Parliamentary questions

Road Safety

Michael Healy-Rae

672. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) in County Kerry regarding the use of satellite navigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50175/13]

Rail Network

Michael Healy-Rae

673. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if rubber pads could be inserted alongside the railway tracks at Minish, Killarney, similar to the practice in Dublin, in order to reduce the rocking caused to cars and trucks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50180/13]

Road Safety Authority Funding

Michelle Mulherin

674. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the surplus funds the Road Safety Authority has to hand; its need for this funding; the plans in respect of the funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50314/13]

Noise Pollution

Brendan Griffin

675. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the National Roads Authority will conduct a noise pollution test on a house (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50339/13]

Tourism Promotion

James Bannon

676. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to promote the tourism potential of counties Longford and Westmeath, particularly its rivers, lakes and canals as a tourist destination for foreign visitors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50374/13]

Taxi Regulations

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

677. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the process for acquiring a taxi licence for Dublin Airport; the specific criteria that apply; the number of such licences that have been newly allocated in 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50404/13]

Road Safety

Terence Flanagan

678. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures he is taking regarding bridge strikes to ensure that disruption caused by these incidents is kept to a minimum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50407/13]

Road Safety

Terence Flanagan

679. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the level of communication he has had with the Irish road haulage industry regarding bridge strikes and the importance of respecting bridge height warnings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50409/13]

Sporting Events

Patrick Nulty

680. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will raise concerns raised by Amnesty International regarding exploitation of workers in Qatar in the run up to the 2022 World Cup with the FAI and FIFA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50442/13]

Roads Maintenance

Tom Fleming

681. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will request the National Roads Authority and the Road Safety Authority to immediately investigate and complete the footbridge in Sneem village, County Kerry, as this structure continues to be a health and safety issue until such time as the matter is attended to; if he will request the NRA to resurface Sneem village on the N70, Ring of Kerry road in 2014 as the road through the village is in a very poor condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50471/13]

Noise Pollution

John Lyons

682. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will liaise with the Dublin Airport Authority on the issue of aircraft noise and its effects on residents in the hinterland of the airport. [50495/13]

Roadworthiness Testing

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

683. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce testing for tractors; if it will be on an annual or biannual basis; if he will make clear if this is as a result of a European directive, and if so, when such testing will be introduced; the number of testing stations that would be needed to cover the entire country; if any such testing centres will be run on a franchise basis similar to the testing centres used to test trucks and vans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50512/13]

Airport Development Projects

Éamon Ó Cuív

684. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department is represented on the group doing a strategic study on the future of Knock Airport; the progress made to date with this study; when it is hoped to complete the work and submit a report to the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50528/13]

Rail Services

Seán Crowe

685. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason there is a reduction in the number of carriages on trains throughout Ireland; and if his attention has been drawn to the safety concerns due to overcrowding as a result of this decision. [50585/13]

Bus Éireann Staff

Dessie Ellis

686. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of full-time service bus drivers in Bus Éireann. [50620/13]

Bus Éireann Staff

Dessie Ellis

687. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of managers of all grades there are in Bus Éireann; and if he will provide a breakdown of numbers of managers per grade. [50621/13]

Bus Éireann Staff

Dessie Ellis

688. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he expects a reduction in driver staff levels if the proposed National Transport Authority plans of 10% of routes transferring to private operators goes ahead. [50622/13]

Bus Éireann Staff

Dessie Ellis

689. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he expects a reduction of management personnel if the National Transport Authority's proposed 10% reduction of Bus Éireann routes goes ahead. [50623/13]

Bus Éireann Staff

Dessie Ellis

690. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he expects any staff in Bus Éireann or Dublin Bus to be transferred under TUPE if the National Transport Authority's proposed 10% reduction of Bus Éireann routes goes ahead; and if they will be able to return to their former positions should contracts be withdrawn. [50624/13]

Bus Éireann Staff

Dessie Ellis

691. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views that as stakeholders in this process that the Bus Éireann drivers' views and concerns should be considered during any proposed process by the National Transport Authority either at present and into the future relating to the company. [50625/13]

Bus Éireann Staff

Dessie Ellis

692. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the National Transport Authority has not met with either the Bus Éireann drivers or their union representatives; and if he will use his position to arrange such a meeting at the earliest opportunity. [50626/13]

Bus Éireann Staff

Dessie Ellis

693. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether Bus Éireann has met all the targets and requirements, consistently achieving 95% to 98% of target levels, as set down by the National Transport Authority, in its quarterly reports. [50627/13]

Bus Éireann Staff

Dessie Ellis

694. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a recommendation has not been put in place arising from the Labour Relations Commission of 16 May 2013 on proposals to resolve the dispute at Bus Éireann which included a joint initiative to maximise operational effectiveness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50628/13]

Bus Éireann Staff

Dessie Ellis

695. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will commit to working with Bus Éireann to implement the joint initiative to maximise operational effectiveness as proposed by the Labour Relations Commission. [50657/13]

Rural Transport Programme

Mattie McGrath

696. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the change in boundaries in the rural transport programme, the area or group that now has or will have responsibility for rural transport in the Bohernabreena area, Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50715/13]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Michael McGrath

697. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he plans to open applications for the next round of the sports capital grant programme; and if there is a deadline in place for organisations to register on the new online system. [50761/13]

Bus Éireann Services

Seán Kenny

698. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number and percentage of the buses in the Bus Éireann fleet that are currently wheelchair accessible; when he expects the fleet to be 100% accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50822/13]

Road Tolls

Pearse Doherty

699. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his opinion on the HGV Road User Levy Act introduced in the United Kingdom; if it is within the spirit of EU law; if he has raised the possible effect on southern based Irish hauliers at EU level; the success he has had in having southern hauliers exempt especially on the N2/A5 road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50831/13]