Written Answers Nos. 261-267
261. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline to the Dáil current proposals for rapid bus transport systems in the greater Dublin region; and the stage at which the research is being carried on by the RPA into such facilities. [29712/13]
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 implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area, GDA, such as Bus Rapid Transport, comes under the remit of the NTA. Noting this I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
262. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm that a councillor's allocation is not generally meant to be spent on routine maintenance, that is, filling of potholes and so on; if he will confirm that a councillor's allocation is so limited that it is unfair of any engineer to ask a member of the public to seek this funding for pothole repairs, the hedges on many of our own roads are nearly meeting in the middle of the road at this stage; if he will override the legislation in the Road Traffic Act that it is the landowner's responsibility to cut the hedges and allow councillors to use a councillor's allocation for sensible work, which would be cutting back hedges in the interest of road safety; if he will issue a directive to all county managers asking them to ensure that their engineers desist from the practice of directing members of the public to their local councillors to allocate funding for routine maintenance repairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29725/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. The carrying out of works on these roads is a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. The selection and prioritisation of road works to be funded from these State grants is also a matter for the local authority. In carrying our the selection and prioritisation of road works, individual councils should ensure as far as practicable that priority is given to projects most requiring attention in the county as a whole and are reminded in the Memorandum on Grants for Regional and Local Roads that projects should be prioritised based on engineering need and structural deficiency within their entire network of regional and local roads.
While the Department has no input into how a council allocates its own resources expenditure, it is hoped, particularly given the current financial circumstances, that this funding too is allocated to areas most in need. The area engineer, in consultation with elected members, is best placed to prioritise projects and how funding should be allocated from own resources expenditure and I do not intend to direct county managers on this issue. Under section 70 of the Roads Act 1993, it is the responsibility of landowners and occupiers of land to take all reasonable care to ensure that trees, hedges and other vegetation growing on their land are not a danger to people using or working on a public road. I have no plans to amend this legislation.
263. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will investigate the operation of a company (details supplied) in County Kilkenny that issued DOE certificates on a vehicle as being fully tested and passing, despite the vehicle subsequently being found to have numerous dangerous defects. [29726/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Act 2012, the Road Safety Authority, RSA, has responsibility for ensuring the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles. As the subject matter of this question is the responsibility of the RSA, I have referred the question to them for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten days.
264. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the very limited information given to persons on the reason they have failed their driving test even if only narrowly; and his plans to introduce a system which would better advise failing applicants on the specific skills that need improving. [29747/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority has responsibility for the delivery of the driving test. Noting this I have referred the Deputy's question to the Road Safety Authority for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
265. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason note 9 on the D401 application form for driving licences does not indicate the fee associated with renewing a driving licence (details supplied). [29853/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority has responsibility for the issuing of driving licences. Noting this I have referred the Deputy's question to the Road Safety Authority for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
266. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding a project (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29874/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA, under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Noting this I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
267. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the need for traffic calming or other measures to slow traffic will be considered at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29876/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA, under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Noting this position I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
