Written Answers Nos. 484-500
484. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when an outstanding sports capital grant will issue to a club (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16531/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is a requirement of my Department that all legal formalities are completed before formal approval can issue and a grant be paid. The Chief State Solicitor's Office is currently working on this matter and formal approval will issue once confirmation is received that the legal formalities are completed.
486. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied with the number of references made to Cork Airport in the current draft national aviation plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16539/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Draft National Aviation Plan (NAP), which is now at an advanced stage, will be published in the near future. The draft Policy essentially recognises the importance of the aviation sector to Ireland and to economic recovery and growth. The Policy is designed to facilitate the expansion of the aviation industry, help make it more competitive, tackle barriers to growth and facilitate the development of new air transport links. It contains specific provisions for each of the State Airports including Cork. It restates Government Policy in relation to Cork and recognises Cork Airport's role as a key tourism and business gateway for that region, as well as its strategic importance, serving Ireland's second city and its hinterland, as well as identifying the potential for the airport to stabilise and grow traffic.
I am very much of the view that the policies identified in the NAP and the recently published National Tourism Policy will create the conditions necessary to complement and assist the work of Cork Airport as it strives to reverse the decline in recent years in passenger numbers at the Airport. The NAP will however make it clear, that it is a matter for the daa and Cork Airport management to stabilise and to grow traffic. Therefore, I expect that the opportunities provided in these Plans will be fully exploited by them.
487. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider the inclusion of the return of a Cork-Dublin air route as part of any negotiations with International Airlines Group ahead of any potential sale of the State's share in Aer Lingus. [16540/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I have stated recently the Government's Inter-Departmental Steering Group and its advisers have had further engagement with International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) in relation to its proposal to make an offer for Aer Lingus over recent weeks. Connectivity has featured in these discussions, including connectivity at Cork Airport. However, a return of the Cork Dublin route would be a matter for the airlines themselves to decide on.
The most recent Cork Dublin air service was operated by Ryanair as a Public Service Obligation (PSO) route. The criteria for establishing a Public Service Obligation (PSO) air services route are set out in EU Regulation No. 1008/2008. A proposal to re-establish PSO air services on the Cork-Dublin route at this time would not meet those criteria.
488. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware that there is a ten-week waiting period for a person waiting to book a national car test online in Portlaoise, County Laois. [16544/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra494. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide the current waiting list for national car tests in each centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16708/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra500. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details, in tabular form and by national car test centre, of the number of persons waiting for a test and the maximum waiting time at each centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16721/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 488, 494 and 500 together.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight and delivery of the National Car Test and as such, statistics relating to NCT waiting times at test centres in general, or in a particular test centre, are a matter for the Authority.
I have therefore referred each of these Questions to the RSA for direct reply to the Deputies. Please advise my Office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
489. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will engage with the National Transport Authority to ensure there are no further fare hikes on public bus, rail and Luas commuter services in the greater Dublin area, in view of the fact that increases of 42% have been imposed since 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16508/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
490. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason an agent for Bus Éireann (details supplied) in County Carlow, who provides ticket information and toilet facilities, has not received any payment from the company for the past 15 years. [16593/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for Bus Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
491. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his proposals to introduce legislation to allow local authorities introduce a 20 km/h speed limit in their functional areas, especially in housing estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16611/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, I have accepted the principle of adding a 20 km/h speed limit to the existing list of Special Speed limits provided for in section 9 of the Road Traffic Act 2004. This will be provided for in the forthcoming Road Traffic Bill 2015 which I hope to publish in the Summer with a view to enactment by year end.
The General Scheme of this Bill is currently subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications and I look forward to the outcome of its deliberations.
492. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of all payments which will be made to directors and senior management in the event of the sale of Aer Lingus to the International Airlines Group. [16671/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraRemuneration matters in Aer Lingus are a matter for the Board of Aer Lingus.
Aer Lingus provides in its Annual Report and Accounts a statement of its remuneration policy and a statement of the total remuneration for each director for the relevant period. The latest such report, available on Aer Lingus' website, relates to 2014 and provides details of payments pursuant to the company's Performance Related Pay Scheme and share awards pursuant to the terms of the Aer Lingus Long Term Incentive Plan ("LTIP").
As Aer Lingus is a publicly listed company, if IAG does make a formal offer for Aer Lingus, the Irish Takeover Panel's Takeover Rules would require that details of the directors' interests in Aer Lingus and in the outcome of the offer will be made public.
If IAG were to agree any form of incentivisation arrangement or proposal with Aer Lingus management, the Irish Takeover Rules would also require that details of such arrangements or proposals would be fully disclosed in the offer document and that an independent adviser to Aer Lingus would be required to state publicly that in its opinion the arrangements or proposals are fair and reasonable.
493. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration will be given to introducing a concept passport for issue to tourists who visit the Wild Atlantic Way, which could be stamped by the various amenity providers along the route, incentivising visitors to complete the journey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16702/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe role of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national policy. The development of the Wild Atlantic Way is an operational matter for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland. The Department is not directly involved in its development or promotion. Accordingly, I have asked Fáilte Ireland to reply to the Deputy directly in this regard. Please contact my private office if you do not hear from them within ten working days.
495. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a park and ride facility has been considered for the Broombridge end of the Luas cross-city project; if it was subsequently rejected, the reason for such rejection, with appropriate costings and-or a cost-benefit analysis; and, if it has not been considered, the reason for same. [16711/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including Luas light rail projects and park & ride facilities.
Noting this 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 10 working days.
496. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will acknowledge the possible need to amend section 47 of the Road Traffic Act of 2004, as inserted by section 11, to take account of a person's actual speed when applying fines and penalty points for driving in excess of speed limits; his views on whether, for a fairer and more transparent system, stricter fines and penalty point allocations should apply to a person who breaks speed limits in excess of 20 km/h, in comparison with a person who is 2 km/h to 3 km/h over the speed limit, as one is causing far greater risk to road safety and disregard to the laws than the other; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16712/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraOne of the main causes of road crashes on Irish roads is excessive and inappropriate speed. My Department, in conjunction with the Road Safety Authority, An Garda Síochána and other stakeholders, is continuing to examine this area to identify measures that can be taken to bring about future reductions in fatalities and serious injuries.
The main goal of the penalty point system is to make drivers more aware of unsafe driving behaviour and by doing so, improve that behaviour. Under current legislation, in addition to the imposition of a fine and the allocation of penalty points for speeding, an option exists for An Garda Síochána to prosecute an individual for dangerous driving where their speed is or is likely to be dangerous to the public. I have no plans in the near future to change the current system in relation to speeding offences, although I will keep the Deputy's suggestion in mind when the penalty point offences are next reviewed.
497. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of current rush hour traffic flows through Phibsboro, Dublin 7; future projections of same under various scenarios, including the completion of the Luas cross-city project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16713/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including Luas light rail projects. In addition, the principal functions of the Authority include the effective management of both traffic and transport demand in the GDA.
Noting this 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 10 working days.
498. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when it was decided to downgrade the N4 at Palmerstown, Dublin 20, to regional road status from national road status, by way of statutory instrument. [16716/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 10 of the Roads Act 1993 as amended by the Roads Act 2007 provides for the classification of national, regional and local roads.
As part of the 2012 roads classification review, all national roads within the M50 were re-classified to regional road status to reflect their changed role in the overall road network. Among other things, part of the old National Route 4 between its junction with O'Connell Bridge and its junction with the M50 at Palmerstown Upper was classified as a regional road. The Roads Act 1993 (Classification of Regional Roads) Order 2012 (S.I. No. 54 of 2012) refers.
499. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason Adare, County Limerick does not have a Fáilte Ireland tourism office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16720/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraArrangements for the provision of Tourist Information are an operational matter for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to them for further information and direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
