Written Answers Nos. 737-761
737. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a progress report on the redevelopment of a facility (details supplied) in County Cork; if he will provide assurances that funding remains ring-fenced for the new development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9283/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Local Authority Swimming Pools Programme (LASPP), grants of up to €3.8 million are made available towards the provision of a new pool, a replacement pool or the refurbishment of an existing local authority pool, subject to the total grant not exceeding 80% of the eligible cost of the project (90% for projects located in disadvantaged areas).
There are four principal stages in an LASPP project, which are: Feasibility Study/Preliminary Report; Contract Documents; Tender and Construction. Grant-aid is allocated only when tenders have been approved for the project and is capped at the time of allocation. The Department and its technical advisors, the OPW, evaluate each stage and Local Authorities cannot proceed to the next stage unless prior approval issues from the Department.
This project is still within the current round of the LASPP and is at tender documentation stage.
738. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the liability of cyclists in accidents involving pedestrians; his views on whether the current legislation provides enough protection to pedestrians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9316/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraCyclists are required to abide by the provisions of road traffic legislation and can be prosecuted by An Garda Síochána for road traffic offences.
Cyclists are not required by law to have insurance cover for personal injury or other. In a case where personal injury is caused by a cyclist to a pedestrian, this is a private civil matter between the two parties. It is not proposed by my Department to introduce any changes in this area, however if the Deputy has any such proposals I would be happy to consider them.
739. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the decision by SIPTU union members of the Dublin Airport Authority to partake in industrial or strike action over a pension dispute, the contingency plans that are in place to minimise disruption in the event of strike action to ensure that the tourism industry is not adversely affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9355/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraResolution of the funding difficulties in the Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (IASS) is a matter for the Trustees, the companies participating in the Scheme, the members and the Pensions Board. The institutions of the State are there to assist in finding a solution but the Government does not have the authority to impose one on a private pension fund.
The Dublin Airport Authority is putting in place contingency plans in the event of strike action taking place. However the key issue on which all sides must remain focused on is the resolution of the problems of the IASS rather than about any contingency planning as it is clear that any strike would be highly disruptive to the country and would inconvenience passengers. A strike would also damage the financial position of the companies which will ultimately, along with the Scheme members, have to contribute to the resolution to the problems of the Scheme.
Now that the Trustees have issued their proposals, I understand that meetings between various parties are currently being arranged. I welcome this initiative. The problems with the IASS are recognised and must now be resolved. While difficult decisions will be required, there is nevertheless an opportunity to finally bring this challenging issue to a conclusion. I urge all parties to again engage, utilising the State’s labour relations machinery where necessary.
740. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding an NCT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9357/14]
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 National Car Test. The RSA has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight, development, quality assurance and delivery of vehicle testing arrangements.
EU Directive 2009/40/EC sets the minimum requirements in regard to the frequency of the roadworthiness testing of cars i.e. the first test is required at four years, with a test every other year thereafter. The Directive allows Member States freedom to test cars more frequently. With effect from 1 June 2011 annual testing was introduced for cars 10 years and older. NCT due dates are calculated by reference to the date of first registration.
In the 12 month period from October 2011 to September 2012 the pass rate at NCT for four year old cars was 76% and for 10 year old cars was 41%. The average pass rate for cars 10 years and older was 32.5%. The effects of wear and tear on a vehicle become more evident as it gets older and even a vehicle that is not driven, or driven very little, will deteriorate over time with a potential impact on safety.
Accordingly, I have no plans to amend the roadworthiness testing requirements in regard to low mileage cars.
741. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the average waiting time for the processing of the new driving licences in each of the new national driver licence service designated centres. [9358/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the operation of the National Driver Licensing Service.
I understand from the Authority that applications which are fully in order are being processed in or under twelve days. Cases where the application is not fully in order, and further documentation and/or contact with the applicant is required, take longer.
The RSA has advised me that it is on course to have a ten-day turnaround by the end of February, and a five- to eight-day turnaround by the end of March.
744. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to link two roads (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8806/14]
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 national road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under sections 17 and 19 of the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
I understand the NRA has allocated in excess of €9.63m in national road grants to Kerry in 2014. 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.
745. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will examine a matter regarding pensions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9499/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra746. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding a pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9501/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra754. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm that employees who transferred out of a company (details supplied) are still considered part of that company’s pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9595/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 745, 746 and 754 together.
These questions relate to the pension arrangements for former TEAM Aer Lingus employees, who became employees of another company when the maintenance part of the business was sold by Aer Lingus in 1998. Many of these employees were subsequently made redundant when the business closed in 2009. Such employees who have not yet reached pensionable age and who are members of the Irish Airlines Superannuation pension scheme are referred to as deferred members of the scheme.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have no role in the administration or management of pension schemes relating to past or present employees of Aer Lingus Group Plc. Resolution of the funding difficulties in the scheme is primarily a matter for the trustees, the members of the scheme, and the companies participating in the scheme.
The Trustees have recently announced that they have decided in principle on a number of changes to address the funding difficulties. In their letter to the Employers and the Unions the Trustees formally requested the Employers and the Unions to give appropriate consideration to the position of the deferred members in further discussions.
747. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on introducing an exemption to small public service vehicle branding requirements in respect of limousines, operators of which contend that decals diminish the prestige of the service they provide and therefore affect its marketability. [9514/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including matters relating to limousine services, is the responsibility of the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act, 2009.
I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply. Please notify my private office if you do not get a reply within 10 working days.
748. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will repair a piece of infrastructure (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9529/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads, including bridges, 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 and bridges is 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 projects to be funded is also a matter for the council.
A total of almost €332 million is being provided to local authorities for regional and local roads in 2014. From this allocation, Kerry County Council is being provided with a total of approximately €12.75 million.
In 2013, local authorities were invited to submit proposals for funding in 2014 for the repair of bridges. Kerry County Council submitted 3 applications for funding in 2014 but the Valentia Bridge was not among the Council’s proposals. It is open to Kerry County Council to prioritise the Valentia Bridge scheme for funding and to submit this project for funding in 2015 when applications are sought in due course. Alternatively, the local authority may fund this project through its own resources.
749. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider setting up an online tracking system for driving licence applications similar to that used by the Passport Office. [9559/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Driver Licensing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. Therefore I have forwarded the question to the Authority for direct reply.
I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
751. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the budget for retrofitting existing DART trains; the retrofitting jobs that are being carried out on current DART stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9587/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra753. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when it is expected to order new DART rolling stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9591/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 751 and 753 together.
Following representations from my Department, Iarnrod Eireann undertook a feasibility study into the installation of automatic wheelchair ramps to the existing fleet. I understand that the study concluded that retrofitting is technically very challenging and would involve considerable structural alteration to the trains design and that the best approach would be to incorporate ramps into trains at design stage of new rolling stock.
The future procurement of new DART rolling stock will therefore include provision for automatic wheelchair ramps.
In the light of the Iarnród Eireann's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for a direct response. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
752. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the protocol that is currently in place between Irish Rail and the Central Remedial Clinic in Clontarf regarding accessibility for wheelchairs users at Killester DART station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9590/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing representations from my Department, I understand from Iarnród Eireann that as part of its regular meetings with accessibility user groups, it also had discussions with representatives of the Central Remedial Clinic regarding the use of Killester Station by wheelchair users. I am informed that there is now an agreed protocol in place to assist wheelchair users at Killester Station.
Noting Iarnród Eireann's responsibility in the matter I have referred the Deputy's question to it for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
755. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown into categories of the number of incidents which occurred on the Luas red and green lines in 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9598/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department receives details of notifications made in respect of accidents/incidents that relate to railway safety within the context of the Railway Safety Act 2005.
With regard to trams running on the Luas Red line:
Four incidents were notified in 2011, two involved contact with a motor vehicle and two involved contact with a pedestrian.
Five incidents were notified in 2012, three involved contact with a motor vehicle and two involved contact with a pedestrian.
Ten incidents were notified in 2013, two involved contact with a motor vehicle, three involved contact with a pedestrian, one with a pedal cyclist and four related to LUAS technical faults or operating incidents.
With regard to trams running on the Luas Green Line:
Two incidents were notified in 2011 and each involved contact with a pedestrian. No incident was notified in 2012. One incident was notified in 2013 and it involved contact with a vehicle.
756. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the tunnel on the Kenmare to Glengarriff N71 road (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9608/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs outlined to the Deputy in my response to PQ 4140/14 of 28 January, 2014 as 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 such as the N71 road 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.
757. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reasons the Letterkenny-Dublin, Letterkenny-Galway and Letterkenny-Derry bus routes have not been made fully wheelchair accessible; the timeframe in which these bus routes will be made fully wheelchair accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9635/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is funding an on-going programme of accessibility improvement grants to upgrade existing public transport infrastructure and facilities. This programme is being managed by the National Transport Authority (NTA) on behalf of my Department. I understand that as part of this programme the NTA has undertaken an audit of bus stops and bus stations which is close to completion. The outcome of this audit will inform NTA's future proposals under this programme including the provision of additional wheelchair accessible bus routes.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
759. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the problems associated with obtaining official application forms regarding driving licences in the Irish language and the lack of an Irish language version of the website operated by the national driver licence service. [9702/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). Therefore I have forwarded the question to the Authority for direct reply.
I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
760. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the work by his Department on examining the introduction of a capital grant scheme to assist the voluntary mountain rescue teams operating across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9712/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn my earlier response to the Deputy, I stated that I was open to considering the scope for providing a modest capital grant scheme for mountain rescue and that my officials would engage with Mountain Rescue Ireland on the issues involved. As you will appreciate, there are significant constraints on my Department's overall capital budget and there are other capital demands arising from my primary responsibility to provide a marine emergency response service.
At present, my Department is continuing with the grant aid scheme to assist a range of current expenditures by both Mountain Rescue Ireland and the various teams nationwide. The scope for capital grant assistance is being considered but it may be some time later this year before it can be established whether there is any capital funding available in my Department’s budget that could be utilised for mountain rescue services. Mountain Rescue Ireland were made aware of this position when I met with them and discussed the matter at their recent national conference.
761. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the chief executive officers of semi-State companies under the aegis of his Department who are on Hay contracts and those who are not on Hay contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10131/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraHay contracts relate to commercial State Companies only. With the exception of three port companies, all Commercial State company CEOs under the remit of my Department are on Hay contracts.
The CEOs of both New Ross Port Company and Wicklow Port Company have combined duties of CEO and Harbour Master. The CEO of Drogheda Port Company, appointed in 2001, is on a non-Hay contract.
With regard to contracts for CEOs or Heads of non-commercial State Bodies under the Department's remit, all contracts are approved by the Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and are in line with Government policy on remuneration.
