Written Answers Nos. 265-74
265. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will commission a survey on brown trout stocks on the River Barrow to decipher if stocks of same are below the conservation limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38682/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra266. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will sanction the restocking of brown trout on the River Barrow to bring the population of same up to appropriate figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38683/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 266 together.
I am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that a major fish stock survey (all fish species including brown trout) in the River Barrow catchment (main channel and tributaries) was completed during July and August 2015. IFI are currently processing the data collected and as soon as a report is compiled and finalised in early 2016 it will be made available to the Deputy.
IFI policy is that management measurements for wild brown trout be directed towards conservation, with return of captured fish, and towards habitat-management/enhancement measures designed to increase carrying capacity and restore depleted wild brown trout stocks. These latter measures may include instream and bankside works that provide spaces or cover to hold additional trout and create increased complexity in the channel reach. These measures are intended to assist in increasing wild trout numbers and in increasing the quality of the angling experience.
Stocking requests are considered in the context of EU legislation, biodiversity considerations and best scientific advice. Stocking of brown trout introduces new genetic material into a river system that may or may not reproduce with the native stock. Stocked trout may also compete for food and habitat to the detriment of native wild brown trout.
As the River Barrow is not managed as a stocked fishery, the introduction of farmed or stocked trout, which would have a capacity to move freely throughout the catchment, could reduce the value of this wild trout fishery.
IFI have confirmed that a series of genetic studies on Irish brown trout populations has revealed that there is enormous genetic diversity within and among brown trout populations. Research has shown that stocking with hatchery reared brown trout makes no significant contribution to those fisheries where they have been introduced. In addition, it has been shown that restocking of non-native salmonids can be detrimental to the freshwater pearl mussel, a protected species included in Annex II and V of the EU Habitats Directive. I am advised that there are three designated pearl mussel sub catchments in the River Barrow catchment.
267. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will consider a voluntary buy-out scheme for current licenceholders on the River Barrow where sea-slob trout population levels have fallen below conservation limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38684/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe previous salmon hardship scheme, which closed in 2007, related to salmon fishermen. The River Barrow has, in recent years, been closed to the harvest of salmon by either commercial or recreational means. I understand that commercial activity in relation to the species referred to by the Deputy on the River Barrow could only apply to migratory trout over 40cms in length. Therefore such activity, if it were permitted, would be extremely limited.
In the context of the issue raised there is no property right attaching to public licences and therefore the issue of a buy-out, as outlined by the Deputy, is not appropriate.
268. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will commission a survey on dace stocks on the River Barrow to decipher if population of same have increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38685/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra269. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the measures in place to combat the reported increase in the dace population on the River Barrow and to prevent juvenile dace from feeding on trout eggs and damaging the natural indigenous population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38686/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 269 together.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) completed a major fish stock survey (including dace) in the Barrow catchment (main channel and tributaries) during July and August 2015. IFI are currently processing the data collected and as soon as a report is compiled and finalised in early 2016 it will be made available to the Deputy.
I am advised by IFI that dace have been established in the River Barrow main channel and Barrow Navigation since the 1990s. Results from fishery surveys between 2003 and 2015 reveal that dace are ubiquitous in the main channel, from the lower reaches to upstream of Monasterevin, Co. Kildare. Expert advice is that there are no practical measures available to control or eradicate this species where it is already widespread and abundant. The primary approach of IFI in regard to dace is to prevent its spread outside of systems, such as the Barrow.
In addition, IFI continue to promote the importance of biosecurity to minimise the risk of spreading invasive species, including dace. This is conducted through a range of education and awareness and stakeholder engagement initiatives. As part of this programme, anglers are informed of the risks associated with transferring dace and they are advised not to move dace from the River Barrow to any other waters.
270. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department and the National Transport Authority have plans to progress with the bus rapid transit link to Dublin Airport; if so, the projected cost of this project; and the timeline for completion. [38441/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing consideration of the Fingal/North Dublin Transport study and the recommendations of the National Transport Authority (NTA) arising from this study, the Government has decided that a light-rail link is the optimum long term public transport solution on the Airport /Swords corridor. Accordingly, funding will be made available under the new Capital Plan (2016-2022) for planning, design and construction of new Metro North scheme, as detailed in the Fingal/North Dublin Transport Study, with a view to delivering the link by 2026/2027.
The NTA has recently published a draft Transport Strategy for Greater Dublin Area which provides a framework for the planning and delivery of transport infrastructure and services in the GDA for the next two decades. For the purposes of the NTA transport strategy, Swords and Dublin Airport are both located within a wider transport corridor which also includes Drogheda and Balbriggan in North Dublin. In addition to the new Metro North project the eastern part of this transport corridor will benefit from the extension of the Dart to Balbriggan, which will also progress to construction stage under the new Capital Plan.
Given the demand projections in the corridor overall, I have requested the NTA to keep the capacity issues on the Swords/Airport/City Centre route under review. In the draft GDA strategy the NTA indicates that bus based measures will be considered for this part of the corridor with any final arrangement designed to be complementary to the new Metro North Project.
The draft transport strategy for the GDA is subject to a statutory public consultation and all interested parties are invited to review the proposals, and the supporting documentation, on the NTA's website (www.nationaltransport.ie) and to make submissions to the Authority, before the deadline of Friday November 13 2015.
271. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm that a credit union is acceptable as a financial institution when showing evidence of own-funding in making an application under the sports capital grant system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38448/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatements from Credit Unions are acceptable as evidence of own funding under the Sports Capital Programme provided they meet the requirements of the programme as set out in the guide to making an application. Information on the Programme is available at www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie.
272. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a trailer licence, category BE, will be reinstated on the licence of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38449/15]
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.
273. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for an update on the exchange of Irish driving licences for Canadian Newfoundland and Labrador licences; the expected timing of this agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38455/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform you that agreement has been reached with Newfoundland and Labrador on mutual exchange of driving licences. I understand that the necessary order to give legal effect to the agreement in Ireland is being finalised and I expect to sign this order shortly. This will be the third such agreement with a Canadian province, following those with Ontario and Manitoba.
274. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the full costs expended, including consultancy fees, in the merger of the Railway Procurement Authority and the National Roads Authority, as well as the savings generated annually to date from the merger and projected savings for the years ahead. [38498/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTransport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) was established on 1 August 2015 through the merger of the National Roads Authority (NRA) and the Railway Procurement Authority (RPA).
I understand the costs expended at agency level in the merger process, including consultancy fees, since 2013 amounted to €275,000. My Department expended €2,320 on the engagement of a third party facilitator to aid discussions on HR issues that arose during the merger process.
Savings in the order of €6 million per annum were secured in the combined administrative budgets for NRA and RPA since the merger was proposed a few years ago. (These savings were generated both in readiness for the merger and as a result of more general measures to address the financial crises). It is expected that the merger will deliver a further annual saving for the Exchequer of approx. €3 million from year-3 of operation of TII.
