Written Answers Nos. 210-217
210. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of any plans to introduce traffic calming measures along the N15 outside two schools (details supplied) in County Donegal; his views on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7645/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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 is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 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 do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
211. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is an average waiting time of three months for National Car Test testing; the steps he is taking to alleviate the issue; if ardaí will employ discretion in dealing with drivers who, due to this backlog, cannot secure an appointment before their National Car Test certificate expires; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7439/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006), the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight, development, quality assurance and delivery of the National Car Testing Service (NCTS).
I understand from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) that any car owner should receive an NCT appointment within 28 days and 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.
The RSA has also repeatedly emphasised that the availability of appointments on the NCTS website is not a reflection of the total number of test slots available to customers. If a person requires an early test, they should follow the advice on that website which clearly advises that if a suitable slot cannot be obtained online, to contact the NCTS call centre directly on (01) 413 5992 or to log a request for an appointment through the website.
The RSA is encouraging people to book early, as the test may be undertaken up to 90 days in advance of the due test date without affecting the expiry date of the new certificate. This system is to ensure that owners have ample time to have their vehicle tested before their current NCT certificate expires.
Enforcement of the relevant legislation is a matter for An Garda Síochána. If a person's NCT test date is imminent, it will be a matter for the Gardaí to use their discretion. However, responsibility rests with owners and users of vehicles to ensure their vehicles are in compliance with the law.
212. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Fáilte Ireland's capital plan will include greenway funding avenues for local authorities, either for feasibility studies, or construction funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7516/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport provides funding for investment in tourism, the allocation of these funds is a matter for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland.
An allocation of €17.35 million has been made to Fáilte Ireland in 2015 to administer the Tourism Capital Investment Programme, which provides support for investment in visitor attractions, visitor activities and tourism infrastructure. The funds available under that the programme are fully committed to the end of 2016. Accordingly, Fáilte Ireland is unable to accept new applications for funding.
The point at which Fáilte Ireland will be in a position to consider new proposals for capital funding is dependent on the annual estimates and budgetary process but I am hopeful that we will be in a position to progress a range of developments as funding becomes available in coming years.
Similarly, all transport funding available to my Department for the delivery of greenways is fully committed to end 2016.
However, given the success of greenways already delivered, I feel optimistic that funding may become available from other sources over the coming years. The EU Structural Funds Programme 2014-2020 is currently being finalised and there may be significant opportunities for cycle infrastructure development under Interreg and the Rural Development Programme. I would also encourage Local Authorities and Community Groups seeking to promote Greenways to see if funding from LEADER companies may be available.
I am also encouraging Local Authorities to attempt, where possible from within their own resources, to bring their plans for Greenways through Part 8 planning so that, when funding does come available again, they will be best positioned to apply for funding.
213. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the precise route of the Wild Atlantic Way will be reviewed; the advice he will provide for a community, not on the current route that wishes to be included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7521/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile my Department provides the capital funding for investment in tourism offerings such as the Wild Atlantic Way, it is not directly involved in developing or managing these. The development of the Wild Atlantic Way is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly I have referred the question to the agency for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
The Deputy should be aware that the route of the Wild Atlantic Way was developed with the assistance of consultants, Paul Hogarth and Company and, using a collaborative approach, regional steering groups were also convened to inform route development. The steering groups comprised Fáilte Ireland, Local Authorities, local LEADER and Development companies and other key agencies such as Udarás na Gaeltachta, the Western Development Commission and others as relevant to each particular region.
For those communities that are not on the route it is important to note that the actual route is not simply a touring route but is rather a means to guide and attract visitors, and that all villages, businesses and geographic areas within close proximity of the route are in essence part of the geography of the Wild Atlantic Way. The purpose of the Wild Atlantic Way is to give guidance to visitors as to what there is to see on our western coast, and provide easy access to a range of experiences along the route and so enable local businesses to take advantage of the benefits of the Wild Atlantic Way. My advice to communities on and near to the Wild Atlantic Way is to focus on how to use the route to generate more tourism revenue and not to focus on specific details of the route.
214. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom Road in County Cork is a priority area of investment; if he will include the road in a forthcoming capital investment programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7526/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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 (including the N22) 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 NRA has to prioritise expenditure.
As I have indicated previously priority has to be given to the maintenance and upkeep of existing infrastructure. The capital allocations proposed for my Department in 2016 and 2017 indicated that funding will continue to be constrained in the next number of years. The scope for progressing new projects will depend on the level of longer term funding available to my Department and the NRA.
215. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if all moneys allocated to a club (details supplied) in County Kerry, in the past, under the sports capital programme, have been fully drawn down; the reason the club's most recent application was unsuccessful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7528/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccording to the Department's records, all allocations made to the club referred to by the Deputy have been fully drawn down.
The club made an application under the 2012 Sports Capital Programme. Unfortunately, this application did not meet the minimum requirements and was found to be invalid. I do not consider it appropriate to publish details of why individual applications were deemed invalid. However, a letter issued to the club contact clearly outlining the reasons. If the club wishes to have a copy of this letter resent, they should contact my staff in Killarney who will be happy to help.
The club did not make an application under the 2014 Programme and I would urge them to register on www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie if they wish to apply under the 2015 round of the Programme.
216. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a recent application (details supplied) in County Kerry, under the sports capital programme, was unsuccessful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7529/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no application on record for this organisation under the 2014 Sports Capital Programme. However, it was possible to identify this project, which was applied for by another organisation and I will answer in respect of this application.
Unfortunately, this application did not meet the minimum requirements for the 2014 Programme and was found to be invalid.
I do not consider it appropriate to publish details of why individual applications were deemed invalid. However, a letter issued to the club contact outlining the reasons. If the club wishes to have a copy of this letter resent, they should contact my staff in Killarney who will be happy to help.
I hope to announce details of the 2015 round of the programme in the near future and I would urge any organisation that wishes to apply to register first on www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie.
217. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding a review of National Car Test policy for vintage cars; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7530/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Government's 2013-2020 Road Safety Strategy, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) was tasked with conducting a review of the roadworthiness testing of vintage vehicles to determine the safety case and cost benefits, if any, for inclusion in roadworthiness testing.
The RSA has completed this review which included a public consultation exercise that attracted in the region of 2,000 submissions. The scope of the RSA's review covered those vehicle types for which roadworthiness testing regimes currently exist namely, passenger cars, ambulances, motor caravans, buses, goods vehicles and their trailers.
My Department has received the RSA's review findings and proposals recently. They will be examined with a view to submitting early recommendations to me which I will consider in due course.
