Written Answers Nos. 811 - 834
811. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will list any new organisations-agencies established in his Department since 9 March 2011; the role and functions and the annual operating budget for these organisations-agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7952/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince my appointment as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have created no new agencies. Shannon Airport separated from the Dublin Airport Authority on 31 December 2012. Legislation is being prepared to establish a new commercial State entity, Shannon Group Plc, comprising Shannon Airport Authority and the restructured Shannon Development. This will have the effect of reducing the number of state agencies by one. The role and functions of the new Body will be set out in the legislation when published. No Exchequer funding is currently being provided to Shannon Airport Authority, nor will any Exchequer funding be provided to the new commercial body when established. The Deputy will find a list of all agencies under the remit of my Department on the Department's website www.dttas.ie.
815. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline any proposed plans either by his Department or at a European level to introduce V2V, vehicle to vehicle technology, following the decision by the US Federal Government to introduce this on all new vehicles by 2016 to improve road safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7982/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraVehicle to vehicle technology is a wireless communication protocol between vehicles which exchanges various types of safety related information and is seen by many as an important element in the development of driverless vehicles. While some limited trials have been conducted in the United States, the technology is not yet sufficiently advanced for its general installation to be made mandatory.
However, even though its mandatory inclusion in EU or UNECE vehicle type approval is not an imminent prospect, there is research and development taking place in the EU. As part of Intelligent Transport Systems initiatives, EU-funded research projects have played a major role in the development of V2V standards, with more than €180 million invested in some 40 different projects working on cooperative systems since 2002. These projects provided their results to ETSI and CEN/ISO, which in turn used them to develop standards. The EU also funded different operational tests and pilots, as well as standardisation project teams.
Work has already begun to fine tune existing standards and to deal with more complex use cases. European organisations cooperate closely with American and Japanese organisations to ensure that the systems are compatible across the globe. Following further development and trials, the normal progression would be to negotiate the inclusion of V2V technology in type approval standards. Given the current state of development, it is unlikely that such a position will be reached in the near future, and I have no proposals to require its unilateral introduction in Ireland in advance of general type approval.
816. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of plans to complete the Newcastle West to Barnagh road improvement scheme on the N21 in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8013/14]
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 such as the N21 is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. 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.
817. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider providing an impetus or running a competition with a view to developing or creating an app for tourists along the route of the Wild Atlantic Way in west Cork on a pilot basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8022/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no direct role in this matter but I understand that an app is being developed by Fáilte Ireland covering the entire Wild Atlantic Way. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's Question to Fáilte Ireland to enable them to provide him with further details on their plans. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
818. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for rural transport in west Cork following the completion of the tender process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8023/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Public and Commuter Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to the Rural Transport Programme (RTP). Following a Government Decision in January 2012, management of the RTP was assigned to the National Transport Authority (NTA) with effect from 1 April 2012. This includes responsibility for implementation of the restructuring of the RTP announced by me on 9 July 2013. The purpose of the restructuring of the RTP is to protect the provision of rural transport services into the future. I have referred your question to the NTA for direct response. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days please contact my private office.
819. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide this Deputy with details of correspondence that his Department has received from Limerick County Council in relation to a proposed ring-relief road in Newcastle West, County Limerick; if his Department or the National Roads Authority has been asked to provide funds for the design of any relief-ring road in the town; the date on which the council last corresponded with his Department or the NRA on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8028/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Following the Deputy's previous request to me I did get information on the issue. However, 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 the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NRA for further reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
820. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details to this Deputy of requests that his Department or the National Roads Authority has received from Limerick County Council to upgrade the bridge and junction at Ferry Bridge, Clarina, County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8029/14]
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. 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.
821. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Donegal County Council has applied for funding to replace the Mulantyboyle Bridge in Glenties, County Donegal; if he will consider making funding available to replace this important local access that has been collapsed for over three years now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8055/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads, including bridges, 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 or bridges are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the Council. Donegal County Council were paid €77,361 in 2013 under the Specific Improvement Grant Scheme in respect of Mulantyboyle Bridge. The detailed design and contract documents for a replacement bridge have been completed.
Given the need to prioritise funding for repair and strengthening works, the Specific Improvement Grants Scheme has been curtailed in 2014. Provision is still being made for minor bridge repair and rehabilitation works. In this context Donegal County Council has been allocated €200,000 for Bridge Rehabilitation works in 2014. However to construct a replacement bridge for Mulantyboyle would cost in the order of €600,000. It is important to reiterate that the role of the Exchequer grant aid is to supplement Councils' own resource spending on regional and local roads.
822. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has made any representation to his counterpart in the UK concerning the implementation of the lorry road user charge being introduced on 1 April 2014 which will dramatically affect the cost base of Irish haulage operators transiting or using NI-UK roads on a daily basis; his views on the introduction of the lorry road user charge on 1 April 2014; his view on whether it will promote a dramatic migration of the Irish national fleet to alternative jurisdictions in order to remain competitive where the matter is further compounded by the antiquated commercial road tax system which is currently in place here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8065/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 1999, various EU directives have set common rules on distance-related tolls and time-based user charges (known as vignettes) for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) for the use of certain road infrastructure. Road charging is an option that is open to any Member State and can contribute to the funding of a country’s road infrastructure, particularly in the context of ensuring that out-of-state hauliers who use the infrastructure make a contribution to its funding.
The new UK road user levy, due to come into effect on 1 April 2014, introduces a charge on all HGVs weighing 12 tonnes or more for use of UK roads including those in Northern Ireland. I have previously expressed my concerns regarding the impact this levy will have on Irish hauliers to my UK and Northern Ireland colleagues. Furthermore, I have sought exemptions for some roads in Northern Ireland to reduce the impact of the levy on Irish hauliers. The issue has also been discussed at transport sectoral meetings of the North South Ministerial Council. I will be meeting my colleague in the UK, Stephen Hammond M.P., Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport in late February and I intend to raise this issue directly with him again.
As at 31 December 2013 there were 317,849 goods vehicles taxed in Ireland, of which 9,500 were 12 tonnes or more in weight. This means that 3% of Irish-registered goods vehicles are within the scope of the UK levy. I do not believe it is likely that a significant proportion of this cohort of Irish-registered goods vehicles that are subject to the UK levy will migrate to alternative jurisdictions. Any operators that do so will then be subject to the cabotage regulations that apply to out-of-state operators and their transport operations within Ireland will consequently be greatly restricted. The application of motor tax rates is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
823. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide on a county basis the number of clubs and organisations which have registered under the 2014 sports capital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8102/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn total there have been 2,907 successful registrations for the 2014 Sports Capital Programme. This figure may change slightly if it is discovered, when reviewing applications submitted, that some of these organisations are not entitled to apply under the SCP, for example private/commercial organisations or organisations with no involvement in sport. A preliminary analysis of registrations by county is available on the Department's website at http://www.dttas.ie/sport/english/sports-capital-programme.
824. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport will he intervene directly with the National Transport Authority in order for it to allocate funding to Bus Éireann for the provision of bus shelters in rural areas like Bansha, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7793/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue of bus stop improvement is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with the relevant transport provider and 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.
826. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on his plans for the Kerry-Dublin flight subsidy; if he will continue this vital economic lifeline for the county beyond 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8120/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I indicated to the Deputy in my reply of 15 January, the current Public Service Obligation (PSO) air services Scheme, which includes the Kerry/Dublin route, ends in November this year. The policy on regional airports post 2014 is currently being developed in my Department. This policy will reflect the recommendations arising out of the recently published IWA Knock Study Group, which are being incorporated into the draft National Aviation Policy and will also have to comply with the revised EU Guidelines on State-Aid once they are finalised. No decisions have been made in respect of future PSO supports for the Kerry-Dublin or any other routes at this time.
827. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures being taken to build on the legacy of The Gathering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8121/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra844. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which consideration is being given to using the success of The Gathering as template for expansion of the tourism industry in the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8299/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 827 and 844 together.
The total number of overseas visits to Ireland grew by 7.2% in 2013. Research by the Gathering project team indicates that 250-275,000 of the additional overseas visitors to Ireland travelled because of The Gathering, and these visitors were worth an estimated €170 million in revenue. My aim is to maintain the positive momentum that was created by The Gathering and ensure that we grow tourism numbers again this year. There are a number of positive indications in this regard. For example, all of the increased air capacity secured for the year of The Gathering has been retained for 2014, with a number of new additional routes also confirmed, and sea capacity has also increased this year. Other legacy benefits include the opportunity to repeat some of the events that were initiated in 2013.
The experience gained by using the community activation process, including town hall meetings and the Volunteer Ambassador programme, has provided many lessons which could be applied in future national or regional projects. The Gathering was also highly successful in terms of using local authorities to set up a framework for mobilising communities and local organisation of events. For example, Fáilte Ireland are using actively engaging communities to maximise the benefits of the Wild Atlantic Way. Furthermore The Gathering increased the number of potential market contacts at both individual and group level and this information will help support future tourism marketing and promotions. On a broader level, I anticipate the experience gained in many of these areas will be highlighted in the Tourism Policy Review which I am currently undertaking. I hope to publish the new policy statement by Easter.
828. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will bring forward the State airports (Shannon group) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8122/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department, in conjunction with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, is nearing completion of the State Airports (Shannon Group Bill). I expect to be in a position to secure Government approval to publish the Bill in March with a view to enactment by the summer recess. Subject to enactment of the Bill, it will then be a priority to formally establish the new company, appoint its board, transfer ownership of SAA and Shannon Development to it and carry out all other legal and administrative procedures to ensure that the new company structure is ‘bedded-down’ as soon as possible.
829. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce measures to regulate the use of animal-drawn vehicles and the practice of sulky racing; if he envisages that any such measures would completely ban sulky racing on public roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8134/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSulky racing, and the use of sulkies on public roads in general, are part of a wider issue of the regulation of the use of animal-drawn vehicles on our roads. As it stands, legislation governing traffic and parking relates primarily to mechanically propelled vehicles. I will examine the issue of animal-drawn vehicles in the context of the next Road Traffic Bill which I will introduce this year. The practice of the holding of unauthorised sulky races on public roads which are open to traffic is dangerous and the whole area needs to be regulated.
We already have procedures in which public roads can be closed to normal traffic for a period of time to allow for races, including marathons, cycle races and motorcycle races. The Department is not proposing a complete ban on sulky races on public roads, but wants a new system where sulky racing can only be conducted in a way which is safe to the participants and to the public, and humane to the animals involved. This would ensure that it would only be possible to hold properly approved sulky races on public roads when these conditions have been met and where the road has been closed temporarily to normal traffic with the approval of the Garda Síochána.
831. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to run particular advertising campaigns aimed at emerging markets such as Japan, China and Russia that may be less familiar with Irish culture and heritage and our other excellent tourist experiences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7719/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no direct role in this matter. These are decisions for Tourism Ireland Limited as the body responsible for promoting the island of Ireland as a visitor destination overseas and are not subject to my approval. I have referred the Deputy's Question to Tourism Ireland for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
832. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide full details of the reason bus routes (details supplied) in County Waterford went for private tender; if he will provide the full criteria and rationale for this decision particularly in the context of developments elsewhere; if he will provide details of selected routes and assurances on protections afforded to those currently employed; his views on the impact on fares; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8153/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have forwarded 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.
833. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will initiate measures to manage traffic at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8192/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraTraffic management in its area is a matter for the relevant local authority, in this case Kerry County Council, under the relevant Road Traffic Acts. The enforcement of any traffic restrictions is a matter for the Garda Síochána.
834. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will reopen the rail line between Mullingar and Athlone to facilitate enterprise and passengers commuting between these two large midland towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8196/14]
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 the re-opening of railway lines, such as the line between Mullingar and Athlone, are a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance. CIE is in a difficult financial position and is dependent on continued bank funding. It has no resources to expand the rail network. Given the pressure on the public finances there are no Exchequer funds to develop new heavy rail lines or to provide subsidies for more loss making routes. The priority in the current development plan to 2016 is to protect existing assets and maintain safety standards.
