Written Answers Nos. 1032 - 1052
1035. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied with the operation of punitive parking clamping mechanisms in train stations operated by Iarnród Éireann where the clamping release fee is €120, when annual parking charges are €170, particularly in the context of a number of workers who have lost their jobs and are working reduced hours and not a full week. [20363/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for Iarnród 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 response within ten working days.
1036. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of all official foreign trips he and Ministers of State in his Department plan to take between now and the end of 2015; if he will provide details of whom he and the Ministers of State in his Department will be meeting on these trips; the purpose of these trips; the duration of these trips; his plans to use all of these trips to promote Ireland as a good place for doing business and as a destination for foreign direct investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20448/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraCurrently, I have one official foreign engagement confirmed in 2015, to attend a European Transport Council meeting in Luxembourg on 11 June. Ministers Ring and Phelan currently have no overseas engagements scheduled between now and the end of 2015.
The Deputy will appreciate that foreign travel can be for a range of business reasons, including attendance at EU Council meetings, missions to promote tourism and bilateral engagement with Ministers of other Governments. It is likely that further 2015 engagements for these purposes will be confirmed in due course.
1037. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding an application for a sports capital grant in respect of a care centre (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20510/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation referred to by the Deputy under the 2015 Sports Capital Programme and the Deputy's support for the project is noted.
I expect to announce allocations later this year.
1038. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the fact that a total of €75 million remains outstanding from previous rounds of the sports capital programme and from special allocations, if he will provide, in tabular form, the amount outstanding for applications from each local authority area; and the contact or discussions he has had with each local authority on the matter. [20535/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding outstanding from previous rounds of the Sports Capital Programme, on a county by county basis, will be provided to the Deputy under separate cover. Information of this type is retained on a county basis, and not in the manner sought by the Deputy. I wrote to all Local Authorities last year seeking an update on the status of their projects and reminding them of the need to draw down grants as soon as possible. However, this correspondence only related to allocations where the local authorities were the actual grantees.
1039. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount that the Dublin Airport Authority and Tourism Ireland spent in 2012, 2013 and 2014 on marketing new routes into Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20557/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe matter to which the Deputy refers is an operational matter for daa and Tourism Ireland. I have forwarded the Deputy's question to daa and Tourism Ireland in order for them to reply directly. If the Deputy does not receive a direct reply within ten working days, please advise my Private Office.
1040. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when decisions will issue on sports capital grants for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20591/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI expect to announce allocations later this year.
1041. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding issues raised by the Vintage Veteran Trucks Association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20594/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am conscious of the concerns that are felt by vintage and veteran vehicle enthusiasts about possible changes to the requriements for roadworthiness testing of vintage vehicles.
The prospect of legislative change arises from EU legislation, specifically Directive 2014/45/EU, which must be transposed into national law by May, 2017 though the measures arising from it will not come into effect until May, 2018.
Given the pressures of other work in my Department, this matter will be dealt with later in 2015.
1042. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the existing penalty points on a person's driving licence (details supplied) in County Kerry should have expired, due to the fact that the relevant person was given these points in 2007 and emigrated from 2011 to 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20611/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for 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 is not received within 10 days.
1043. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding a sports capital grant in respect of a rural track (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20643/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation referred to by the Deputy under the 2015 Sports Capital Programme and the Deputy's support for the project is noted.
I expect to announce allocations later this year.
1044. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided to a sports club (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20818/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation referred to by the Deputy under the 2015 Sports Capital Programme and the Deputy's support for the project is noted.
I expect to announce allocations later this year.
1045. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the usage statistics for the individual bike stations of the Galway bike scheme are available; and the frequency with which the statistics are collected. [20852/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra1046. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the process that is followed, and the parties involved, in the expansion of bike rental schemes; the way new locations are selected; and if Government funding will be available for funding expansion. [20853/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1045 and 1046 together.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the administration and expansion of the Public Bikes Scheme in Dublin and the regional cities of Galway, Limerick and Cork in cooperation with the relevant authorities.
I have forwarded your questions in relation to statistics and the expansion of the scheme to the NTA for attention. If you have not received a response within 10 working days please contact my private office.
1047. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of public and civil servants who were recruited under the aegis of his Department in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21115/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra1048. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of public and civil servants under the aegis of his Department who were seconded abroad or to another Department in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21133/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1047 and 1048 together.
A total of fifteen staff were seconded out of my Department during 2014. Five of the fifteen were seconded to the Department of Foreign Affairs to serve in the Permanent Representation Office to the European Union in Brussels, Belgium.
During 2014 six new staff were recruited to my Department. Four of the six were to grades of a safety critical nature and the two remaining were to identified specialist skills grades.
In relation to the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department I have asked the agencies to provide the Deputy with the information requested. If you do not receive a reply from the agencies within ten working days please advise my private office.
1049. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of public servants under the aegis of his Department who retired in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21151/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra18 civil servants retired from my Department in 2014. I have asked the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department to provide the Deputy with the information requested for the number of public servants who retired in 2014. If you do not receive a reply from the agencies within 10 working days please advise my private office.
1050. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a decision will be made on an urgent application by Galway County Council in respect of urgent works required on the road near the pier at Cill Mhuirbhigh, Árainn, Contae na Gaillimhe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19849/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that works on this road are a matter for Galway County Council and my Department understands from the Council that it is intended to have the works in question carried out as soon as possible.
1051. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19872/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe scope to provide funding for the area referred to by the Deputy is constrained by the recent economic difficulties and the significant reduction in the public finances.
However, funding for this area will continue to be provided by my Department, from within the available resources, via a number of schemes, which will be either directly administered or delivered through local authorities and certain agencies. In general, it is a matter for such agencies to decide how the available funding should be allocated across their range of programmes and over future years, having regard to competing priorities for limited resources.
1052. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on progress pertaining to action 152 under the Action Plan for Jobs to establish an expert group to examine and report on recommendations to increase foreign and domestic investment in Ireland’s film and television sound stage studio infrastructure, in the face of growing demand for audio-visual content across multiple platforms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20099/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Interdepartmental Group comprising officials from my Department and other relevant Departments and Agencies has been established to examine and report on recommendations to increase foreign and domestic investment in Ireland’s film and TV sound stage studio infrastructure in the face of growing demand for audio-visual content across multiple platforms. This builds on the process commenced last year by the Irish Film Board who sought expressions of interest in this regard.
The Group has met on a number of occasions since its first meeting in January of this year and its work is on-going.
