Written Answers Nos. 261-271
261. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the commitment to progressing the co-funded A5 road project; if he will further provide an update on the engagement that he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive in respect of this co-funded project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41269/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraTransport is one of the areas of co-operation under the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) process. Regular meetings of the Transport Sectoral Council are held, where transport issues, including investment, are discussed. The next Transport Sectoral is due to take place on 5th October 2012.
In relation to the A5 cross-Border roads project, as the Deputy will be aware, the previous Government gave a commitment to co-fund the construction of the A5. However, they made no provision to meet the costs of the A5 post-2012 in either the Four Year Plan or the Infrastructure Investment Priorities Plan 2010 to 2016. Given that £400 million sterling was due to fall between 2013 and 2016 and given the current state of the Exchequer, it was not feasible to provide this level of funding in the coming years.
Therefore, at the NSMC Plenary meeting, on 8th November 2011, Ministers noted that the provision of further funding by the Irish Government for the A5 road was being deferred but that the Irish Government will provide £25m per annum in 2015 and 2016 towards the project. At the subsequent June 2012 NSMC Plenary meeting, it was noted that the N.I. Executive had announced an investment package of major roads including two sections of the A5 project. In addition, it was noted that the Irish Government remains committed to the completion of the co-funded A5 project which is of strategic importance to the North West Region and the island as a whole, but that the Government is not in a position to make funding commitments for the period post-2016 in advance of its consideration of the next capital review framework. The NSMC plenary approved a funding implementation plan for the A5 project to the end of 2016 which incorporated the £50m committed by the Irish Government.
262. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport when decisions on the sports capital grants applications 2012 will be announced; the number of applications received by his Department from organisations in counties Longford and Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42362/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra30 applications were received from County Longford and 44 were received from County Westmeath under the Sports Capital Programme advertised earlier this year. I expect to be in a position to announce the list of successful applicants later this year.
263. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the progress made on plans to build a bridge linking North County Louth and South County Down at Narrow Water; the steps he has taken to progress this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42379/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. As you are aware, this Government has had to scale back capital spending considerably in recent times. This will impact significantly on the scope for new development projects. The Narrow Water Bridge project is estimated to cost approximately €19 million. I understand that Louth County Council submitted the project's CPO and EIS to An Bord Pleanála on 16th January 2012, that an oral hearing was held in June of this year and that Louth County Council expects a decision shortly.
I also understand that Louth County Council has applied for INTERREG IVA funding for the project. In advance of this application, I indicated to Louth County Council that funding under the INTERREG IVA programme would require a commitment from the Northern Ireland authorities to fund in excess of 75% of the up front cost of the project. I am not aware if Louth County Council has obtained this commitment. I did indicate that if the Northern Ireland authorities were willing to support the project and if an INTERREG IVA application were successful then I would be prepared to try to find a net Exchequer contribution of the order of €1.5m.
264. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the reason Bus Éireann has dropped Expressway Route 22; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this decision leaves the town of Elphin, County Roscommon without any bus service (details supplied) while the other towns along Expressway Route 22 have other Expressway services which will continue, Elphin is now left with no service to connect it to regional towns; if he is concerned that should such cutbacks to services continue, he will further marginalise towns such as Elphin; the decision making process which brought about this action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42392/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is an operational matter for Bus Éireann in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA) and not one in which I have any role. I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
265. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of conducting the consultants report associated with the proposed bus corridors within the Naas town area in County Kildare; the consultants undertaking this study; if Kildare County Council National Roads Design Team were considered for this project in order to reduce the costs associated with this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42394/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in December 2009, the provision of public transport infrastructure and the effective management of traffic in the Greater Dublin Area comes under the remit of the NTA. Noting this I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. He should please advise my private office if he does not receive a reply within ten working days.
266. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he will confirm that the medical bureau road safety have been allocated €300,000 to purchase 25 station based breath testing machines, Evidenzer IRL machines, for 22 Garda stations and three spare machines; when these machines will be installed; the stations in which they are being installed; if he has been informed by the Department for Justice and Equality that the Garda Commissioner has named the Gardaí going forward for training in MBRS; the total number of Gardaí who will be trained in this function; if he will indicate the number of these that will be taking the two day training course in MBRS in October 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42434/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of my Department's 2012 Estimates, the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) was allocated €300,000 to purchase EvidenzerIRL instruments. The Bureau is now ready to proceed with the purchase of 22 instruments for installation in Garda Stations and an additional 3 instruments are also being purchased to ensure sufficient spares are available. The instruments will be installed in 22 designated Garda stations following delivery from the manufacturers, their customised production for this jurisdiction and then subsequent testing by the MBRS prior to being commissioned into use. This installation, testing and commissioning will occur on a rolling basis throughout the country in the first quarter of 2013. The identification of the 22 Garda stations where the instruments will be installed is currently being finalised by the Gardaí and the MBRS, subject to criteria laid down by the MBRS. Once finalised, the list of selected locations will be available from the Garda Síochána. The details of the Gardaí members to be trained as instrument operators and supervisors at the MBRS commencing in October 2012, and continuing into 2013 are not yet known. Those details are Garda operational matters and the Office of the Assistant Garda Commissioner for Traffic is co-ordinating the matter.
267. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the position regarding the Waterford based Pilot Training College of Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42491/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I have previously stated the situation which arose is most unfortunate and came about from the failure of the Pilot Training College (PTC), a privately-owned and operated flight training school, to meet its contractual obligations to its students in relation to the completion of their training.
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has responsibility for approving and overseeing flight training organisations in Ireland. The Authority’s primary functions in this regard are the oversight of the safety, quality and standard of the training being delivered, the conduct of examinations and flight tests. They look at whether the company has sufficient resources to safely provide the training required to the internationally determined standards. They have no involvement in, or responsibility for, the contractual arrangements between flight schools and their students.
While I have considerable sympathy for those facing personal financial loss, there are a significant number of creditors in this case including foreign students, large airlines and others. It would not be practical to treat those creditors differently to those individuals who have contacted the Deputy. Ultimately the Irish tax-payer cannot be liable for failed private companies. Almost all companies in the State are regulated or licensed by the State or a State agency or body. This does not confer liability on the State.
268. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the occupancy rates at the car parks of the train stations in counties Meath and Louth; the individual pricing structure for each station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42518/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra269. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport when he expects the Irish Rail review of car parking charges at train stations to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42519/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 269 together.
The management of car parks at train stations is a matter for Irish Rail. I have, however, on foot of representations from a number of Deputies and based on my own experience as a Deputy in a commuter area, raised certain concerns recently regarding car-parking charges policy with both the Chairman and Chief Executive of Irish Rail. I have asked Irish Rail to review the current policy and assess the current pricing regime on the basis that a lower charge may encourage more commuters to use the car parks. A response from Irish Rail is awaited.
I have also referred the Deputy's specific questions to the company for direct reply. He should please advise my private office if he has not received a reply within ten working days.
270. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if his Department works with local authorities in the delivery of services; and if so, the details of same. [42569/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra271. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if his Department engage with local authorities in the provision of services and if so the details of same. [42590/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together.
My Department has responsibility for policy in relation to the transport, tourism and sport sectors and regularly engages with Local Authorities on these issues either directly or indirectly through its agencies. In particular, funding is provided by the National Transport Authority to the local authorities in the Greater Dublin area, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford for the implementation of a variety of projects including Quality Bus Corridor enhancements, traffic management, cycle and pedestrian schemes and footpaths. While the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the responsibility of the relevant local authority to be funded from own resources, this funding is supplemented by State road grants paid by my Department through the National Roads Authority.
Capital funding is provided to Local Authorities under the Department's Sports Capital and Local Authority Swimming Pools Programmes. The Department engages with Local Authorities under the major emergency management framework at national level and also individual units of my Department such as the Air Accident Investigation Unit and the Irish Coast Guard engage directly with the local authority emergency response agencies. The Department also advises all local authorities on their road haulage legislation enforcement obligations.
