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the allocation to local authorities for housing maintenance, in tabular form. [18595/16]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Dessie Ellis

101. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government for a progress report on rapid-build housing in Dublin City. [18596/16]

Local Authority Housing Standards

Dessie Ellis

102. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to expand the insulation programme to remaining houses that do not benefit from cavity insulation (details supplied). [18597/16]

Rent Supplement Scheme

Dessie Ellis

126. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Social Protection to rescind the ban in Ballymun, Dublin 11 under the rent supplement scheme which was due to the regeneration project, given that this project is coming to a close. [18572/16]

Youth Guarantee

Dessie Ellis

214. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans in regard to the Youth Guarantee in Ballymun, Dublin 11, which was a pilot scheme; and her plans to roll it out elsewhere in the country. [18571/16]

Mortgage Lending

Dessie Ellis

100. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Finance if there is a timeframe in which a person's entitlement to the first-time buyers status for the purpose of availing of the 10% deposit rule as opposed to the 20% rule could be reinstated (details supplied). [18530/16]

Central Bank of Ireland Investigations

Dessie Ellis

16. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Finance for an update on the Central Bank’s tracker mortgage investigation, including an update of the number of cases being investigated by financial institutions and a timeline for its conclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17525/16]

Mortgage Lending

Dessie Ellis

27. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Finance if he will direct a bank (details supplied) and request that all other banks release information on the extent they have used or not used the 15% loan-to-value exceptions and 20% loan-to-income exceptions permissible under the Central Bank’s macro-prudential regulations; the reason they have not used the full leeway, where that is the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17526/16]

Waste Disposal Charges

Dessie Ellis

246. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to respond to complaints from persons that waste collection companies are charging fees that far exceed the existing standing charge; his plans to implement measures to regulate private companies to prevent them charging exorbitant waste disposal charges, that in one instance amounted to a 130% increase made under the guise of the pay-by-weight legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16991/16]

Building Regulations

Dessie Ellis

260. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that over the past number of years, a clerk of works has not been mandatory on site, and if he will reintroduced this measure in the interest of better building regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17255/16]

Regeneration Projects Expenditure

Dessie Ellis

262. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the cost of the urban regeneration scheme in Ballymun, Dublin 11. [17259/16]

Regeneration Projects

Dessie Ellis

263. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number and status of urban regeneration schemes. [17260/16]

Regeneration Projects

Dessie Ellis

264. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the cost of planned further regeneration projects. [17261/16]

Environmental Policy

Dessie Ellis

265. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his policy on urban regeneration. [17262/16]

Airport Development Projects

Dessie Ellis

60. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of his work with the Dublin Airport Authority and other relevant bodies to ensure plans for an additional runway at the airport include considerable consultation with local communities and a plan for increased public transport provision at the airport. [15614/16]

Public Transport

Dessie Ellis

79. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to invest further in public transport through the State subvention to Córas Iompar Éireann and other means in order to improve standards, increase accessibility and encourage more persons to use public transport. [15613/16]

Child Care Services Funding

Dessie Ellis

12. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to address the funding crisis in Youngballymun; and her plans to roll out this model across the State. [14841/16]

Health Services Funding

Dessie Ellis

11. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health his progress, in conjunction with the Health Service Executive, in securing funding to complete episodes of scheduled care commenced in 2015; the amount of funding required to complete these episodes; how many episodes of care are outstanding for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13695/16]

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Dessie Ellis

63. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date in the establishment of a bed bureau for the greater Dublin area on the availability of residential care beds; the areas being covered in this bureau; his plans to roll this out in other areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13694/16]

Rural Transport Programme Expenditure

Dessie Ellis

589. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to set out the money already spent, the planned expenditure, including where that money has been allocated, and the current estimate for total State expenditure on the rural transport programme in 2016. [11455/16]

Córas Iompair Éireann

Dessie Ellis

590. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on the estimate for the total State subvention to Córas Iompair Éireann in 2016 by each Córas Iompair Éireann company. [11456/16]

Córas Iompair Éireann

Dessie Ellis

591. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to set out the previous and planned additional funding to Córas Iompair Éireann companies for 2016. [11457/16]

Public Service Obligation Services

Dessie Ellis

592. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he expects specific savings or changes in the public service obligation funding as a result of the introduction of open tendering and to set out in tabular form his rationale for the expected savings. [11458/16]

Public Transport Provision

Dessie Ellis

593. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost to the State of making all existing public transport completely wheelchair accessible. [11459/16]

Capital Expenditure Programme

Dessie Ellis

594. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funds pledged and the funds that have been ring-fenced in the capital spending plan for the completion of the A5 dual carriageway, the Narrow Water bridge, the Ulster Canal and the north-west gateway initiative, in tabular form. [11460/16]

Capital Expenditure Programme

Dessie Ellis

595. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funds which are required but not yet budgeted to complete the A5 dual carriageway, the Narrow Water bridge, the Ulster Canal and the north-west gateway initiative. [11461/16]

Housing Adaptation Grant

Dessie Ellis

467. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that Kildare County Council has a process of only replacing windows in elderly persons homes if there is money left in the budget at the end of the year and, despite an increased allocation in the 2016 housing maintenance budget, if they will be operating the same process for this year; if this practice is supported by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7445/16]

Cycling Facilities Provision

Dessie Ellis

563. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will install a bike station in the Glasnevin Cemetery and the Botanic Gardens area of Dublin, given this area's popularity with tourists and its large population. [4749/16]

Medical Card Reviews

Dessie Ellis

305. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health why a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 was denied a medical card. [2844/16]

Mental Health Services

Dessie Ellis

335. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the incremental closure of mental health services in the Drumcondra, Clontarf and Ballymun areas, Dublin, and the centralisation of services at the day centre on the North Circular Road, Dublin 7, including the winding down of the Tús Nua centre to just one day per week; the impact this will have on local service users, their families and the wider community; and how this strategy fits into the A Vision for Change strategy for mental health. [2894/16]

Public Transport

Dessie Ellis

500. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide figures for the potential additional costs on the Exchequer if his Department were to transfer operation of the Luas to Coras Iompair Éireann at the end of the current contract with Transdev. [3030/16]

Public Transport

Dessie Ellis

501. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the State funding including capital investment packages received by Transdev or any of its subsidiaries for the operation of the Luas in each of the years since its launch in 2004. [3031/16]

Roads Maintenance

Dessie Ellis

502. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the problems Bus Éireann drivers are experiencing with icy roads, particularly in County Westmeath; and his plans to ensure a consistent road gritting policy across local authority areas. [3046/16]

Flood Prevention Measures

Dessie Ellis

180. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to outline the measures in place to alleviate the losses to local businesses in County Dublin, in particular, in the Dublin 2 and 4 areas, should these areas experience flooding in the future. [2231/16]

School Accommodation

Dessie Ellis

439. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Education and Skills the planned address of the new premises for the Shellybanks Educate Together national school in Dublin 4. [2235/16]

Rail Services Provision

Dessie Ellis

480. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the rationale for the continued closure of the waiting rooms at Newbridge train station, County Kildare, for a number of years, given that it is a very busy station and is regularly used by persons travelling to seek hospital services in the Dublin area. [2229/16]

State Examinations

Dessie Ellis

753. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Education and Skills why a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 was denied a reader for the leaving certificate examination despite having dyslexia and literacy scores well below the required threshold. [46585/15]

Road Network

Dessie Ellis

2. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to address the increasing capacity problems on the M50 and the need for a proposed additional ring road to deal with the high demand on the part of motorists. [45431/15]

Cross-Border Projects

Dessie Ellis

8. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will work with Stormont and transport companies in the North to deliver an island-wide integrated ticketing system and to improve access to cross-Border public transport services. [45004/15]

Rail Network

Dessie Ellis

10. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will install a tunnel or bridge at the Pelletstown and Ashtown rail crossing to deal with the major traffic problems it is creating. [45001/15]

Public Transport Fares

Dessie Ellis

20. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the effort he has made to make public transport services more affordable given regular increases in fares over the past five years, even for those using prepaid and Leap card options. [45005/15]

Electric Vehicle Grants

Dessie Ellis

71. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to encourage the use of electric vehicles, given the very low take-up of such vehicles by public, commercial and transport interests. [45003/15]

Nursing Home Services

Dessie Ellis

395. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health to justify the exorbitant costs paid to private nursing homes and the measures that are put in place to prevent private nursing homes from adding extra costs that are driving the families of those in care into poverty (details supplied). [44846/15]

Social and Affordable Housing Applications Data

Dessie Ellis

579. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of applicants on housing waiting lists and why he is not aware of the level of housing need. [45124/15]

Social and Affordable Housing Applications Data

Dessie Ellis

580. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of applicants on the housing waiting list for County Donegal. [45125/15]

Social and Affordable Housing Applications Data

Dessie Ellis

581. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of applicants on the housing waiting list for County Galway. [45126/15]

Social and Affordable Housing Applications Data

Dessie Ellis

582. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of applicants on the housing waiting list for County Mayo. [45127/15]

Social and Affordable Housing Applications Data

Dessie Ellis

583. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of applicants on the housing waiting for list County Sligo. [45128/15]

Social and Affordable Housing Applications Data

Dessie Ellis

584. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of applicants on the housing waiting list for County Leitrim. [45129/15]

Social and Affordable Housing Applications Data

Dessie Ellis

585. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of applicants on the housing waiting list for County Roscommon. [45130/15]

Fire Safety

Dessie Ellis

586. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government what the Dublin Docklands Development Authority is doing, as owner of the Longboat Quay common areas, to ensure that the cost for the Longboat Quay fire safety works is urgently addressed, so works can commence on fire safety. [45162/15]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Dessie Ellis

589. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of local authority housing unit builds completed by county in 2015 to date, in tabular form. [44193/15]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Dessie Ellis

590. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of local authority housing units builds commenced but not competed by county in 2015 to date, in tabular form. [44194/15]

Housing Assistance Payments Data

Dessie Ellis

591. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of housing assistance payment tenancies in operation and yearly cost of these tenancies to the State by county in tabular form. [44195/15]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Dessie Ellis

592. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of new social housing units and the scheme under which they have been delivered, in 2015 to date, in tabular form. [44196/15]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Dessie Ellis

593. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of local authority units that will be built and commenced by county in 2016, in tabular form. [44197/15]

Local Authority Housing Data

Dessie Ellis

594. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount spent on the construction of local authority housing in each of the years 2011 to date, in tabular form, and the estimate for 2016 [44198/15]

Rental Accommodation Scheme Data

Dessie Ellis

595. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of former rental accommodation scheme tenants who have been evicted or who have had their tenancies terminated in each of the years from 2011 to date. [44199/15]

Public Transport Subsidies

Dessie Ellis

642. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of subvention provided to Córas Iompair Éireann, Luas and other companies providing public transport in each of the years from 2007 to date, in tabular form, and the estimated subvention for 2016. [44211/15]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Dessie Ellis

579. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the impediment to local authorities borrowing for social housing construction still exists; if so, the rationale for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40552/15]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Dessie Ellis

580. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the impediments to local authorities borrowing for social housing construction. [40553/15]

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]

National Car Test

Dessie Ellis

2. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to investigate the efficiency and effectiveness of the current national car test system and the operation of that system given the high failure rates, the long waiting lists for motorists to have their cars tested, and the regular need for retesting of cars over minor issues. [39558/15]