Written Answers Nos. 583-601
583. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form the completed projects originally set out in Transport 21; the projects which have not been completed but which are at planning stage; the projects which have been deferred; the projects which have been suspended indefinitely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37751/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as possible.
However, should the Deputy not receive such information within the next ten working days, please contact my Private Office.
584. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the next expansion of the Dublin bikes scheme will commence; when the bike scheme will be expanded to the other cities of Ireland; the way these expansions will be financed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37752/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra597. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of suppliers who tendered recently for the supply, installation, maintenance and ongoing operation of public bike share schemes in regional cities; if each of tenderers was interviewed as part of the process; if the equipment to be installed was examined by the National Transport Authority; if the NTA checked with each applicant if the equipment to be used was immediately available; the name of the supplier selected following the tender process; the value and-or cost of the contract; if the delivery of the project has a timeframe; if there is any delay to date in fulfilling the contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37991/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 584 and 597 together.
Responsibility for the roll-out, extension, maintenance and commercial elements of the Dublin City Bikes Scheme is an operational matter for the National Transport Authority, working closely with Dublin City Council. The NTA also has responsibility for the roll out of the public bike schemes in the regional cities of Galway, Cork and Limerick.
Noting the above, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 days.
585. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to make all designated bus lanes in urban areas operational for 24 hours, seven days a week; his views that it is appropriate to provide parking in bus lanes thus rendering them ineffective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37753/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulations governing bus lanes are set out under the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations, as amended. The Regulations allow local authorities, in their capacity as road authorities, to decide where bus lanes will be located. The local authorities also have discretion to decide time periods within which the bus lanes are operational. This includes the option of making bus lanes operational at all times and on all days of the week.
Parking in bus lanes is prohibited during their operational hours. It is likewise a matter for the local authorities to decide as appropriate whether parking should be permitted on a given bus lane out of hours.
I believe it is right that local authorities should have these options in order to decide what is the most appropriate time period for the operation of bus lanes, on a case by case basis. I have no plans to change this.
586. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding delivery trucks delivering goods in Dublin city centre in the morning and evening rush hour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37754/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraTraffic management in its area is a matter for the relevant local authority, in this case Dublin City Council, under the relevant Road Traffic Acts.
The enforcement of any traffic restrictions is a matter for An Garda Síochána.
587. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has had any contact with his Northern counterpart with regard to the upgrading of the Dublin to Belfast rail line; the costs associated with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37755/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI anticipate meeting the Minister for Regional Development at the Transport Sectoral North South Ministerial Council meeting on 05 November next.
The Dublin-Belfast rail line is one of the key rail lines on the island of Ireland as it links Ireland's two largest conurbations. Officials in relevant Departments in Dublin and Belfast are in regular communication regarding the opportunities for ongoing development of the cross-border Enterprise service which is operated jointly by Iarnród Éireann and Translink. With support from both Departments the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) recently announced the awarding of approximately £17.5m/€20m of INTERREG EU co-funding towards the refurbishment of the Drogheda Viaduct and the overhaul of the Enterprise service.
The capital plan to 2016 prioritises protecting existing assets and maintaining safety standards. As a result the bulk of the Exchequer funding for rail goes towards asset renewal and maintenance across the network under the terms of Infrastructure Manager Multi-Annual Contract. Under this contract Irish Rail will be funding works on the Dublin-Belfast line in order to protect the existing infrastructure and maintain safety standards.
There is limited funding for enhancements and upgrades but some funding has been allocated for projects such as the Dublin City Centre Resignalling, which when completed would have the potential to improve the Enterprise service.
588. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of times he has meet the chief executive officer of Iarnród Éireann, Bus Átha Cliath and Bus Éireann since he came to office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37756/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have held three such meetings with the CEO of Iarnród Éireann, two meetings with the CEO of Bus Éireann and one meeting with the CEO of Dublin Bus.
589. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason there is no provision to allow persons to renew their driver licences prior to the three month window before expiration if they will be out of the country for an extended period of time and unable to do so during that period but will require the use of their currently valid licence. [37770/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe law in this country permits the renewal of driving licences up to three months before the due date. This is a longer period than that which applies in other countries. In the UK, for example, the comparable period is two months.
It is not necessary to appear in person to renew a licence if the applicant is abroad for an extended period of work or study. The Road Safety Authority website contains details of the process involved in these circumstances.
590. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a group (details supplied) in County Galway was not successful in its recent application under the sports capital programme; the reason this application was deemed invalid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37790/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe organisation referred to by the Deputy applied for a grant under the 2014 Sports Capital Programme.
When the 2014 Programme was advertised my Department issued a guide to filling out the application form which clearly set out the Department’s minimum requirements that applicants had to meet to be considered for funding.
I do not consider it appropriate to publish details of why individual applications were deemed invalid. Applications were deemed invalid primarily for one or more of the following reasons:
- Title/Access requirements of the Sports Capital Programme not satisfied
- Insufficient evidence of planning permission, planning application, or exemption from planning
- Evidence of own funding not provided in prescribed format
- Insufficient own funding.
All applicants have been informed of the outcome of the assessment of their application, including details of why applications were deemed to be invalid.
592. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown in tabular form of the average subsidy per passenger journey paid to Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Irish Rail in the years 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014. [37808/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe allocation and payment of the subvention to all operators, including the amount payable to Irish Rail, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann is decided by the NTA in accordance with their PSO contracts with the companies. 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.
593. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 8 of 26 June 2014, if he will provide an update on the progress of the working group considering the establishment of a HGV road-charging regime here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37814/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Interdepartmental Group was established in February of this year to assess the implications of introducing a pay-as-you-go road tax system for HGVs, in response to concerns raised by hauliers about the cost of running a haulage operation in Ireland. The Group is made up of representatives from the Departments of Transport, Tourism and Sport; Environment, Community and Local Government; and Finance; the National Roads Authority; the Road Safety Authority; An Garda Síochána; and Forfás.
The remit of the Group was to examine the technical, regulatory and economic dimensions of any pay-as-you-go charging system for HGVs in Ireland. The Group had hoped to finalise its recommendations in the summer of 2014, as previously reported by my predecessor as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
The initial work carried out by the Group has raised additional issues for their consideration, leading to a deferment in the finalisation of their report. I have given the Group the additional time requested to complete their work to ensure that the report is as comprehensive as possible.
The Group expects to produce its report before the end of this year.
594. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the value of fare evasion that has been detected on Iarnród Éireann services in the years 2011, 2012 and 2013; the steps being taken to tackle this evasion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37833/14]
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.
595. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason Iarnród Éireann charges €69 for a one way train ticket from Dublin to Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37935/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA), in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann, 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.
596. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding a road project (details supplied) in County Donegal; the money allocated to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37975/14]
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 national road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority 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.
598. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the scheduled reductions in spending in his Department, or in agencies under his aegis, in 2015 and the areas of spending in which these reductions are scheduled to take place to show the amount of reductions by theme. [38021/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe expenditure allocations for my Department will be finalised in the context of the 2015 Estimates and will be published on Budget Day, 14 October.
599. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding a grant in respect of a festival (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38093/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra600. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding funding (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38118/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 599 and 600 together.
My Department's role in relation to tourism relates primarily to the area of national policy. I have no direct role in relation to the provision of funding for festivals and events as this is a matter for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland. The annual funding application process run by Fáilte Ireland is advertised in the national press and online on the Fáilte Ireland website.
Details of the National Festivals & Participative Events Programme for 2015 are currently available on the Fáilte Ireland website and the closing date is midnight, 12 October 2014.
Accordingly I have referred the questions to the agency for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
601. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to protect the Irish haulage industry in view of the fact that it cannot compete with comparable costs elsewhere; and if restructuring in the tax system is required. [38122/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recognise the important role of the haulage sector in the economy and I appreciate the difficulties arising in the current climate. I have met with industry representative organisations and I will be available in the coming months for further meetings.
My Department has worked on a number of measures in support of the haulage sector and will continue to do so. The Road Transport Act 2011 substantially increased penalties for illegal hauliers and for consignors who use them, up to €500,000 and three years in prison, addressing industry concerns regarding unfair competition from unlicensed hauliers. My Department was instrumental in putting in place the diesel rebate for licensed road transport operators that came into effect from July 2013.
To enhance services for operators, my Department introduced an online facility in April of this year allowing applicants to apply for licences online and enabling licence holders to manage details of their licences at their convenience.
Road safety is obviously an important concern for the haulage sector. The system for the roadworthiness testing of commercial vehicles has recently undergone substantial reform and modernisation. This will lead to an improvement in the safety of commercial vehicles, thereby enhancing the reputation of the Irish haulage industry.
In relation to HGV road tax, an Interdepartmental Group was established in February of this year to assess the implications of introducing a pay-as-you-go road tax system for HGVs in Ireland, in response to concerns raised by hauliers about the cost of operating here. The Group comprises representatives from the Departments of Transport, Tourism and Sport; Environment, Community and Local Government; and Finance; the National Roads Authority; the Road Safety Authority; An Garda Síochána; and Forfás. The remit of the Group is to examine the technical, regulatory and economic aspects of any such system. The Group had expected to finalise its recommendations in the summer of 2014, as previously reported by my predecessor as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
The initial work carried out by the Group has raised additional issues for their consideration, leading to a deferral in the finalisation of their report. I have given the Group additional time to ensure that the report is as comprehensive as possible. The Group expects to produce its report before the end of this year. In the meantime, any reform of the motor tax system is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
