Written Answers Nos. 929-947
930. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he believes pay and display at Irish Rail car parks, which requires customers to decide in advance the exact return train they will take, is an incentive to use Irish Rail services. [18626/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
931. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, in the absence of any competition to Irish Rail, he is of the opinion that Irish Rail can legitimately use the excuse of commercial sensitivity to refuse to provide information to elected representatives. [18627/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIarnród Éireann is a commercial Sate company and, while it is a monopoly rail provider in the State, it does face competition from, for instance, Bus Éireann and private bus companies in the inter-city market. Nonetheless, I supported its inclusion under Freedom of Information and the draft Bill currently before the Oireachtas extends FOI to Iarnród Éireann. Under the current proposals exemptions will be allowed for the commercial activities of Rosslare Europort and the fully commercial rail freight operations of the company. When FOI is extended to Iarnród Éireann, release of information by the company will of course be subject to the provisions of the legislation including exemptions on grounds of commercial sensitivity.
I expect that Iarnród Éireann would apply the same commercial sensitivity test as used in FOI when responding to elected members. If the Deputy has specific concerns about the approach being adopted by Iarnród Éireann, if he forwards them to my office I will discuss the matter further with the Company.
932. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to a long-standing road safety campaign in Sweden entitled the Vision Zero Initiative; and if a similar approach to road safety might also be promoted in this jurisdiction. [18681/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the Vision Zero Initiative. Our Road Safety Strategy 2013 to 2020, which I launched last year, incorporates many of the same principles. Our Strategy is based on the Safe Systems approach to road safety which is built on the principles of human behaviour, human frailty and forgiving systems. This approach reinforces the concept of shared responsibility across organisations, businesses and communities. It seeks to continue to reduce road fatalities, but will also have a new focus on reducing the number and severity of injuries on our roads. It covers a wide variety of sectors that contribute to, and impact, on road safety including education, law enforcement, health as well as the many aspects of transport.
Our Road Safety Strategy has two main objectives. The first is a reduction of road collision fatalities on Irish roads to 25 per million population or fewer by 2020. This means reducing deaths to 124 or fewer by 2020. The second is a provisional target for the reduction of serious injuries by 30% from 472 in 2011 to 330 or fewer by 2020 (or 61 per million population).
The Road Safety Strategy 2013 - 2020 is available to download from the Road Safety Authority website at www.rsa.ie
933. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding a sports capital grant in respect of a club (details supplied) in County Cork; when the grants will be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18752/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that an application has been submitted under the 2014 Sports Capital Programme and the Deputy's support is noted.I hope to announce allocations later this year.
934. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the current status of Dunleer, County Louth train station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18815/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra935. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the status of re-opening Dunleer, in County Louth train station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18816/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 934 and 935 together.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and the overall funding of public transport. Matters relating to the re-opening of railway stations, such as at Dunleer, are a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance.
I understand from Iarnród Éireann that there are no current plans to re-open Dunleer station and no proposal in that regard has been made to my Department.
I have however referred the Deputy's question to Iarnród Éireann for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
936. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review a decision to disallow a disabled parking permit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; if he will consider including other forms of disability in the issuing of permits other than the inability to walk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18881/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2010 my Department conducted a comprehensive review of the Disabled Parking Scheme. At that time, eligibility for a permit was focused primarily on diagnosis of certain medical conditions - regardless of the condition's impact on a person's mobility. The review report highlighted the fact that many people with particular conditions, but with no serious mobility impairments, were receiving permits. The effect of this was that people who genuinely had mobility impairments faced greater competition for the limited number of disabled parking spaces available nationally. On the basis of the above, the review recommended revising the eligibility criteria for the disabled parking permit to focus on the limitations on physical mobility. This is in line with the original intention of the scheme. I subsequently brought in Regulations to give effect to this by defining a disabled person, in the context of the disabled parking permit, as ‘a person with a permanent condition or disability that severely restricts his or her ability to walk’.
This remains the position today, and I do not intend to revisit the matter in the immediate future.
937. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork was recently deemed not to have an entitlement to a category BE licence; the reason for same in view of the fact that there is no requirement that an applicant must have previously passed a test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18914/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operation of the National Driver Licensing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and I have no power to intervene in individual cases. I have therefore referred 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.
938. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the discussions between the Road Safety Authority and the individual provinces in Canada with a view to reaching agreement on plans to harmonise the driving licence regime between the two countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18976/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe negotiations with the Canadian provinces on mutual recognition of driving licences are being handled by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) in its capacity as Ireland's national driver licensing authority. I understand from the RSA that negotiations have come very close to agreement in a number of cases, particularly with Ontario. I had hoped that this agreement would be finalised by now, but the RSA informs me that there were some last-minute difficulties around one aspect of it. I have asked my officials to speak with the RSA and explore possible ways forward.
I am aware that this is a matter of significance for many Irish residents in Canada. At the same time, it is important to remember that the primary responsibility of the driver licensing authorities, both here and in Canada, is to be satisfied with the qualifications of the people they allow to drive on their roads. Agreements of the kind being negotiated must therefore be satisfactory to both sides and involve consideration of a great deal of detail from both sides.
939. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the vehicle age limit for taxis will be abolished to accommodate road worthy older vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18986/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of the taxi industry, including vehicle standards, under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act, 2013.
I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply. If you do not receive a reply within ten working days please notify my private office.
940. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he has taken to ensure the continuity of bus services for the people of County Donegal following the appointment of a liquidator to the Lough Swilly Bus Company. [19023/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe cessation of trading by the Lough Swilly bus company is regretted as it was providing an important public transport service in the Donegal area. I have been in contact with the relevant transport agencies in relation to the Company’s winding up.
Bus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Scheme on behalf of the Department of Education, has ensured the availability of suitable school bus services following the schools' return after Easter holidays.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) is actively engaging to ensure that where alternative commercial operators feel they can operate replacement services, that they are facilitated through the licensing process.
941. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a problem has been identified in the driving licence application system where some persons who have already completed a medical exam have been told they need to take another medical exam because of an error in the system. [19109/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operation of the National Driver Licensing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred 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.
942. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will approve the application of a college (details supplied) for a sports capital grant to build an all-weather, astro turf sports facility to replace the existing pitch which is forty-four years old; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19112/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation referred to by the Deputy under the 2014 Sports Capital Programme and the Deputy's support for the project is noted. The applications received under the 2014 Sports Capital Programme are currently being assessed and I hope to announce allocations later this year.
943. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding funding in respect of a club (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19132/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation referred to by the Deputy under the 2014 Sports Capital Programme and the Deputy's support for the project is noted. I hope to announce allocations later this year.
944. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when there will be on-street signage at the bus stops in Skerries giving real time information to commuters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19198/14]
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, such as Real Time Passenger Information, comes under the remit of the NTA.
Noting this I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
945. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); if Kildare County Council has applied for funding for the safety measures referred to or if his Department will provide funding as a matter of urgency for such safety works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19208/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe zebra crossing being referred by the Deputy in this question appears to be on a regional road (R445) and close to the Liffey Bridge in Newbridge. Firstly, the 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, in this instance Kildare County Council to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. In January this year, I announced the 2014 regional and local road grant allocations, of which €15.2m was allocated to Kildare County Council for works on regional and local roads. No application was made by the Council for funding under the Low Cost Safety Programme for works at this crossing. The Council may however fund any works that may be required from their own resources or from its Discretionary Grant.
Finally, the management of traffic in a local area is a matter in the first instance for the local authority and I suggest the Deputy therefore takes the matter up with the Council. The enforcement of traffic legislation, including on the safe use of pedestrian crossings is a matter for An Garda Síochána.
946. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has monitored and continues to monitor the number of passengers travelling through Dublin Airport compared to other major European cities where the majority of airports have light or heavy rail transport links to city centres; and if the large numbers of passengers travelling through Dublin Airport is being taken into account in developing future modes of transport from Dublin Airport to Dublin city centre, particularly light or heavy rail options. [19211/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for developing public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) including Metro, Rail and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects. In addition, the principal functions of the Authority include the strategic planning of transport and the development of an integrated, accessible public transport network.
The NTA recently published its Integrated Implementation Plan 2013-2018 for the GDA. In that Plan the NTA has proposed a BRT Scheme as an interim solution to the short term demand needs of the Swords/Airport corridor. It is accepted that BRT will not on its own replace rail-based solutions where a higher capacity solution is required in the long-term, such as on the Swords /Airport corridor.
For this reason the NTA is undertaking a technical consultancy to assess the long term rail transport requirements of the North Dublin/Fingal corridor, extending from Finglas to Malahide and including Dublin Airport and Swords. This review will examine existing proposals as well as other options for a rail-based transport solution to meet the area’s needs in the long term. Any assessment will of course take into account the number of people travelling to the airport to work or fly. It is also worth pointing out that it is already possible to travel by bus from the airport to the city centre in less than 30 minutes.
I expect to have this report from the NTA by the end of the year.
947. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding funding for an organisation (details supplied) in Dublin 7 to upgrade the swimming pool on the premises; the reason work did not commence as stated in July 2013; if a tender has been agreed upon; when it is expected that work will commence; when it is estimated that the project will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19237/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2010 a grant of €0.648m was allocated towards the much-needed refurbishment of the De Paul Swimming Pool, St. Vincent`s Centre, Navan Road, Dublin 7. In 2013 this grant was increased to €1.261m.
The completion of legalities was required before the this project could commence. I'm pleased to inform the Deputy that the legalities have been concluded and the Department has been informed by the grantee that it is expected that the builder will be on site to commence construction in mid May.
