Written Answers Nos. 295-305
295. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff members in his Department who availed of study or training leave in 2012; the average duration of such leave; if all staff availing of this leave received full pay and benefits during the time; the number who will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31245/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra296. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff members in organisations or agencies under the aegis of his Department who availed of study or training leave in 2012; the average duration of such leave; if all staff availing of this leave received full pay and benefits during the time; the number who will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31261/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 295 and 296 together.
The number of staff in my Department who availed of study leave in 2012 was 7. The average duration of such leave availed of in 2012 was 4.3 days per staff member. The number of staff in my Department who have availed of or applied to avail of study leave in 2013 to date is 6. Under Circular 23 of 2007 - Post-Entry Education - Refund of Fees, Study Leave and Examination Leave, all the above receive full pay and entitlement while on paid study leave.
The Department provides this support as part of its commitment towards the lifelong learning of staff and as a support to employees who wish to participate, in their own time, in relevant courses of study throughout their working careers. Priority is given to courses that management consider directly relevant to the work of the Department or to the professional development of the officer concerned.
The information requested by the Deputy pertaining to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for said agencies. I have asked that they provide the Deputy with the information requested. If you do not receive a reply from the agencies or organisations within within 10 working days please advise my private office.
297. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the date on which both platforms at Ennis train station, County Clare, will be fully wheelchair accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31282/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Matters relating to improvements at individual railway stations are day-to-day operational issues for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance and I have no function in such matters.
Noting this I have referred the Deputy's question to the Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
298. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to promote Irish walking tourism both within and outside Ireland in 2013 and 2014. [31299/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe matter raised is an operational matter for the tourism agencies and I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland for direct reply. Please contact my private office if a response is not received within ten working days.
299. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons who have downloaded the taxi driver check app since it was launched earlier this year. [31300/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of the taxi industry under the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act, 2009 and is also the lead agency for implementation of the recommendations of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011, including Action 32 of the Review Report concerning the Smartphone App for driver verification.
I have forwarded your Question to the NTA for direct reply. If you do not receive a response within ten working days please notify my private Office.
300. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the most recent safety consultation at Dublin Airport took place and if he will provide a brief report on the matter. [31301/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised by the Deputy, the regulation of safety standards at airports, is a matter for the Irish Aviation Authority, an Agency under the remit of my Department. I have referred the Deputy's question to it for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
301. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will request the chief executive officer of Iarnród Éireann to re-open the passenger lift at Raheny DART station. [31302/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
302. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the recent allocation of €1 million in funding for boxing clubs will be an annual fund; the scheme under which this funding was made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31308/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere was a special allocation of €1.25m made to the IABA in 2011 to allow local boxing clubs throughout the country to improve their facilities with special emphasis on clubs developing facilities for female boxers. The maximum grant amount per boxing club was €25,000. This initiative was funded by my Department and administered by the IABA.
I recently announced an additional provision of €1m for the extension of the above scheme. This will not be an annual fund.
303. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider directing the national car test to allow the changeover of vehicles to take place, in particular in relation to farm vehicles (details supplied) in the test centre in Carndonagh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31310/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe subject matter of this question is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and 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.
304. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline the health and safety procedures and plans that will be put in place during FlightFest on 15 September 2013, taking place in the skies over the city of Dublin that his Department, the Irish Aviation Authority, Dublin City Council and The Gathering are co-hosting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31352/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy department does not have any role in the issue raised by the Deputy, namely aviation safety procedures. This is a matter for the Irish Aviation Authority, an Agency under the remit of my Department. I have referred the Deputy's question to them for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
305. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if urgent attention will be given to addressing safety concerns at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31353/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & 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.
Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for the NRA in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
