Written Answers Nos. 625 - 641
625. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form, by festival, the amount of Fáilte Ireland grant paid to arts festivals over the past five years. [7918/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of festival funding grants is decided on an annual basis by Fáilte Ireland, based on applications received. It is a competitive grant process, and funding is awarded to those applicant events and festivals that best meet the advertised criteria for the relevant programme, including the expected impact on tourism.
The award of grants is an operational matter for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland. Therefore I have referred the Deputy's Question to Fáilte Ireland for further information and direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
626. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to legislate to address the regulation of rickshaws in Dublin and other urban tourist centres. [7950/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraCurrently, rickshaws are not specifically defined in law, nor is there any legislation to regulate carriage of passengers by these vehicles. Rickshaws fall under the category of pedal cycles for legal purposes. If we were to consider creating a separate class of vehicle licence to cover rickshaws, the primary reason would be to promote safety. While I am open to considering this, neither An Garda Síochána nor the Road Safety Authority, the two bodies most involved in road safety issues, has raised any concerns with my Department about the safety aspect of rickshaws.
Dublin City Council has written to me regarding the need to regulate rickshaws from a number of perspectives but primarily health and safety. However its legal advisors have advised that the type and extent of regulation proposed would appear to go beyond what a local authority would usually wish to regulate by bye-laws under the Local Government Act 2001. The Council sought that provision be made through primary legislation to regulate the operation of rickshaws.
As it is a requirement that a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) be prepared in respect of any proposal to Government seeking permission to regulate through primary legislation and given that rickshaws are a local matter, I have responded to the Council that it would be appropriate that the Council prepare a RIA. The purpose of the RIA is to establish more clearly the issues that need to be addressed and the kind of regulatory initiative that is most appropriate to deal with those issues. The RIA would include, amongst other things, an assessment of the measures that could be adopted within the existing bye-law making powers of local authorities and also help determine whether any proposal for primary legislation should be dealt with as a matter of road traffic legislation or local government legislation.
627. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if European funding is available for the railway system, for example, the re-opening of Dunleer railway station in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7952/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraEU co-funding is potentially available for qualifying rail projects under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) 2014-2020. The vast bulk of the CEF funding is provided for projects on the Trans European Network (TEN-T) Core Network, which on the island of Ireland comprises the Cork-Dublin-Belfast rail line and the freight only line to Shannon-Foynes Port.
All TEN-T projects put forward under CEF must be supported by the relevant Member State, demonstrate that it will contribute to developing the Core European rail network and have a strong business case including a positive Cost Benefit Analysis. In addition there must be a committed national funding source for the balance of funding which could be as high as 90%.
Under the current capital plan the focus of Exchequer funding available for heavy rail is on protecting existing assets and maintaining safety standards. There is no Exchequer funding available for the re-opening of train stations such as Dunleer. Moreover CIE is in a difficult financial position and it has no resources of its own available to fund new stations.
If additional funds become available under the next capital plan currently under consideration, there will be many competing projects from all transport modes in all regions. Any additional funds will be prioritised for projects for which there is a clear need, which are affordable, have a sound business case and add value to existing infrastructure. The availability of non-Exchequer funding sources including under TEN-T will also be taken into account in prioritising projects.
628. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the public transport projects that received European Union funding in the years 2013 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7983/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Trans European Network Transport (TEN-T) 2007-2013 programme funding has been provided for two eligible heavy rail projects since 2013.
A total of €724,000 was received in 2013 and 2014 in EU co-funding in respect of the City Centre Re-signalling project. Also under that programme €620,500 was provided this year towards the planning and design of a new rail Central Traffic Control Centre.
Under the INTERREG IV 2007-2013 programme a total of €6.1m has been awarded towards the Refurbishment of the Drogheda Viaduct project. €1.47m of this co-funding was received last year with the remainder expected to be drawn down this year.
My Department will keep under review the opportunities for EU co-funding under the new TEN-T/CEF and INTERREG V 2014-2020 programmes.
629. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the alleged use of Irish controlled airspace by two Russian bomber planes on 28 January 2015; if he has spoken to the Russian authorities regarding the incident; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7104/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) rules, it is normal practice for the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) to be informed by the relevant State of any military flights operating in Irish controlled airspace. Ensuring the application of this practice is an important consideration and as this did not occur in this particular instance my Department has raised the issue with ICAO and outlined concerns arising. It is emphasised that the IAA coordinated closely with its UK counterparts at all stages during the incident so as to avoid a risk to any civil aircraft during the incident. Although there was no such risk on this occasion, such non-notified and non-controlled flight activity is not acceptable.
I have collaborated closely with other members of the Government in relation to this incident and on the development of an agreed response. As part of that agreed response, and under the instruction of my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, a senior official from that Department has met with the Russian Ambassador. The official conveyed the serious concerns of the Government about the unacceptable safety risk which could be posed by non-notified and non-controlled flight activity. The Ambassador undertook to bring the concerns expressed to the attention of his authorities in Moscow.
630. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the poor state of repair of Fintra bridge in Killybegs, County Donegal; if he will provide funding in order that improvements to the bridge can be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8213/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads (including bridges) is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
I announced the 2015 regional and local road allocations on 3rd February, of which €17.7m was allocated to Co. Donegal. A total of 8 bridges in Donegal received allocations for bridge rehabilitation works in 2015 however Fintra Bridge was not among the applications received by my Department.
Funding for 2015 has now been allocated but it is open to the Council to use monies from its Discretionary Grant allocation or its own resources towards the remedial works. It is also important to reiterate that the role of Exchequer grants for regional and local roads is to supplement Councils in their own resources spending in this area.
631. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the criteria used for the allocation of capital funding for tourism projects; and if he will provide, in tabular form, the allocation of funding, by county, in the years 2010 to 2014, inclusive. [8220/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe matter raised is an operational one for Fáilte Ireland. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's Question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
632. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown of the exemptions granted under section 6 (weapons and munitions designed for use in warfare), and section 7 (dangerous goods) of the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order in each of the years between 2011 and 2014, in relation to civilian aircraft landing at Shannon Airport. [8246/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra633. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown of the companies that were granted exemptions under section 6 (weapons and munitions designed for use in warfare), and section 7 (dangerous goods) of the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order, for each of the years 2011 to 2014, inclusive, in relation to civilian aircraft landing at Shannon Airport. [8247/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 632 and 633 together.
The information sought regarding munitions exemptions granted and airlines that they were granted to is as follows:
|
Airline |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Omni Air International |
938 |
545 |
355 |
260 |
|
Delta Air Lines |
5 |
5 |
- |
4 |
|
Atlas Air, Inc. |
- |
4 |
- |
6 |
|
North American Airlines |
71 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
|
National Airlines |
- |
- |
- |
13 |
|
Antonov Company |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Lynden Air Cargo |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Volga Dnepr Airlines |
- |
1 |
- |
1 |
|
Total |
1017 |
561 |
358 |
286 |
Dangerous goods exemptions that are not munitions of war are granted by the Irish Aviation Authority. I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the IAA for direct reply. If you do not receive a response within the next 10 working days please contact my Office.
634. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of occasions that either he, or an authorised person, entered and inspected an aircraft at Shannon Airport, for the purpose of ensuring that the flight was not in breach of Articles 6 and 7 of the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order, as provided for in the order. [8248/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973, as amended, is divided between my Department and the Irish Aviation Authority. My Department is responsible for issuing exemptions from Article 6 of the Order regarding munitions of war and the IAA is responsible for issuing exemptions from Article 7 regarding dangerous goods.
Under the Order the carriage of munitions of war on board Irish registered aircraft or at Irish airports or in Irish airspace is prohibited without an exemption from my Department.
I have no reason to believe the provisions of the Order are not being complied with by airlines. My understanding is that there have not been inspections carried out by authorised officers of my Department in relation to the carriage of munitions of war in recent years.
In relation to the carriage of dangerous goods in accordance with Article 7, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the IAA for direct reply. If you do not receive a response within the next 10 working days please contact my Office.
635. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown of the allocation of funding of €16.2 million, for the repair of damage caused by severe weather, to each local authority, resulting from the damage in the period from December 2013 to January 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8258/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
The Government approved funding of €16.2 million for the repair of damage caused by severe weather. Based on projected expenditure by Councils €14.1 million was included in my Department's budget in 2014 to cover expenditure related to severe weather and a provision of €2.1 was carried forward to 2015.
Actual expenditure by local authorities in 2014 to repair roads damaged as a result of the severe weather during the period 16 December 2013 – 6 January was as follows.
|
Local Authority |
Paid 2014 |
|
Cork City Council |
25,500 |
|
Cork County Council |
710,292 |
|
Clare County Council |
1,612,557 |
|
Carlow County Council |
16,000 |
|
Dublin City Council |
100,000 |
|
Donegal County Council |
115,892 |
|
Galway City Council |
44,500 |
|
Galway County Council |
1,442,405 |
|
Kerry County Council |
575,291 |
|
Limerick County Council |
12,332 |
|
Longford County Council |
150,464 |
|
Louth County Council |
75,000 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
245,250 |
|
Laois County Council |
211,690 |
|
Meath County Council |
2,800 |
|
Mayo County Council |
1,225,890 |
|
Sligo County Council |
153,585 |
|
North Tipperary County Council |
547,489 |
|
South Tipperary County Council |
772,454 |
|
Waterford County Council |
3,878,000 |
|
Wexford County Council |
720,033 |
|
Total: |
12,637,424 |
On 3rd February, I announced the 2015 regional and local roads allocations to local authorities and these allocations included €3.42 million towards costs related to severe weather events in addition to the €2.1 million carried over from 2014. The details of the allocations are in the regional and local roads allocations booklet which is in the Dáil Library.
636. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if invitations are being extended to relatives of those who fought in the 1916 Easter Rising for the Government's celebratory events; the way relatives can become involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7679/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI, together with my Government colleagues, am committed to ensuring that the commemorations to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising will be inclusive, appropriate and respectful. The relatives of those who fought and those who died during the Rising will play a key role in the Ireland 2016 programme and I am actively engaging with them to ensure that will have a central involvement in a number of key State events. I have met with a number of relatives, including representatives of relatives’ groups and individual relatives, to highlight the important role that they will have in the plans to commemorate the centenary of the events of Easter 1916.
I have established a 2016 Project Office within my Department, tasked with co-ordinating all activities relating to the commemoration of 1916. The relevant officials are now liaising with the Department of Defence in relation to matters regarding relatives, including the compilation of lists in this regard for the official events that are to be organised to commemorate the centenary of 1916. The Project Office may be contacted at 2016projectoffice@ahg.gov.ie.
I am also working with the Oireachtas All-Party Consultation Group on Commemorations, the Expert Advisory Group and a wide range of stakeholders to seek to ensure that the events of Easter 2016 are a special and poignant tribute to all those involved.
637. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when her Department will issue payment for a replacement crane on a boat (details supplied); the reason for the long delay in issuing this payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7829/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not approved any payment in this case. This decision was communicated to the claimant in 2009 and again in 2013, following a review of the case.
638. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding available to restore thatched cottages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7953/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not administer a funding scheme specifically for thatched structures. However, the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government administers a grant scheme for the renewal or repair of thatched roofs of owner occupied houses. I refer the Deputy to that Department for details of eligibility criteria for that scheme.
A number of State financial supports provide for the conservation and preservation of heritage structures in general. On 9 February last, I announced an allocation of €624,000 for the Structures at Risk Fund 2015, to enable conservation works to heritage structures, in both private and public ownership, which are protected under the Planning and Development Acts 2000, as amended, and are deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration. This Fund, which will be administered through the local authorities, encourages the regeneration and reuse of heritage properties and helps to secure the preservation of protected structures, which might otherwise be lost. The Fund is open to two applications per local authority, of which only one application may be in respect of a publicly-owned building. The amount of funding available per project will be subject to a minimum level of €15,000 and a maximum level of €60,000. Final details of projects funded will be made available once all applications are received by the local authorities and assessed by my Department. Since 2011, over 100 structures have been safeguarded for the future as a result of the Structures at Risk Fund.
The Heritage Council, which my Department also funds, is administering a community-based heritage grants scheme for the protection and preservation of the built heritage. I understand that applications are open until 20 March 2015 for the scheme. The Heritage Council’s website is www.heritagecouncil.ie.
In addition, as part of an Architectural Advice Series, my Department plans to publish an advice book on thatching this year, which will include practical advice and guidance on aspects of conserving and restoring thatched structures.
639. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has sought the advice of the Attorney General on the constitutionality of her actions to comply with hen harrier designation, in view of the fact that as a result of her designation these farms have become worthless, as there is an opinion that without proper compensation, there is a breach of their constitutional rights to private property. [7987/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland, like all EU Member States, is bound by the requirements of the Birds and Habitats Directives. This is a legal obligation and a number of EU Member States, including Ireland, have been subject to adverse judgements of the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) in relation to failures to fully comply with the Directives.
The Hen Harrier was a key issue in the judgment of the CJEU in 2007 against Ireland in the “Birds Case” for failure to provide adequate protection for wild birds. In that context, Ireland designated six Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for the conservation of the Hen Harrier in 2007. This case remains open, with the continuing possibility of reputational damage and fines being imposed on Ireland if it is not seen to be in compliance with the judgment.
The designation of land under the Directives has been tested in the Irish courts on a number of occasions. While the nomination of a site for designation as an SPA or Special Area of Conservation (SAC) may have an impact on the manner in which certain lands may be farmed, the designation does not mean that the lands are subject to blanket restrictions, although they must be managed appropriately.
There is significant funding available via the Basic Payment Scheme and agri environment schemes (operated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) to assist farmers in meeting the requirements of the Birds and Habitats Directives. Participation in the Basic Payment scheme requires farmers to abide by the statutory requirements relating to Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation. Furthermore, my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine announced this week that he was extending GLAS+ to all farms identified as habitats of endangered birds, including the hen harrier. This means that all such farmers will be able receive up to €7,000 a year, if the area they have to manage is large enough.
My Department, in partnership with other stakeholders, is working on a Threat Response Plan, which is intended to improve the prospects for the Hen Harrier, while bringing clarity to wider issues of concern for landowners and farmers. It is intended to examine all issues at hand, including forestry consents, planning permissions for wind farms and financial supports for farmers, with a view to determining the appropriate course of further action. The Threat Response Plan will be key in ensuring the long-term conservation of the Hen Harrier.
640. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the fact that her Department and an agency under its aegis, (details supplied), have recently been forced to abandon involvement in a major European online collections project, resulting in significant financial and reputational loss, and the necessity to return funds drawn down; if she has ordered an investigation into the reasons for the failure of this project; her views that it should be referred to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8186/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhilst my Department provides funding to the agency referred to by the Deputy, the board and executive of that body are responsible for all operational matters and I have no direct function in that regard.
My Department has had no direct involvement in the project referred to. However, my Department has been advised by the body in question that it has decided to withdraw from an EU-funded programme to provide content for an EU web-based project. As the body is not participating further in the programme, funding already allocated will be repaid to the extent required. The body has indicated its view that the work which it carried out on the project to date will be of benefit to it and that no financial or reputational damage will result.
641. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the contact her Department has had with Kildare County Council in relation to works required at a location classed as a national monument (details supplied) in County Kildare; if her Department will support these works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8217/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to notice given to my Department under the National Monuments Acts, Kildare County Council was informed on 25 August 2014 that, apart from a small number of sites that did not include the specific location referred to by the Deputy, there was no objection to the Council’s proposals to carry out a series of works to graveyards around the county.
