Written Answers Nos. 569-582
569. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a sports grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44160/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe club was provisionally allocated €44,556 under 2012 Sports Capital Programme towards an all weather pitch. The club has leasehold title to the property. A Deed of Covenant and Charge is being drafted by the Chief State Solicitor's Office for the 2012 grant and previous funding. As the club's title is leasehold and the lease contains a forfeiture clause, a landlord agreement is required. The Landlord Agreement is an assurance by the landlord that the facility will be kept in sporting use if the tenant forfeits the lease.
The club has not been able to provide the landlord agreement and as the full legal requirements have not been met, formal approval cannot be granted. Once the Landlord Agreement is in place and the Chief State Solicitor's Office confirms that the Deed of Covenant and Charge has been finalised, then formal approval may be granted and the grant will be available to be drawn down.
570. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the projects proposed under the smarter travel initiative for 2015 for towns in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44180/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Smarter Travel Initiative is a €65 million multi-annual funding programme being administered by my Department over the period 2012 to 2016. There are three main funding programmes being delivered under the Initiative, namely Smarter Travel Areas, Active Travel Towns and the National Cycle Network.
Applications were submitted by Galway County Council under the second phase of the Active Travel Towns Funding Programme 2014 - 2016 for the towns of Gort, Loughrea and Athenry. However, given the considerable interest in the programme and the significant number of proposals submitted, it was not possible to award funding to any of these towns on this occasion.
However, under the National Cycle Network Programme Funding 2014 - 2016, Galway County Council was awarded funding of €2 million earlier this year for the construction of a greenway between Moycullen and Galway City. It is anticipated that this 12km greenway will be completed by the end of 2016.
571. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied that the tourism potential of Dublin's north side is being fully utilised by public transport companies; his plans to expand any services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44213/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraDublin Bus operates Dublin City Tours as a commercial service under licence from the National Transport Authority. There are also a number of private operators licensed to provide such services.
I have forwarded the Deputy's question to Dublin Bus and also to Irish Rail, in relation to rail services in north Dublin, for direct reply.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
572. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to set up a dedicated tourism body to promote Dublin internationally in line with other cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44214/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with its regional tourism development functions, Fáilte Ireland has responsibility for the development of tourism in Dublin. In this context, it is pursuing the implementation of "Destination Dublin: A Collective Strategy for Tourism Growth to 2020", which was developed by the Grow Dublin Taskforce, representing all the key tourism stakeholders in Dublin.
Last Friday, I announced the establishment of the Grow Dublin Tourism Alliance, which has been set up under Fáilte Ireland to implement the Taskforce’s recommendations. Chaired by Michael Carey, this group will include a range of stakeholders and others with relevant expertise. It has been charged with developing a unified brand identity for Dublin to target those market segments with greatest promise for growth. In this way, the group aims to grow tourism to the capital and allow us compete better with rival city destinations in Europe.
I have asked Fáilte Ireland to provide the Deputy with any further relevant information relating to its “Destination Dublin” tourism strategy and the new Grow Dublin Tourism Alliance. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
573. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider and respond to a matter regarding funding for disadvantaged areas (details supplied). [44304/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI was delighted to announce an allocation of €8,002 for the club in question under the 2014 Sports Capital Programme towards the purchase of sports equipment.
The grant has not yet been drawn down. The club has been in contact with my officials in Killarney and are being advised on how best to proceed with the drawdown.
It is also open to the club to apply under any future rounds of the Sports Capital Programme. The Sports Capital Programme does not fund the purchase of land.
574. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the law regarding automatic application of penalty points is waived for those who have booked their national car test due to the lack of immediate NCT testing slots; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44346/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy should note that it has, for some time, been an offence to use a vehicle on public roads without a valid NCT certificate. Currently, this is a 'straight-to-court' offence which attracts 5 penalty points on conviction.
However, section 10 of the Road Traffic Act 2014, when commenced shortly, will bring this offence within the Fixed Charge Payment System and will attract 3 penalty points on payment of the Fixed Charge.
Under 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.
I am advised that any car owner will receive an NCT appointment within 28 days. I understand that, in order to meet this standard, in some cases, the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) holds requests on a waiting list until a suitable slot is found. In the majority of cases, customers are given a slot within the required timescale. However, if a slot is not found within 28 days, the test should be offered free of charge.
Also, to further facilitate demand, an NCT may be undertaken up to 90 days in advance of the test due date without affecting the expiry date of the new certificate. This system is in place to ensure that owners have ample time to have their vehicle tested before their current NCT certificate expires. The RSA has been running an advertising campaign to highlight this.
The RSA informs me that it is in a favourable position to deal with current demand and that the NCTS has been testing record numbers to date in 2014, with the number of vehicles tested each month being approximately 12% higher than in the corresponding months in 2013.
575. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in relation to the recent sports capital grants allocations if applicants were refused based on being a private members' club; if so the criteria for being a private members' club; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44378/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sports Capital Programme (SCP) provides grants to assist in the development of sports facilities and the provision of sports equipment. Grants are available to sports clubs, voluntary and community groups, national governing bodies of sport and local authorities. Third level colleges, Education and Training Boards (ETBs – formerly VECs) and schools may only apply for funding jointly with sports clubs.
The Programme does not fund private and/or commercial organisations. In 2014, 11 organisations were deemed invalid on this basis.
The Department takes great care in assessing all applications received. Factors considered in assessing whether applicants are private and/or commercial organisations include prohibitive membership rules and/or fees, whether the facility is available to non-members, usage charges for such non-members, and strategies to encourage disadvantaged groups and individuals to use the facility.
576. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a representative from an organisation (details supplied) in Munster will be included in the hen harrier threat response plan consultative committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43888/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Departments represented on the Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan Steering Group were asked to nominate relevant stakeholders for inclusion on the Consultative Committee. The nomination of appropriate representatives for agricultural stakeholders is a matter for the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.
However, it should be noted that the Consultative Committee will not be the only vehicle for input into the development of the Threat Response Plan. It is expected that a broader public consultation process will be undertaken, with input being sought from all interested parties. Submissions from the public will be sought at the time of publication of the first draft of the Threat Response Plan.
577. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans for staffing the newly refurbished Killarney House in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43903/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe staffing requirements for Killarney House and Gardens, 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.
578. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of staff that are drawing down retirement pensions from the public sector or Civil Service and that have been brought back on contract work or temporary contracts to work in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44110/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince its establishment in June 2011, my Department has brought back three of its retired civil servants on contract work or temporary contracts. For the sake of completeness, I would also state that as, previously advised to the House, one of my predecessor's special advisers was in receipt of a public service pension and was paid an abated salary accordingly.
579. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position in respect of the Irish language derogation; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that an extra 200 positions could be created if the Irish language derogation regarding the use of Irish in the EU were to cease at the end of 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44147/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs already advised to the House, a decision on whether or not to extend the derogation for the use of Irish in the EU institutions for a further period of time is required by December 2015 at the latest.
In that context, my Department, in conjunction with the Department of An Taoiseach, continues to be actively engaged with the EU institutions in order to formulate specific proposals on the optimal approach to the derogation. Clearly, the outcome of that engagement will inform the proposals that will be brought to Government in due course, prior to a final decision being taken on this matter.
I am very aware of the potential employment opportunities in the EU institutions that may become available to suitably qualified Irish speakers. With this in mind, as part of the Government’s strategy to ensure that there is sufficient take-up of the jobs available and that a sufficient number of qualified personnel are available to meet the needs of the EU institutions, my Department continues to provide substantial funding for a range of specialised third-level courses and for the development of Irish language terminology for the EU terminology database, InterActive Terminology for Europe (IATE).
580. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 1760 of 17 September 2014 when payment of bog compensation will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44169/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for compensation under the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question. I am advised that payments of €1,500 in respect of Year 1 of 15 (2012) and €1,518 in respect of Year 2 of 15 (2013) have been made to this applicant. In addition, a once-off payment of €500 has been made to the applicant in respect of the signing of a legal agreement under this scheme.
The qualifying criteria for the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme are that:
- The claimant must have a legal interest in one of the 53 raised bog special areas of conservation – ownership or turbary right;
- The claimant must have been the owner or entitled to exercise turbary rights on the land in question on 25 May 2010;
- The turbary on the site must not be exhausted;
- The claimant must have been cutting turf on the land in question during the relevant five year period; and
- No turf cutting or associated activity is ongoing on the property.
Following an assessment by officials of my Department of the plot of bog in respect of which the applicant has applied for compensation, it appears that a supply of turf had not been cut on the land in question during the relevant five year period.
My Department has written to the applicant outlining that the qualifying criteria have not been met and she does not qualify for compensation under the scheme. The applicant has also been informed of the Departmental review and appeal procedures open to her in the event that she disagrees with this decision.
581. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the capital works that are taking place in the National Gallery of Ireland; the cost of these works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44243/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraWork is continuing on the major restoration project at the National Gallery of Ireland. The project will include the repair and restoration of the fabric of the Dargan and Milltown Wings, infill of the voids between the wings and the installation of 21st century climate, heating, fire suppression and lighting systems amongst other things. The Office of Public Works, the National Gallery of Ireland and my Department are cooperating on the oversight of this project - which has an expected 24 month duration and a cost of €31.4 million. This is a sizable and historic restoration and upgrade project. It will bring the National Gallery of Ireland back up to international standards and allow it to again present world-class exhibits in a world-class setting.
582. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on the funding allocated to commemorate the centenary of the 1916 Rising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44270/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that I secured an amount of €4 million in the Budget for 2015 to allow for the roll-out of an integrated plan focused on commemorating the centenary of the 1916 Rising.
This is in addition to the capital provision of €22 million that will be allocated in 2015 to a number of flagship projects, including the development of a permanent exhibition space and interpretative centre at the GPO; the renovation of Kilmainham Courthouse to enhance the visitor experience at Kilmainham Gaol; the provision of a permanent visitor facility at Cathal Brugha Barracks for the Military Service Pensions Archive; the development of visitor facilities at Teach an Phiarsaigh, Ros Muc; renovation works at Richmond Barracks; the development of a Tenement Museum in Dublin; and the restoration of the Kevin Barry rooms in the National Concert Hall.
It is my intention to allocate the current provision of €4 million in a manner that will help support a wide range of activities and events by interested groups, including local community groups, as well as the arts and education sectors.
