Written Answers Nos. 1170-1189
1170. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin den Aire Iompair, Turasóireachta agus Spóirt an bhfuil aon choinníoll teanga curtha ag gabháil aige leis an socrú i dtaobh na scaireanna in Aer Lingus a dhíol; an bhfuil súil ar bith aige a leithéid a bheith ann i bhfianaise a stádais mar aerlíne náisiúnta a bhaineann úsáid as méid áirithe Gaeilge mar atá; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [21600/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraNíl aon riachtanas ar Aer Lingus Gaeilge a úsáid faoi láthair, mar sin níl díolachán scairsheilbh na stáit ábhartha. Tá sé curtha in iúl ag IAG nach mbeidh aon athrú ar bhranda agus aitheantas Aer Lingus agus fanfaidh sé ina aerlíne Éireannach. Ar an mbonn sin, ní fheicim aon fáth go mbeadh athrú ar usáid Gaeilge na haerlíne.
1171. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions he and his Department have taken since 4 December 2014, when he replied to a parliamentary question highlighting the extraordinary high levels of safety inspection failures of vehicles either operated by Bus Éireann or its sub-contractors in the school transport scheme, to ensure 100% of vehicles are at all times 100% safety compliant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21615/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile the Road Safety Authority and the Garda have responsibilities in relation to the enforcement of compliance, it is the vehicle owners and operators themselves, including Bus Éireann and their sub contractors, who are responsible for ensuring that their vehicles are compliant with the law. This includes obligations regarding the inspection and maintenance of commercial vehicles. I have therefore referred the Deputy's Question to Bus Éireann for direct reply. The Deputy should advise my Office if he does not receive a reply within ten working days.
1172. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a list of the bus routes being put out to open competition; and his plans for the way the proposed privatisation of these services will affect those availing of the free travel scheme. [21633/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe proposed tendering of a portion of PSO bus routes currently operated by Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA), who also have to liaise with the Department of Social Protection on issues related to the administration of the Free Travel Scheme. I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. The Deputy should advise my private office if she does not receive a response within ten working days.
1173. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if two sections of a road (details supplied) will be prioritised for re-alignment works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21747/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and 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. Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects (including schemes on the N70) is a matter in the first instance for the NRA in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NRA for direct reply. The Deputy should advise my private office if he does not receive a reply within ten working days.
1174. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding Aer Lingus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21813/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra1186. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the Government's decision to dispose of the 25% share holding in Aer Lingus to the International Airlines Group, his views on a minimum of 25% of the proceeds from this sale being made available to the deferred and active pensioners of the Irish airlines (general employees) superannuation scheme. [22494/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1174 and 1186 together.
An agreed solution was implemented at the start of this year to address Aer Lingus' pension funding problems. This agreed solution is a matter for the Trustee, the companies participating in the scheme, the scheme members and the Pensions Authority.
Under the agreed solution the total contribution proposed by the IASS employers aimed at resolving the IASS difficulties amounts to over €260 million. This included almost €20 million in extra funding proposed by the employers in addition to the €40 million already being made available for deferred members, bringing the full amount for this group to €60 million.
The IASS Trustee has confirmed that these measures are in the overall best interest of the members of the IASS as a whole. The agreed solution will continue to be implemented in compliance with National and EU law irrespective of the ownership of Aer Lingus.
I am very conscious of the difficulties these necessary changes cause for many scheme members, but the risks that would have arisen for all members, the companies involved and the wider economy if this solution had not been implemented were even greater.
Any proceeds from the sale of the State's minority shareholding in Aer Lingus will be paid into the Exchequer and the Government has indicated that such proceeds should be used to establish a new 'Connectivity fund', as a sub-portfolio of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF). There is no question of Exchequer funding being made available to supplement the agreed Aer Lingus pension funding solution that is in place.
1175. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration will be given to residents in County Dublin regarding a noise pollution matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21991/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra1180. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding recent noise problems from airplanes at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22137/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1175 and 1180 together.
The management of noise abatement of operational procedures at Dublin Airport is shared by the airport operator, the daa, and the airlines operating at the airport. Under the European Communities (Air Navigation and Transport Rules and Procedures for Noise Related Operating Restrictions at Airports Regulations 2003), the Irish Aviation Authority has the responsibility of ensuring that the airport operator has in place a system of noise monitoring.
I understand that in recognition of its responsibilities in this area, the daa operates a number of initiatives to monitor aircraft noise levels and to mitigate their impact. A flight tracking system is operated that allows aircraft movements to be analysed and to respond to any complaints relating to aircraft noise. Specifically, the primary objective of the Noise and Flight Track Department of the daa is to gather information on aircraft approach and departure routes and resultant noise levels at a number of key locations.
The development of a second parallel runway at Dublin Airport is a matter for consideration under planning legislation.
1176. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the procedures the Road Safety Authority has in place to enable Irish driver licence holders who are outside the State to renew or replace their driver licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21996/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIrish driver licensing law operates within a framework of EU law. This stipulates that driving licences may be issued only to people ordinarily resident in the jurisdiction. People who are ordinarily resident in Ireland but are abroad for a fixed period for work or study may however continue to renew their Irish driver licences. Under changes to the driver licence Regulations introduced last year, those abroad for work or study do not need to appear in person at a centre of the National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) when making an application but can submit their application by post. Full details on how to apply for a driving licence can be found at www.ndls.ie.
1177. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 180 of 28 May 2015, if he will support? (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22003/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSubject to compliance with any general provisions and the details of any specific sanctions received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, recruitment processes by agencies is an operational matter for the agencies concerned, including Fáilte Ireland. I am referring the Deputy's question to the agency for direct reply, for any further appropriate information to add to that previously provided to him by Fáilte Ireland.
The roll-out of an employment and youth activation charter to which the details supplied refer is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection, under the Action Plan for Jobs 2015.
1178. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans regarding Ireland and the Canadian Province of Alberta, which may lead to the mutual recognition of driver licences in each jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22017/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIrish driver licensing law operates within a framework of EU legislation. On this basis we have mutual recognition for driver licence exchange with all other EU Member States. In the case of non-EU jurisdictions, we can reach bilateral agreements. It has been a matter of policy for some time to reach bilateral agreements of this kind with Canada. Arriving at such agreements can be a complex process, as it requires the licensing authorities on both sides to study the two systems and satisfy themselves that they are compatible. On the Irish side, this task is undertaken by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
As driver licensing in Canada operates at provincial rather than national level, we must reach separate agreements with each province. It was agreed from the start to prioritise agreement with Ontario, due to the large number of Irish residents there. I am happy to say that agreement was reached with Ontario and has been in operation since October 2014. A further agreement with Manitoba came into operation in May of 2015.
The RSA is continuing to work towards agreement with the other Canadian provinces, including Alberta. I understand that good progress is being made, but that it is not possible at this stage to give a date when further agreements will be in place.
1179. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the National Transport Authority plans to introduce a new grant scheme for wheelchair accessible taxis similar to the 2014 scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22019/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. I have referred this question to the NTA for direct reply to you. The Deputy should advise my private office if he does not receive a response within ten working days.
1181. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his Department's position on non-negligent motor accidents where liability cannot be assigned to any party; his plans for legislation to afford protection to persons injured in such accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22141/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 56 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 makes it compulsory for a person, other than an exempted person, driving a motorised vehicle to be covered by third party motor insurance. Third party claims against any insured driver have to be met by the insurer under the terms of the EU Motor Insurance Directives which have been transposed into law in Ireland.
Third party claims against an uninsured driver are the remit of the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland which is also subject to the terms of the EU Motor Insurance Directives. The Bureau operates under an Agreement with my Department, copies of which are available on their website at www.mibi.ie.
The issue of parties injured in the course of non-negligent motor vehicle collisions where liability cannot be assigned is a rare occurrence. My Department is consulting with the insurance industry in this matter and I will respond further to the Deputy shortly. I have no plans at present to introduce any new legislation in regard to this matter.
1182. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding a sports capital grant in respect of a group (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22206/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe club referred to by the Deputy submitted a valid application under the 2014 Sports Capital Programme. A total of 2,036 applications were received under the Programme seeking €160 million in funding. €40.5 million was allocated to 880 separate projects.
Given the level of demand for funding and the amount of funding available under the programme, it was unfortunately not possible to allocate grants to every eligible applicant.
It is noted that the club has submitted an application under the 2015 Sports Capital Programme.
1183. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will conduct a review of the Irish Rail ticketing system to ensure that all elderly and other vulnerable passengers who have purchased a ticket will be entitled to a seat during their journey, that all fare-paying passengers will be guaranteed a seat on inter-city journeys; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22292/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to both for direct reply. The Deputy should advise my private office if she does not receive a reply within ten working days.
1184. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to amend legislation to allow for the retrospective transfer of a taxi licence from one party to another in circumstances where the death occurred of the licence holder before special provisions were made in section 15 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013, effective from 6 April 2014, and after the publication of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011, which recommended the introduction of a licence transfer scheme, in view of the fact this would apply to a very small number of cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22382/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe principle underlying the prohibition on the transfer of a small public service vehicle (SPSV) licence, recommended by the Taxi Regulation Review 2011, is that a licence should determine a person's suitability to carry out a function and it should have no monetary value or be traded on the open market. The prohibition provided for in section 14 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 addressed an anomaly whereby SPSV licences issued after January 2009 were non-transferable while licences issued prior to that date could be transferred once. The prohibition took effect from 6 April 2014 when the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 was commenced.
In the event of the death of a SPSV licence holder as a consequence of the provisions of section 14, the SPSV licence would stand revoked. Therefore special provisions were made in section 15 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 in relation to the death of a SPSV licence holder. They provide that an applicant for a licence or the holder of a licence may nominate a person as his or her representative who may apply to the National Transport Authority to continue to operate the licence in the event of his or her death. In the event of the death of the licence holder, his or her nominated representative may, within three months of the death of the licence holder, make an application to the National Transport Authority to continue to operate the licence until its expiry.
I therefore do not propose to amend the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 in relation to the prohibition on transfer of SPSV licences.
1185. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he expects to be in a position to reverse the curtailment of the specific improvement grant scheme to allow local authorities carry out improvement works on local and regional roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22403/15]
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. It is important to state that the role of Exchequer grants for regional and local roads is to supplement Councils like Mayo County Council in their own resources spending this area. While Councils could apply in the past for grant funding for certain road improvement projects, budgetary constraints mean that the Specific Improvement Grants Scheme has been curtailed in order to maximise the funding available for repair and strengthening work of the road network.
The current financial realities are such that the budgets proposed for my Department for 2016 and 2017 indicate that capital funding will continue to be very tight, and the ability to increase allocations or progress new projects is limited. It is, of course, open to Mayo County Council to fund such projects from its own resources.
1187. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sí i gceist ag an Rialtas a iarraidh ar an Aontas Eorpach deireadh a chur in 2017 leis an maolú ar úsáid na Gaeilge san Aontas Eorpach chun go mbeidh aitheantas iomlán á thabhairt don Ghaeilge sna hinstitiúidí Eorpacha; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [21531/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraBronnadh stádas iomlán mar theanga oifigiúil agus oibre ar an nGaeilge san Aontas Eorpach ón 1 Eanáir 2007 faoi Rialachán 920/2005. Bhí páirtmhaolú san áireamh sa Rialachán a bhí le hathbhreithniú gach cúig bliana agus an chéad tréimhse le leanúint go dtí an 31 Nollaig 2011. Mar thoradh ar athbhreithniú, cuireadh síneadh leis an bpáirtmhaolú don dara tréimhse go dtí an 31 Nollaig 2016 faoi Rialachán 1257/2010. Faoi théarmaí an mhaolaithe atá in áit ó 2007, ní gá ach reachtaíocht a nglactar léi faoin ngnáthnós imeachta reachtach (an nós imeachta comhchinnteoireachta a bhí ann roimhe seo) a aistriú go Gaeilge.
Chun na hamlínte riachtanacha a bhaint amach, tá cinneadh de dhíth ón Rialtas in 2015 ar an gcur chuige optamach i leith an mhaolaithe. Ina dhiaidh sin, déanfaidh Comhairle an Aontais Eorpaigh athbhreithniú ar fheidhmiú an mhaolaithe. Tá cinneadh d'aon ghuth de dhíth ón gComhairle roimh dheireadh 2015 maidir le síneadh a chur leis an maolú, é a leasú nó deireadh a chur leis. Chuirfí an gníomh a bheadh aontaithe ag an gComhairle i bhfeidhm ansin ón 1 Eanáir 2017.
Tá oifigigh ó mo Roinnse agus ó Roinn an Taoisigh ag plé go gníomhach le hinstitiúidí an AE agus le páirtithe ábhartha leasmhara eile le tamall anuas chun an cur chuige is fearr i leith an mhaolaithe a cheapadh. Sa chomhthéacs sin, tá na seirbhísí reachtacha agus neamhreachtacha atá á gcur ar fáil faoi láthair i nGaeilge, agus an fhéidearthacht maidir le síneadh a chur leis na seirbhísí seo, á mbreithniú faoi láthair. Ta réamhobair ar dhréacht-Rialachán ar bun sula gcuirfear dréachtmheamram faoi bhráid an Rialtais.
Ó thaobh cúrsaí lóistíochta agus cúrsaí clú, ní mór a nótáil go mbreathnaítear ar an gcur chuige atá glactha ag Éirinn maidir leis an maolú mar fhreagra cothrom agus réasúnach a mbeidh aird aige ar thosca agus ar dhúshláin reatha, go háirithe ó thaobh ceisteanna mar earcú tráthúil an phearsanra a theastaíonn agus úsáid iarbhír na Gaeilge in institiúidí an AE.
1188. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding that is available from her Department to carry out restoration works to the court house-market house in Castleblayney, County Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21595/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 1055 and 1056 on 26 May, 2015.
1189. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding that was provided to Monaghan County Council for protected structures by her Department in each year since 2010; when such funding was provided; the amount of funding that was provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21597/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht was established on the 1 June 2011. In 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015 my Department operated a Structures at Risk Fund to assist with works to safeguard structures protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, where an urgent need for works to such structures had arisen and had been demonstrated. In 2014 my Department was provided with a special allocation of €5m Capital Stimulus funding for a new Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme to assist with works to safeguard protected structures, in private and civic ownership, protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Both of these schemes were administered by local authorities. My Department also provided funding for conservation works to heritage structures in State care in 2014 and previous years. This funding supported works to structures both under the management of the Office of Public Works and in local authority ownership or management. In this context, my Department has provided the following funding to Monaghan County Council as set out in the table below:
|
Year |
Programme |
Amount Funded |
|
2011 |
Structures at Risk Fund |
0 |
|
2012 |
Structures at Risk Fund |
0 |
|
2013 |
Structures at Risk Fund |
0 |
|
2014 |
Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme |
€103,658 |
|
2015 |
Structures at Risk Fund |
€40,000 |
|
Total |
€143,658 |
