Written Answers Nos. 161 - 175
161. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide in tabular form, the number of staff in his data protection office; if he has a specified data protection officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44723/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has one whole-time equivalent Data Protection Officer who is responsible for handling data protection requests. In accordance with the Data Protection Acts, my Department has registered as a Data Controller with the Office of the Data Protection Commission and has accordingly fulfilled the obligations required under the Data Protection Registration process.
162. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the current position regarding EirGrid's right to access private lands; the legislation that governs these powers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44755/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Section 20(4) of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1927, as amended by Regulation 8 of S.I. 445/2000, EirGrid is empowered to enter lands to undertake appropriate investigations, inquiries, and examinations. This access is intended to support the function set out in Regulation 8(1) whereby EirGrid is required to "operate and ensure the maintenance of, and if necessary, develop a secure, reliable economical and efficient electricity transmission system, and to explore and develop opportunities for interconnection of its system with other systems, in all cases with a view to ensuring that all reasonable demands for electricity are met having due regard for the environment."
In order to enable EirGrid to discharge its functions, the legislation provides for the ESB, as transmission system assets owner (TAO), and EirGrid to enter into agreements in order to ensure EirGrid is mandated to design and deliver projects to develop the transmission system and enable planning applications to be submitted. The agreements themselves provide that projects are overseen by engineers appointed by EirGrid so that they are completed in accordance with the appropriate standards and to ensure the company fulfils its statutory obligations.
163. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views that Irish Rail is in serious financial difficulties and that if the company does not receive a major injection of capital funding it will be unable to avoid insolvency or a major service decline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44629/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraCIÉ continues to face a very challenging financial situation and is dependent on continued bank funding. Irish Rail has incurred accumulated losses of over €148m in the past six years, a position which is unsustainable.
I acknowledge the changes that have been accepted by workers and the contribution of the LRC proposals of 3rd September last. The LRC also recommended that the Cost Management Committee, involving both management and employee representatives, should identify target savings in non-payroll items necessary to implement the company’s five year plan.
The company continues to tackle its financial situation through a range of measures, of which payroll is just one. Payroll comprises 60% of the cost base and savings had to be found here. There have already been substantial fare increases in recent years.
I remain strongly supportive of the efforts to secure the company’s financial sustainability in order to ensure that rail services can be provided efficiently and cost effectively, with investment needs met over the long term. The Government has provided substantial Exchequer investment in the rail network in recent years despite the significant financial challenges and is fully engaged with Irish Rail and the National Transport Authority (NTA) in examining the future funding requirements for the company to ensure a sustainable future.
I have given a commitment to avoiding further reductions in the Public Service Obligation funding and for the first time since 2008, the level of Public Service Obligation (PSO) for bus and rail services is being maintained in 2015 at current levels. I am also giving consideration to how I can increase the Government's contribution towards the renewal investment required on the rail network, from within the overall capital funding available to me.
These measures are necessary components that will contribute to securing a viable path for the company. I believe that the policy and funding framework must take account of what the Exchequer can afford while giving clarity to the public and employees on the necessary measures to restore the company’s viability.
164. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will postpone the introduction of on-the-spot fine and penalty points until the current national car test backlog is addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44632/14]
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. The change to that position that I will be implementing shortly - by commencing section 10 of the Road Traffic Act 2014 - is to bring this offence within the Fixed Charge Payment System so that persons will have the option of receiving 3 penalty points on payment of the Fixed Charge rather than automatically being required to go to court.
The RSA has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight, development, quality assurance and delivery of the National Car Test.
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 now 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 run a significant advertising campaign since September 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 of vehicles to date in 2014.
165. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if recognition of a full clean driving licence issued by the authorities in Mauritius qualifies for recognition here and throughout the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44658/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIrish driver licensing law operates within the framework of EU driver licensing law. For this reason, there is mutual recognition of driving licences across all EU Member States.
EU Member States may also make bilateral agreements with non-EU states for recognition of driving licences for the purposes of exchange. Where such bilateral agreements exist, they apply only to the Member State in question. If a Member State has a mutual recognition arrangement with a non-EU state, other Member States are therefore not obliged to enter into similar arrangements with that state.
Ireland has bilateral arrangements for mutual recognition and exchange of driving licences with a number of jurisdictions outside the EU. Mauritius is not one of those jurisdictions.
Under international law, a holder of a licence which is not recognised for exchange may drive in Ireland on their national licence for up to a year, as a visitor. However, if the holder of the licence proposes to become resident in Ireland for a period longer than 12 months then they are required to apply for an Irish licence.
166. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce a drug testing law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44711/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe law against drink driving has been strengthened a great deal in recent years. At the same time, the issue of driving under the influence of drugs has been a growing concern.
The Road Traffic Act 2014 provided for the introduction of roadside impairment testing by An Garda Síochána. This testing consists of simple, physical, cognitive tests to assist the Gardaí in determining the presence of intoxicants in drivers and whether a driver is capable of having proper control of a vehicle. The necessary Regulations which will underpin the introduction of this testing will be introduced in the coming weeks.
In addition, I intend to bring forward proposals to allow for roadside testing of drivers for the presence of drugs as part of the next Road Traffic Bill. I propose to build on existing legislation for driving under the influence of alcohol by extending the current mandatory alcohol testing checkpoints to include drug testing. The Bill will also provide for a number of other measures which will further improve safety on our roads. I anticipate that the Heads of this Bill will be submitted to Government for approval in the coming weeks.
167. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form, the number of staff in his data protection office; if he has a specified data protection officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44734/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has three staff who have been assigned specific responsibility for different areas of Data protection. All staff within my Department are regularly reminded of their own responsibilities for data protection.
168. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current waiting time for having a national car test in the test centre Westport, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44750/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra169. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current waiting time for having a national car test in the test centre Ballina, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44751/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together.
The operation of the National Car Test is a matter for the Road Safety Authority (RSA). As this is a matter for the RSA, I have forwarded the question to the Authority for direct reply, and I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received in the next ten days.
170. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the coastal monitoring and conservation plans and objectives for the special area of conservation of Murrough wetlands between Greystones and Wicklow town; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44631/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Murrough Wetlands SAC has conservation objectives which can be accessed at
http://www.npws.ie/media/npwsie/content/images/protectedsites/conservationobjectives/CO002249.pdf.
More detailed site-specific conservation objectives will be developed in the future.
Monitoring of the area was most recently carried out in 2007, as part of a national Saltmarsh Monitoring Project. The information relevant to the Murrough is reported under the site name Kilcoole; site code: SMP0036; and presented in the full report, which can be located at http://www.npws.ie/publications/archive/McCorry&Ryle2009SaltmarshsurveyV1.pdf.
This project was designed to meet the monitoring requirements of the EU Habitats Directive. The project mapped and assessed the conservation status of the saltmarsh habitats at 100 sites around the coast of Ireland. This included two types of saltmarsh habitat which occur in the Murrough Wetlands SAC.
171. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the cost of the 1916 commemoration video; the person who approved its content; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44620/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra172. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason the Easter Rising was not mentioned in the video to promote Ireland in 2016; the cost of this video; the persons who authorised the commission of this video; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44650/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together.
The video referred to was part of a suite of materials, including a booklet, an outline programme and information sheets on capital projects, that were made available by the project team for the launch of the Ireland 2016 Programme.
This material supplemented official speeches delivered by An Taoiseach, An Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Minister of State Ó Ríordáin and me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht.
The purpose of the launch video, which cost €1,476, was to provide a visual representation of some of the broader themes of the Programme, which it is intended to run in conjunction with the formal commemoration of the Easter Rising in 2016.
173. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a detailed timetable will be published by her Department outlining the events to celebrate the centenary of the 1916 Rising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44651/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra174. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of times the advisory group on centenary commemorations has met; the number of times she has met this group; if recommendations have yet been published with regard to the centenary of the 1916 Rising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44652/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 174 together.
The Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations, chaired by Dr. Maurice Manning, has met on 6 occasions to date in 2014. It has also held 2 public consultation meetings in Thurles and Dublin. I met with the group on 12 November last, when I conveyed to it the contents of the outline 2016 Commemoration programme.
The outline programme includes a series of commemorative events in Arbour Hill on Easter Saturday, and in Kilmainham Gaol and O'Connell Street on Easter Sunday. A commemorative event will also be held in Arbour Hill on Sunday 24 April 2016.
A widespread public consultation process is due to commence shortly, in order to encourage and facilitate the involvement of ground-up initiatives in the wider commemorative programme. I will be presenting the ideas and recommendations arising from this process to the Group for their advice in due course.
175. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide in tabular form, the number of staff in her data protection office; if she has a specified data protection officer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44721/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraOne officer is responsible for developing and implementing data protection policy in my Department as part of a wider remit in the Corporate Governance area. This officer's duties include ensuring that data is processed in line with data protection legislation and that my Department registers all relevant details of data processing with the Data Protection Commissioner in a timely manner.
My Department is also liaising with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner on the development of a Code of Practice for the Protection of Personal Data, which will help to ensure that each staff member understands the concepts of Data Protection and is aware of their own responsibilities. I am confident that this, in turn, will assist my Department in its compliance with the Data Protection Acts.
