Terence Flanagan
Ceist:610. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding funding for a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40329/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSports Capital Programme Applications
Ceisteanna (610)
Freagraí scríofa
Under the Sports Capital Programme the Department provides funding at local, regional and national level to sporting clubs and organisations, voluntary and community organisations, local authorities and, in certain circumstances, schools/colleges towards the provision of sporting facilities and the purchase of sporting equipment. I am currently making the necessary arrangements to launch the next round of the Programme. When the terms and conditions have been finalised, details will appear on my Department’s website and in the national press. It will be open to any organisation, with a suitable project, to submit an application under the terms and conditions that will apply.
In the meantime, I would recommend that any organisation considering making an application register on www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie as registration is a prerequisite to making an application.
Road Traffic Legislation
Ceisteanna (611)
Pádraig MacLochlainn
Ceist:611. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to review the Road Traffic Act 2006 (Restriction on Use of Mobile Phones) Regulations 2014 in relation to driving while using a mobile phone to allow the submission of phone records to be considered as a reasonable defence by the person accused; and if he is satisfied that the burden of proof is balanced in these instances between An Garda Síochána and motorists. [40330/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is currently working on the preparation of a new Road Traffic Bill which will include provisions to further strengthen the law with regard to the use of electronic devices, including mobile phones, while driving. In the context of the drafting of these provisions, my officials will liaise with all relevant stakeholders, including An Garda Síochána, to consider if existing powers in relation to the compilation of evidence are sufficient.
The defence of an alleged charge is a matter for the person charged to bring to the attention of An Garda Síochána, or to Court in the case of a court hearing.
Question No. 612 answered with Question No. 609.
Taxi Regulations
Ceisteanna (613)
Tom Fleming
Ceist:613. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will examine the issue regarding a holder of a fully licensed car, van, lorry and coach driver who cannot automatically acquire a taxi licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40387/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.
I have referred your question to the NTA for its consideration and direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
Child Protection
Ceisteanna (614)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:614. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the allegations regarding lack of child safety guidelines and code of ethics, their poor procedures and other matters raised in relation to the treatment of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 22 by an association. [40460/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I understand that officials in my Department were asked by the previous Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to meet with the persons mentioned by the Deputy. I am informed by my officials that a meeting took place on 23 June and that the matters mentioned by the Deputy were discussed.
Sporting organisations are independent, autonomous bodies. I do not have a role in relation to internal disputes within sporting organisations and clubs and it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in such disputes. I would, however, encourage the parties to any dispute to use the dispute resolution mechanisms that are in place for sport.
In relation to any child protection or child safety concerns, I must advise that if a person has any concerns about the welfare of a child they should report those concerns to the Child and Family Agency under the Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children. If a person has any concerns about the risk any adult may pose to a child, or children, these may also be reported to the Agency under the Guidance.
Sports Organisations
Ceisteanna (615)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:615. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Athletics Association of Ireland is answerable to the Irish Sports Council in relation to the production and implementation of a code of ethics, the duty to care and the Children First guidelines in clubs within its association. [40461/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this question is a matter for the Irish Sports Council, I have referred it to the Council for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
Child Protection
Ceisteanna (616)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:616. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm that each sports club in receipt of grant aid must have a child safety policy and a code of ethics in place prior to their application being considered or granted. [40462/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is not a requirement of the Sports Capital Programme that applicant organisations must have a child safety policy and a code of ethics in place prior to their application being considered for a grant.
All National Governing Bodies of Sport who receive funding from the Irish Sports Council are required to adopt the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport.
Road Projects
Ceisteanna (617)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:617. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will allocate specific funding in 2015 to the National Roads Authority to enable Monaghan County Council to advance the proposed upgrading of the N2 with particular reference to the need to advance this project to preliminary design stage 1 and identify the specific route corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40479/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 N2, 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 do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
Departmental Staff Redeployment
Ceisteanna (618)
Dara Calleary
Ceist:618. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form, the number of civil servants in his Department who have designated a County Mayo venue as their preference for a transfer; the numbers who have moved to the county in each year since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40902/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department does not maintain a transfer list for offices in County Mayo nor does my Department have offices in County Mayo with the exception of my colleague Minister of State Michael Ring's Constituency Office in Westport, County Mayo.
National Parks and Wildlife Service Staff
Ceisteanna (619, 627)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:619. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding employment opportunities in national parks (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39782/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraTom Fleming
Ceist:627. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will lift the embargo on staff recruitment to facilitate the recruitment of the additional staff necessary for Killarney House and gardens for the 2015 tourism season; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40382/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 619 and 627 together.
My Department is currently subject to the moratorium on public service recruitment. However, the staffing requirements in the areas referred to by the Deputy, as with all other areas of my Department, will remain the subject of ongoing consideration in light of the overall business needs and within the pay framework approved for 2015.
Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Applications
Ceisteanna (620)
Frank Feighan
Ceist:620. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on an application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting scheme in respect of person (details supplied) in County Roscommon. [40129/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
An application for compensation under the scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question. I am advised that, on his application form, the applicant has indicated that he extracted turf from the bog plot in the raised bog special area of conservation in 2011 and, consequently, he is not eligible for compensation in respect of that year. A payment of €1,500 in respect of Year 2 of 15 (2012) has been made to this applicant.
The applicant had not been in a position to show evidence of a legal interest in the bog plot. Officials from my Department have been working with the applicant to assist him in this regard. The applicant has recently returned documents which are under assessment by Departmental officials. My Department will be in contact with the applicant as soon as possible.
Hare Coursing
Ceisteanna (621)
Joan Collins
Ceist:621. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason for her decision to issue a licence to coursing clubs for hare coursing. [40051/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Licences were issued by my Department on 15 August under the Wildlife Acts to the Irish Coursing Club, on behalf of its affiliated clubs, to facilitate the tagging and capturing of hares for the purpose of hare coursing for the 2014/15 coursing season.
The control of live hare coursing, including the operation of individual coursing meetings and managing the use of hares for that activity, is carried out under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, which is the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Hare coursing is administered by the Irish Coursing Club, which is a body set up under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958.
While I understand that there are many individuals opposed to hare coursing, there is no current evidence that coursing has a significant effect on hare populations and the decision to issue the licences took into consideration the favourable conservation status for the hare, as detailed in the Report on the Status of European Union Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland provided to the European Commission in 2013.
National Monuments
Ceisteanna (622)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:622. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the consents sought to film a movie (details supplied) on Skellig Michael off the coast of County Kerry; the type of assessments done to determine potential impacts, that is, habitats directive appropriate assessment or archaeological assessment; the fee sought; the amount of income used to conserve and protect the UNESCO World Heritage site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40042/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Sceilig Mhichíl is a national monument in the ownership of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht under the National Monuments Acts. As such, it enjoys the full range of protections afforded by those Acts, including a requirement that any works at, or in proximity to it, are subject to my prior written consent. The Skellig islands themselves also form part of the Skelligs Special Protection Area (SPA). The SPA is designated for the protection of various species of seabird and is subject to the provisions of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives.
On foot of detailed discussions regarding a proposal submitted to film on the island in July, my Department made a determination that the activities proposed were of such a nature that Ministerial consent under the National Monuments Acts was not required. However, it was determined that consent was required under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 and the Statutory Instrument that designated the site as an SPA.
The initial filming proposals raised some concern with respect to the potential impact of the activities on the SPA. Following discussion with my officials, the film company submitted a revised application with a significant reduction in activity and a re-design of several elements of the original proposal, including a 90% reduction in proposed helicopter activity for the project.
The revised application was then screened for Appropriate Assessment in accordance with the Birds and Natural Habitats Regulations. The screening concluded that, provided the avoidance and mitigation measures proposed by the film company were implemented in full, and subject to 15 special conditions attached to the consent for the project, the proposal would not have a significant effect on the Skelligs SPA.
The activities of the film crew were supervised at all times by personnel from the Office of Public Works and my Department’s National Monuments and National Parks and Wildlife Services. A condition of the consent was that the salary costs and expenses of NPWS staff were charged to the filming company.
I am satisfied that the diligence of my staff and that of the OPW, together with the professional and constructive approach of the film company, ensured that the filming activities had no negative impacts on the archaeological or ecological heritage present on the island and that there were no implications for the outstanding universal value of the world heritage property.
Seirbhísí Farantóireachta
Ceisteanna (623)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:623. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén socrú atá déanta aici lena chinntiú go mbeidh seirbhís farantóireachta paisinéirí go hÁrainn i gCo. na Gaillimhe an geimhreadh seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [40313/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Tá tairiscintí lorgtha ag mo Roinn i leith seirbhís farantóireachta paisinéirí idir Árainn agus Ros an Mhíl don tréimhse ón 1 Samhain 2014 go dtí 31 Deireadh Fómhair 2017. Comhairlítear dom nach mbeadh sé cuí níos mó a rá mar gheall air ag an bpointe seo.
Soláthar Aersheirbhísí
Ceisteanna (624)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:624. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén uair a lorgófar tairiscintí nua le haghaidh na seirbhíse aeir go dtí na hoileáin Árann á chur san áireamh gur féidir leis níos mó ná sé mhí a thógáil ó fhógraítear go bhfuil tairiscinti á lorg (ag cur próiséas léirithe spéise san áireamh) go mbeidh conraitheoir réidh le dul i mbun seirbhíse; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [40314/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Tá mo Roinn i láthair na huaire ag scrúdú tuarascáil EY maidir le seirbhís aeir Oileáin Árann. Beidh an scrúdú sin críochnaithe go luath agus déanfar cinneadh faoin tseirbhís ina dhiaidh sin. Ní miste a nótáil go bhfuil conradh i bhfeidhm don tseirbhís go dtí 30 Meán Fómhair 2015.
National Parks and Wildlife Service
Ceisteanna (625)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:625. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide details of all grazing rights allocated to persons by the National Parks and Wildlife Service to graze 406 acres on Drummin Mountain in County Wicklow; the ownership basis of this area that gave the Office of Public Works the legal right to allocate grazing rights to persons; if these rights supersede pre-existing vested rights to graze this mountain; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40317/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The lands referred to by the Deputy are subject to grazing licences, which are renewed on an annual basis. In acquiring these lands for Wicklow Mountain National Park, it was agreed at the time of the transfer of ownership to the State that the Department would continue to renew these licences to existing holders of tenants of good standing. Should the leases no longer be required by the current holders, they may become available in the future by way of public tender. For data protection reasons, it has not been the practice to release the details of individual leases.
Ferry Services Provision
Ceisteanna (626)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:626. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to seek new tenders for the provision of a passenger service to Inishbofin, County Galway; her plans to incorporate the provision of a shuttle bus service from the County Council car park in Cleggan to the boat in the request for tender taking into account the distance from the car park to the berth for the boat; the proposed length of the service contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40320/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is currently in the process of examining tenders received for provision of a passenger ferry service to Inishbofin, County Galway. I can confirm to the Deputy that the request for tender did not include the provision of a shuttle bus service between the car park and the berth for the boat at Cleggan. I can also confirm that it is intended, if possible, to agree a five-year contract for the passenger ferry service.
Question No. 627 answered with Question No. 619.