Written Answers Nos. 1160-1176
1160. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of requests made in 2015 to date by the United States of America for permits to transport munitions through Shannon Airport under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973. [37392/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUp to 31 October 2015 airlines from the United States made 252 requests to my Department for permits to transport munitions through Shannon Airport under the Air Navigation and Transport Act (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973. In all cases these requests related to the unloaded personal weapons of the troops on board the aircraft.
1161. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the arrangements the Taxi Regulator has in place for communicating with taxi operators who have literacy issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37397/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulation of the small public service vehicle industry is the responsibility of the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. I have therefore referred your question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
1162. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the consolidation of the Road Traffic Acts will begin; the expected completion date, given reports that his Department has confirmed that legislation dating back to the 1960s will be consolidated; if this will be completed before the Government's term ends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37480/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently working on a Road Traffic Bill 2015 with the intention of enacting it before the end of the year. It is being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel at present. This is the current priority in road traffic legislation, and will be dealt with before work on a consolidation can begin.
After the passage of the 2015 Bill, my Department will begin examining the process of consolidation. This will, as a first step, involve a scoping exercise to estimate what is necessary, how much time will be required, and what resources will need to be allocated to the project as the legislation in this area has become extremely complex.
Consolidation will require more than passage of the legislation as it currently stands in a single Act. It will entail careful review of the legislation being consolidated in order to identify points where it can be clarified, simplified and improved. A project of this kind will require time and resources, and is expected to take a number of years to complete, as for example has been the case with the Companies Acts and the Finance Acts previously. It is not practical, realistic or possible that such a consolidation could or would be completed before the Government's end of term.
1163. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps that Tourism Ireland is taking in the print media in Canada to promote tourism to Ireland over the winter months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37496/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is an operational matter for Tourism Ireland and one in which I, as Minister, have no role or function. Tourism Ireland is responsible for promoting the island of Ireland overseas as a visitor destination. I have referred the Deputy's Question to Tourism Ireland for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
1164. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the rising costs of motor insurance for private vehicles and for taxis, with many motorists experiencing increases of around 100% in the past year, particularly customers of a company (details supplied); and his plans to keep motor insurance costs at a reasonable rate, which does not unfairly increase the cost of operating a vehicle. [37437/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the context of increasing motor insurance premium costs, my Department is not responsible for oversight (including the regulation, consumer protection etc) of the insurance sector. It falls under the remit of the Minister for Finance. In addition, the National Competitiveness Council, which is serviced by the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation has recently carried out some analysis of insurance costs, which is included in its Costs of Doing Business 2015 report
(http://www.competitiveness.ie/Publications/2015/24022045-Costs_of_Doing_Business_in_Ireland-Publication.pdf), noted by the Cabinet Committee earlier this year. Furthermore, the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation has responsibility for the Injuries Board, which is one of the few mechanisms the Government uses/can use in relation to the cost of motor insurance (the Injuries Board has had the effect of reducing the processing cost of claims).
1165. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of a request made to the Office of Public Works by the Road Safety Authority for a compound site to be made available in the north Dublin area to carry out driving tests and facilitate lessons for learner drivers, and the rationale for this request, if it is being pursued. [37438/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is an operational matter between the Road Safety Authority and the Office of Public Works. I have referred the Deputy's questions to the Road Safety Authority for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
1166. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the ongoing issue of high volumes of learner drivers concentrated in certain estates, such as an area (details supplied) in Dublin 11, where at least 12 tests per day are carried out, as well as up to 68 approved driving instructors using the area for their lessons every day. [37439/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraDriving instructors may give lessons on public roads (with the exception of motorways, where learner drivers are not permitted), and I have no power to regulate which roads they may choose to use.
In the matter of driving tests, these also take place on public roads, other than motorways, and there are no powers for limiting the particular areas used. The operation of the driver testing service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and the Deputy may wish to raise his concerns with it.
1167. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on security inspections of aircraft which traditionally were carried out by his Department's inspectors but passed to the Irish Aviation Authority in 2013, in terms of whether any departmental oversight occurs; the number of such inspections that were carried out; if any payments were made by the authority to his Department during this time; and the basis on which the moneys were paid. [37522/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAviation security at Irish and other EU airports is governed by EU Regulation, specifically Council Regulation (EC) 300/2008 and Commission Regulation (EU) 185/2010. These Regulations are legally binding and are fully reflected in the National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP) for which my Department has responsibility.
Under S.I. 551/2012, the IAA is responsible for monitoring compliance by operators for the purposes of the EU Regulations. Regulation 300/2008 requires each Member State to submit to the Commission, on an annual basis, a report of the compliance monitoring activities conducted in the State. These reports are reviewed by the Commission in the context of its ongoing aviation security inspectorate compliance monitoring programme.
The IAA also reports on compliance monitoring to the National Civil Aviation Security Committee which is chaired by my Department and meets bi-annually at a minimum.
With regard to the number of inspections conducted in the period since the IAA took over responsibility for compliance monitoring, I have referred that question to the IAA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten days.
In relation to payments made by the IAA to the Department during this time, the IAA pays a policy-related cost in respect of the various activities of the Department related to the functions of the IAA, including the departmental staff and overhead costs of the security oversight functions.
1168. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are plans or proposals currently under consideration to extended the Wild Atlantic Way along the N69 to Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37562/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland. I have referred the Deputy's questions to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply. Please contact my private office if a response is not received within ten working days.
1169. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has given any direction to the Road Safety Authority and to national car test agencies to ensure that so-called clocking on cars and other vehicles will be prevented; his Department's estimate of the extent of this problem in the past five years; the legal measures in place to apprehend and punish the criminal elements behind this dangerous and grossly unfair practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37611/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 14 of the Road Traffic Act 2014, interference with the odometer of a mechanically propelled vehicle, otherwise known as 'clocking' is a criminal offence. The maximum penalty attaching to this offence on summary conviction is a class C fine (not exceeding €2,500) and/or up to three months' imprisonment.
In recent years, the RSA has enhanced the National Car Test (NCT) and Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Test (CVRT) in terms of recording, verifying and publishing individual odometer readings. Since July 2014, in addition to the current reading at the time of an NCT, up to three prior readings are recorded on the NCT Certificate, with the current reading being recorded on the NCT Disc. To support the accuracy of the data, the vehicle presenter is required to confirm the reading at the time of the test.
As part of the rollout of the Commercial Vehicle Reform Programme, odometer readings are also being recorded in respect of all vehicles that are required to undergo a CVRT.
While the Department has no estimate of the extent of this issue over the last five years, odometer tampering is recognised as a widespread phenomenon throughout the EU. Eliminating this practice is important, both for road safety and consumer protection. Enforcement of the law in respect of this issue is a matter for An Garda Síochána.
1170. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has liaised with his European Union colleagues to ensure that access to the national mileage register for cars and other vehicles of each country, and especially of the United Kingdom, will be uniform and immediate for the police forces and car industries of each European Union State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37612/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Mileage Register is operated by a private company and I have no role in the matter.
1171. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport how the €28 million increase for the public service obligation contracts in budget 2016 will be allocated among the Coras Iompair Éireann companies in 2016. [37682/15]
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 reply within ten working days.
1172. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the outcome of the discussions by Ministers of EU member states regarding car emission controls at a meeting of the European Competitiveness Council on 1 October 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37738/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed that my colleague Deputy Damien English T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, attended the October 1st European Competitiveness (Internal Market, Industry, Research and Space) Council meeting. At the informal working lunch, the Council took note of the action announced by the European Commission to strengthen controls of car emissions and the explanations provided by the German Government as to steps taken to look into the recent events of Volkswagen. The outcome of the meeting is available on the EU website www.consilium.europa.eu.
1173. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current position regarding the R336 Bearna to Scríb road project in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37743/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads such as the R336 Bearna-Scrib road is the statutory responsibility of Galway County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993-2015. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's 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. My Department did provide funding for preparatory work related to the R336 Road Improvement Scheme under the Strategic Improvement Grant category up to 2014.
Given the challenging financial climate, the Strategic Improvement Grant Scheme was curtailed from 2014 in order to maximise the funding available for repair and strengthening work on the existing road network and it was not, therefore, possible to provide further grant assistance to the R336 project. In this context, it is important to reiterate that the purpose of Exchequer funding is to supplement local authorities' own resources and I have been emphasising to local authorities the importance of prioritising expenditure on roads when allocating own resources, including revenue from Local Property Tax receipts.
While the Capital Plan 2016-2021 provides for the build up over the period of the plan in capital funding for the road network towards the levels needed to support maintenance and improvement of the network, the primary focus in the next few years will continue to be on road maintenance and renewal rather than new projects.
1174. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the provision that has been made for learner drivers of heavy goods vehicles and buses to do their driving tests in counties Galway, Mayo, and Clare; his proposals to ensure that such driver testing centres are within easy reach in all regions; the locations of all driver testing centres for such vehicles in these counties at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37777/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operation of the driver testing service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred the Question to the Authority for direct response. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten days.
1175. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a decision will be made on an appeal by an organisation (details supplied) regarding an application for funding under the sports capital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37784/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis application from the organisation referred to by the Deputy was correctly ruled invalid as it did not meet the terms and conditions of the 2015 Sports Capital Programme. I provided a detailed written response to representations from the organisation's chairman on 15th October last on matters raised relating to invalidity of the application. The Sports Capital Programme does not have an appeals process and all funding has now been allocated.
1176. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of an application by a club (details supplied) in County Kerry under the sports capital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37793/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo record can be found of a club of that name having submitted an application under the 2015 Sports Capital Programme, nor can any record be found of this club having registered on www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie. Any organisation wishing to be considered for funding must first register on this website. No decision has been made on the timing of the next round of the Programme.
