Written Answers Nos. 279-290
279. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form the total budget for the Road Safety Authority in each year from 2008 to 2013 and to date in 2014; the number of staff employed by the RSA in these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38783/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought by the Deputy is as follows:
|
Year |
Staff Numbers |
Exchequer Allocation |
|
2008 |
309 |
€40.422m. |
|
2009 |
301 |
€32.641m. |
|
2010 |
299 |
€23.825m. |
|
2011 |
285 |
€12.039m. |
|
2012 |
291 |
€13.662m. |
|
2013 |
289 |
€6.223m. |
|
2014 |
305 |
€3.370m. |
The fall in the Exchequer allocation reflects the RSA's move to being largely self-funding through the activities for which it levies charges.
280. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form the number of fatalities on our roads in each year from 2008 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38784/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of deaths on our roads is a major concern, particularly in the context of the increase in fatalities seen in 2013, when deaths for the year rose from 162 in 2012 to 190, marking the first increase in fatalities since 2005. We are all aware that the main causes of road crashes are distraction, excessive and inappropriate speed, intoxication and fatigue. We are examining these areas on an on-going basis to identify measures that can be taken to address and bring about future reductions in fatalities and serious injuries.
Targeting road user behaviour through education, engineering and enforcement (known as the 3 ‘E’s) have been the cornerstones of our improved road safety record to date.
The Road Safety Strategy 2013 to 2020, launched last year, identifies 144 Actions to be implemented by key partners that will lead to a significant reduction in fatalities.
The Road Traffic Act 2014, signed into law by the President on 25 February, introduces measures which will further contribute to road safety in the years to come. The Act provides for further Graduated Driver Licensing measures, adjustments to the penalty points system, increasing demerits for the most dangerous offences such as speeding and operating a mobile phone while driving, and new measures to combat intoxicated driving.
There are, of course, a number of other dangers on our roads that still remain to be addressed. Work is already under way on the drafting of the next Road Traffic Bill. One of the key aspects of this Bill will be to further strengthen legislation on intoxicated driving. Other measures proposed include broadening current “alcohol” legislation to deal with all intoxicants, providing for roadside testing for drugs and placing an onus on employers to ensure employees are not under the influence of intoxicants when driving on public roads.
|
Year |
No. of Fatalities on Irish Roads |
|
2008 |
279 |
|
2009 |
238 |
|
2010 |
213 |
|
2011 |
186 |
|
2012 |
162 |
|
2013 |
190 |
|
2014 to 6 October |
146 |
281. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form the capital expenditure on roads in each year from 2008 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38785/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the regional and local road grant payments to local authorities are outlined in the regional and local road grant payment booklets which are available in the Dáil Library. Payments for 2014 are not finalised yet and it will be the end of the year before the final payments are known. Details of the 2014 regional and local road grant allocations to each local authority are also available in the Dáil library.
With regard to national roads, details of the actual drawdown of funding for these roads is a matter for the National Roads Authority. Noting this 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.
282. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form the total capital expenditure of his Department from 2008 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014, broken down by project type, that is roads, rail, public transport and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38786/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as possible.
284. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on the 1916 commemorations; the committees involved; the personnel on the committees; the events planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38584/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my written reply to Parliamentary Question No. 615 of 7 October 2014.
The commemorations to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising will be a major event in a programme in place since 2012, commemorating the events leading to the proclamation of the Irish Republic. These have included the introduction and progress of the third Home Rule Bill in the Westminster parliament, the formation of Volunteer movements, and the outbreak of World War I. Economic and social issues were examined in 2013 on the Centenary of the 1913 Lockout along with the role of suffragettes. This year has seen significant attention to the mobilisation in Ireland and across Europe for the First World War. In the coming year, alongside the continuing experience of World War I, this commemorative programme will address the cultural revival in Ireland, which reflected the strengthening sense of national identity and determination to achieve autonomous government.
As part of the 2016 commemorations, arrangements have been made for a number of significant capital projects. These include the renovation of Kilmainham Courthouse to enhance the visitor experience at Kilmainham Gaol, the development of a permanent exhibition space and interpretative centre at the GPO and the development of visitor facilities at Teach an Phiarsaigh, Ros Muc. The development of a Tenement Museum is moving ahead and I was also pleased to have been present last week at the announcement of the renovation works to take place at Richmond Barracks. Additionally, a permanent visitor facility is being built at Cathal Brugha Barracks for the Military Service Pensions Archive. Following on the inaugural online release of records in January last, the Minister for Defence last week released the second collection of files from this collection.
An inclusive and detailed programme of events for the commemoration of the 1916 Rising is being developed with a view to having a draft of that programme available shortly. This will be subject to consultation with stakeholders before finalisation.
Preparation of the plans for 2016 has taken account of the views of the Oireachtas All-Party Consultation Group on Commemorations and the Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations. The membership of these groups is set out below.
The Oireachtas All-Party Group on Commemorations is chaired by me, as Minister, with Minister of State Aodhán Ó Riordáin, T.D., as Vice-Chair. Membership includes Mr. Michael Conaghan, T.D., and Ms. Anne Ferris, T.D (Labour Party); Senators Mary White and Mark Daly (Fianna Fáil); Mr. Aengus O Snodaigh, T.D., and Senator Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Féin); Ms. Catherine Murphy, T.D., and Ms. Maureen O’Sullivan, T.D., (Independent); and Dr. Maurice Manning and Dr. Martin Mansergh (Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations). Additional nominations from Fine Gael will be made shortly, in line with the agreed composition of the Group.
The Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations is chaired by Dr Maurice Manning (Chancellor of the National University of Ireland), supported by Vice-Chairman, Dr Martin Mansergh. Membership includes Professor Mary Daly, Dr Eamon Phoenix, Dr Leeann Lane, Ms Sinéad McCoole, Professor Eunan O’Halpin, Professor Diarmuid Ferriter, Mr Francis Devine and Dr Mary Harris.
285. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if members of the National Parks and Wildlife Service conducted a nighttime visit to Inis Bó Finne Island on certain dates (details supplied) to record corncrake data; if personnel from the National Parks and Wildlife Service entered private land during the course of this trip; if this visit was sanctioned by the National Parks and Wildlife Service; if she will provide a list of further scheduled visits to Inis Bó Finne by the National Parks and Wildlife Service for the purposes of corncrake survey recordings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38632/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraStaff of my Department visited Inis Bó Finne on 3 occasions during June 2014, and accessed lands on the island on those visits. The corncrake is an endangered species in Ireland and listed on Annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive. Monitoring of this species is required under that Directive. All survey work was carried out in accordance with the provisions of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations, 2011, which provide powers to authorised staff of my Department to enter onto land to carry out their functions.
No further surveys are scheduled in relation to Corncrake on Inishbofin in 2014 but survey work will continue to be necessary in future years.
286. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the date on which the Waterways Ireland feasibility study on the Longford branch of the Royal Canal will be published. [38674/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been informed by Waterways Ireland that the feasibility study on the Longford Branch of the Royal Canal will be available on the Waterways Ireland website by the end of October 2014.
287. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will ensure minimum cuts are made to her Department's 2015 budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38699/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe overall spending allocations for my Department for 2015 will be announced in the forthcoming Budget and, accordingly, it would not be appropriate for me to comment at this time on the issue raised by the Deputy. I can assure him, however, that I will continue to maintain, to the greatest extent possible, my Department's core functions and the range of services provided to the public in what remains a challenging economic environment, despite the significant progress that is clearly being achieved. Against that background, my Department will, within the resources available in 2015, continue to place emphasis on:
- developing a programme, including a number of flagship capital projects, aimed at providing a significant and enduring acknowledgement of the 1916 Rising;
- targeting investment in priority areas in the arts, culture and heritage sectors that will assist, inter alia, in supporting cultural tourism as one of the most important elements of Ireland’s tourism product;
- supporting jobs in the film & TV sector and in the Gaeltacht;
- complying with relevant EU Directives, including investment in solutions for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting in raised bog Special Areas of Conservation; and
- supporting the built heritage and the strategic development of our national parks, as well as the development of our waterways in the context of the implementation of the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements.
288. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if daily fines are applied if the country does not comply with EU regulations to conserve the hen harrier in special conservation areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38765/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the provisions of the 1979 EU Birds Directive, Ireland is required to designate Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for endangered birds, including the Hen Harrier. In 2007, Ireland was found by the Court of Justice of the European Union to have failed to meet its obligations in this regard. Six sites containing suitable breeding and foraging habitat for the Hen Harrier have now been designated as SPAs. Consented activities within these SPAs - such as wind-farm development and afforestation, for example - can only be undertaken in keeping with the provisions of Article 6 of the EU Habitats Directive, which require ecological assessment of the impact of such development by the consent authority involved. Where an adverse impact cannot be ruled out, the authority is prevented from granting consent, except in exceptional circumstances.
A failure by Ireland to adhere to these requirements could result in further infringement action and the imposition of fines, including daily fines, by the Court of Justice. My officials are currently working with their counterparts in three other Government Departments to draw up a threat response plan for the Hen Harrier, which will explore how best Ireland can meet its conservation obligations for this species, while bringing more clarity and certainty to land-owners about forestry, agriculture and wind-farm development within these SPAs.
289. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of temporary contracts in place for the public sector as a whole, including State agencies and other public bodies under the remit of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38823/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs at 30th September 2014 there were 50 staff employed in my Department on fixed term contracts. This figure includes 33 seasonal employees of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. On the same date a total of 58 staff were employed on the basis of fixed term contracts in the bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group. This figure includes 23 seasonal employees in Waterways Ireland.
290. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of contracts of indefinite duration that have been sought and the number that have been granted in the years from 2007 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014 in the public sector under the remit of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38834/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department was established on 2 June 2011. The number of contracts of indefinite duration sought and granted in bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group over the period since that date is set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Number sought |
Number granted |
|
2011 (June – December ) |
7 |
7 |
|
2012 |
26 |
26 |
|
2013 |
2 |
1 |
|
2014 (to 30 September) |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
35 |
35 |
