Written Answers Nos. 585-600
585. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the plans and capital funding his Department and-or Fáilte Ireland have committed for developing Elizabeth Fort as a key piece of Cork city's tourism infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10218/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile my Department provides the capital funding for investment in tourism it is not directly involved in developing individual tourism projects. The matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the board and management of 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 ten days.
587. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the development of a national aviation policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10222/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraA National Aviation Policy is currently being finalised following extensive consultation and will be published in due course. This will address all aspects of aviation policy from safety, security and economic regulation to ensuring future connectivity for the State. The policy will also contain a section dealing with Irish airlines and competition in the industry.
588. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to ensure all public transport services are put out to tender; if it will be covered by the free travel scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5023/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no plans to put all public transport services to tender.
The Deputy may be referring to the planned tendering for the operation of a small proportion of publicly-subvented bus services. This issue is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
589. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that no new hackney or small public service vehicle licences are being awarded in counties Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo, despite a low number of existing licences. [10249/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulation of the small public service vehicle sector, including the issuing of rural hackney and SPSV licences is a matter for the National Transport Authority under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.
I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
590. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of rural hackney licences that have been awarded to date; the number of applications received; and the number that are currently being processed. [10250/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulation of the small public service vehicle sector including the issue of rural hackney licences is a matter for the National Transport Authority under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
591. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the problems in rural communities due to the lack of small public service vehicle or hackney licences at present and the prohibitive nature of the rural hackney licence, which is not suitable to fill the gap caused by this. [10251/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulation of the small public service vehicle sector including the issue of rural hackney licences is a matter for the National Transport Authority under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
592. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on amending current driver licensing regulations for holders of foreign licences, in particular holders of full US licences who, on being resident here for more than 12 months, are required to sit and pass theory and practical driving examinations in addition to taking 12 driving lessons before they can be issued with a full Irish licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10252/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIrish driver licensing law operates within a framework of EU legislation, which sets driver licensing standards for Member States. As such, we have arrangements for reciprocal exchange of driving licences with all other Member States.
In the case of non-EU states, we can establish bilateral agreements on mutual recognition of driving licences. Reaching these agreements is not a simple process, and involves detailed consideration of the two licensing regimes by the licensing authorities in each jurisdiction, in order for both sides to be sure that the two systems are compatible.
Where we do not have an EU or bilateral basis for recognition of foreign driving qualifications, people taking up residence in Ireland are by definition treated as learners, and required to undergo the same lessons and tests as other learners. They are, however, exempt from the normal requirement to spend six months as a learner before taking the test.
In the case of the US, driver licensing operates at State rather than Federal level. There is therefore a wide variety of licensing systems with widely varying standards, and broad based mutual recognition is not possible.
The system of driver licensing exists to ensure a set standard of driving on our roads. Where we do not have mutual recognition of driver licensing, it is therefore appropriate that we should ask people to go through the learning process.
I realise that some of the people concerned may have very good track records driving in the US. However, the rules and circumstances are different here, and the requirement to take lessons and the opportunity to get practice before qualifying to drive here can only be beneficial from a road safety point of view.
593. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the plans for maintenance work at Dublin Airport which will mean prolonged alterations in runway use, particularly having noise pollution effects on the Clontarf, Dublin 3 area. [10272/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe matter which the Deputy refers to is an operational matter for DAA, which has statutory responsibility for the management, operation and development of Dublin Airport. I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the DAA in order for them to reply directly. If the Deputy does not receive a reply from the DAA within ten working days, please advise my Private Office.
594. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will engage with the National Transport Authority in ensuring there are no further fare hikes on public bus, rail and Luas commuter services in the greater Dublin area in view of the magnitude of increases that have been imposed since 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9928/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
595. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to deal with overcrowding on the DART during peak times; and if Irish Rail have sought more funding to provide more trains and carriages during peak times. [9875/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA), in conjunction with Irish Rail, and I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
597. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of drivers who surrendered their licences to the Road Safety Authority after being disqualified by the courts from driving for a long period after being found guilty of dangerous driving causing death in 2012, 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015; the number of drivers who applied to have their licences reinstated early; and the number of licences successfully reinstated early in 2012, 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015. [10282/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe matters referred to by the Deputy relate to statutory functions of the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred the Question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
598. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a refund will be provided to a person (details supplied) in County Louth who has been charged for non-attendance at a national car test given that the person did, in fact, attend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10286/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Road Safety Authority (RSA) has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight, development, quality assurance and delivery of the National Car Testing Service (NCTS).
I have therefore referred this Question to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
599. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) in County Kerry regarding a Bus Éireann service. [10297/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra604. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if additional train services to County Kerry will be provided at specific time periods (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10434/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 599 and 604 together.
The issues raised are matters for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with the transport providers and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
600. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding employment opportunities for drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10377/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no responsibility in this matter. The hiring practices of private companies are entirely matters for themselves.
