Written Answers Nos. 609-630
609. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 601 of 1 December 2015, who made the oral agreements with the companies involved; and when they were made. [45039/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have stated previously that it is a matter for the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to determine whether or not to grant a Petroleum Prospecting Licence when an application for such a licence is made, and the agreement of an applicant is not required.
610. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 600 of 1 December 2015, if any oral or tacit agreements have been made regarding the unconventional gas exploration and extraction research project currently underway. [45040/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question No. 600 of 1 December 2015. The position is unchanged.
611. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the ground rent he or agencies under the remit of his Department pay, by named property, by name of landlord and by amount payable, in 2015 and in 2016 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45051/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll properties occupied by my Department are either owned by or leased by the Office of Public Works and as such my Department does not have any ground rent liability.
In relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department, this is an operational matter for each body. My Department will ask the bodies in question to supply the information directly to the Deputy.
612. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the future of the Whitegate oil refinery, County Cork in view of the announcement that it is now for sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45244/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Whitegate refinery was privatised as a result of its sale by the State in 2001. Under the terms of the sale, the owners are obliged to continue to operate the refinery for a minimum of fifteen years, a commitment which remains in place until July 2016. That commitment is not affected by the planned sale.
The owners of the refinery, Phillips 66, advised my Department in October that they were putting the Whitegate refinery up for sale and indicated their intention to market it for sale as an operational refinery. A refinery sale would be a commercial matter between Phillips 66 and a potential purchaser. As this process is underway Whitegate will continue to be operated on a business as usual basis.
The Government views the continued operation of the Whitegate refinery on a commercial basis as highly desirable from an energy security and economic perspective. Security of supply remains a fundamental tenet of our energy policy. I have recently met a number of my Cabinet colleagues to discuss the refinery and I updated Government on the matter last week.
613. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will respond to climate change discussions in the context of reducing dependency on fossil fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45365/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra620. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if natural energy resources continue to be developed and made available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45375/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 613 and 620 together.
The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy, as set out in the White Paper on Energy Policy which I will publish tomorrow, is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers as our energy system undergoes the fundamental transformation required to meet our climate policy objectives. A well balanced fuel mix that provides reliable energy, minimises costs and protects against supply disruptions and price volatility, is essential to Irish consumers as we make this transition. To achieve this, it is vital that our natural energy resources continue to be developed. By 2050, greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector will be reduced by between 80% and 95%, compared to 1990 levels in line with the EU objective. Fossil fuels will remain a progressively decreasing part of the energy mix as we transition to a largely decarbonised energy system by 2050, and significant progress is already being made in increasing the share of renewables in that mix.
Our immediate focus is on the period to 2020. In addition to the EU's 2020 targets for emissions reductions, the 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive sets Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland is committed to achieving this target through meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heat and 10% of transport from renewable sources of energy, with the latter transport target also being legally binding. Figures provided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland show that, in 2014, 8.6% of Ireland’s overall energy requirements were met from renewable sources. More specifically, the SEAI has calculated that 22.7% of electricity, 6.6% of heat and 5.2% of transport energy requirements were from renewable sources. Biofuels represented 1.9% of gross electricity consumption in the same year. This means we were just over halfway towards each of the separate targets for contributions of renewable energy in electricity, heat and transport. The SEAI has estimated that this avoided €346 million of fossil fuel imports.
Ireland is ambitious to make a cost-effective and fair contribution to the EU's overall 2030 ambition, which seeks to have at least 27% of energy demand met from renewable sources by 2030. To this end, Government policy will continue to be supportive of the increasing deployment of renewable energy. In addition, to the extent that non-renewable sources will remain an ever decreasing part of the energy mix, Government policy will also seek to reduce import dependency by supporting the identification and harnessing of indigenous supplies. Corrib gas coming on stream will make a significant impact on reducing energy imports, meeting 40% of all-island demand in its first years of production.
614. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has examined the extent of broadband deficiency in terms of availability, quality and speed in rural and in urban areas; if the ongoing investment programme will address these issues; if he has identified specific deadlines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45367/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of electronic communications infrastructure, including the significant investment required to make high speed telecommunication services publicly available, occurs within a fully liberalised market. It is a matter for the competing networks providers to decide those areas which can be served on a commercial basis, in the first instance. Intervention by the State is limited to investment or co-investment in those areas of the country the commercial market will not serve.
The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.
The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades and enhanced services. These very significant investments represent a step-change in the quality of broadband services available.
Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. The areas marked BLUE on the map represent those areas that will have access to commercial high speed broadband services.
The AMBER areas show the target areas for the State intervention. All premises within the AMBER areas will be included in the State's intervention.
The map allows all members of the public, be they business or residential, to see whether their premises/home will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016 or whether they will be included in the Government's proposed intervention.
It is anticipated that speeds of at least 30Mbps will be also delivered through the Government's intervention and the network will be designed to cater for future increased demand from consumers and business.
Consumers can also consult the websites of the various commercial operators to ascertain details of current and planned future deployment plans.
Over 40 responses were received following the publication of the NBP proposed Intervention Strategy in July last. Non-confidential versions of these submissions are being published and can be accessed at www.Broadband.gov.ie.
Meanwhile, my Department continues to review the technical and financial detail relating to potential new commercial investment proposals with a view to updating the intervention area Map. I expect to proceed to formal procurement before the end of the year.
The Government is determined to ensure that the network is built out as quickly as possible and engagement with industry stakeholders has indicated that this could be achieved within 3-5 years of the contract award.
In this context, the NBP proposes that through the combination of commercial investment and State intervention, 85% of addresses in Ireland will have access to high speed services by 2018 with an ambition of 100% coverage by end of 2020.
615. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will augment and fully utilise the postal services network, through the provision of extra compatible facilities, through modernising in the competitive economic climate and through putting provisions in place to retain post offices in areas which might otherwise be bereft of utility services, in the context of public service obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45368/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company, in a position to provide a high quality postal service and maintain a nationwide network of customer focused post offices in the community.
The post office network plays an important role in serving the needs of business and domestic customers alike. However, the postal sector is undergoing systemic change, with migration towards electronic communications resulting in significant core mail volume decline year-on-year. However, post offices, having being fully computerised some years ago, also stand well positioned to become the front office provider of choice for Government and the financial services sector for both electronic transactions as well as the more traditional over the counter transactions.
In recognition of the changing commercial environment I established the Post Office Network Business Development Group earlier this year, the remit of which is to examine the potential from existing and new Government and commercial business that could be transacted through the Post Office network. The Group presented its initial report to me in May 2015. In summary, the initial report outlined that the future of the Post Office network would be best secured by seeking out opportunities in the following areas: financial services, including services delivered by the Department of Social Protection, and basic banking for the unbanked; Government services; social capital and enterprise; and white labelling of financial and other products.
To gain further insight into these areas, a public consultation exercise was held from 16 June to 28 July last, inclusive. Interested parties were invited to submit their views on the initial report. It is clear from the responses received that there is a strong public desire to maintain the nationwide network of post offices. The consultation responses have assisted the Group in identifying opportunities that can benefit the post office network and have informed the final report, which I expect to receive presently.
It is premature to speculate, in advance of receiving the final report, on matters until I have had the opportunity to consider in detail the findings of the Group.
616. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has granted and activated exploration licences in each of the past ten years to date, with particular reference to oil, gas and other minerals; the number that have shown commercially viable results to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45370/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table outlines the exploration licences issued by my Department over the past ten years. Details of all authorisations granted by my Department are published on my Department's website on a quarterly basis and can also be found in the six monthly reports which I am obliged to lay before the Oireachtas under the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1999, and the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960, respectively. The last such reports were in respect of the six month period ending 30 June 2015. These reports are also available on my Department’s website at www.dcenr.gov.ie.
|
Year |
Petroleum Exploration Licences Issued |
Prospecting Licences (Minerals) Issued |
|
2006 |
4 |
84 |
|
2007 |
5 |
143 |
|
2008 |
5 |
91 |
|
2009 |
1 |
66 |
|
2010 |
0 |
93 |
|
2011 |
2 |
98 |
|
2012 |
0 |
102 |
|
2013 |
5 |
142 |
|
2014 |
6 |
71 |
|
2015 |
0 |
75 |
|
Total |
28 |
965 |
There have been no commercial discoveries of oil or gas within the territory of the State in the last ten years. Ireland, however, has witnessed a positive upswing in the level of petroleum exploration activity in recent years, in particular acquisition of new seismic data and the record number of applications received in the 2015 Atlantic Margin Licensing Round. We need to see this translate into an increased level of exploration drilling in the coming years, if Ireland’s true petroleum potential is to be realised.
In a similar manner, while the number of active mineral prospecting licences (currently in excess of 560), indicates the positive prevailing state of mineral exploration in Ireland, no new commercially viable deposits of minerals have been discovered during this period. While there have been some encouraging results, particularly in Counties Limerick and Clare, it is too early to determine whether these results will lead to identification of commercially viable deposits.
617. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when supply from the Corrib gas field will be available to the national grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45372/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing completion of the construction of the Corrib gas pipeline, Shell E&P Ireland Limited, on behalf of the Corrib Gas partners, submitted an application on 18 August, 2015, under Section 40 of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, for consent to operate the pipeline. This consent is required by the developer before production of gas can commence. A public consultation process in relation to the application was initiated on 25 August and closed on 25 September. 11 submissions were received and these are currently being considered as part of the application which will inform the evaluation and decision process.
As previously advised, I understand that the bulk of the gas produced from the Corrib field will be supplied to the national grid via the 149km pipeline constructed by Bord Gáis Networks, which runs from the gas terminal in Bellanaboy County Mayo to Ballymoneen outside of Galway.
618. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to outline the developments in the production of biodiesel and bioethanol, their contribution to projected renewable energy requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45373/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2009 Renewable Energy Directive sets all Member States a binding target that at least 10% of the energy used in the transport sector must come from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland aims to meet this target mainly through the use of sustainable biofuels with electric vehicles also making a small contribution.
The Biofuels Obligation Scheme was introduced in July 2010 as the primary means through which Ireland would meet the transport target and is the principal support for the uptake of biofuels in Ireland. The scheme, administered by the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA), is certificate based and, since January 2013, an obligated road transport fuel supplier, at the end of each calendar year, must hold six biofuel obligation certificates for every 94 litres (6.383%) of petroleum based fuel it has placed on the road transport market. Two certificates are awarded for each litre of biofuel produced from wastes, residues, non-food cellulosic material, and ligno-cellulosic material placed on the market with one certificate awarded per litre of other biofuels. Certificates are only issued for biofuels that have been demonstrated to have complied with the sustainability criteria of the Renewable Energy Directive.
The 2014 Biofuels Obligation Scheme Annual Report, which can be downloaded from www.nora.ie, reported that almost 167 million litres of biofuel was placed on the road transport fuel market. Over 114 million litres was biodiesel (69%), of which 98 million litres of which was produced from wastes and residues, with approximately 25 million litres produced in Ireland. The remaining biodiesel was produced from oil crops, such as rape seed, palm and soy, all of which were imported. All bioethanol was imported and was from crop based feedstocks.
The European Commission recently adopted a Directive which limits to 7% the amount of energy that Member States can count towards their 2020 renewable energy targets in transport from certain crop based biofuels, whose use could lead to Indirect Land-Use Change (ILUC). The new Directive also contains incentives to encourage the development of advanced biofuels that do not affect food production.
619. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he expects the telecommunications sector, encompassing broadband, to become comparable to the best in Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45374/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government’s National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This is being achieved through a combination of the commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.
Currently approximately 1.2m premises in Ireland have access to high speed services, provided commercially. It is expected that 1.6m premises will have access to such services by the end of 2016. Industry is investing significantly in the market, with top speeds of up to 240mbps available in some areas, and up to 1gbps where fibre-to-the-home services are being rolled out.
It is anticipated that speeds of at least 30Mbps will be delivered through the Government's intervention and the network will be designed to cater for future increased demand from consumers and business.
The National Broadband Plan proposes that through the combination of commercial investment and State intervention, 85% of addresses in Ireland will have access to high speed services by 2018 with an ambition of 100% coverage by 2020. This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government. It aims to conclusively address current connectivity challenges in Ireland.
I am confident that the combination of existing commercial investment and the State intervention will make Ireland an exemplar in Europe and beyond, in terms of providing high speed services to all citizens regardless of where they live or work.
In the mobile telephony market, market operators are currently investing in the rollout of 4G networks. These are providing a substantial level of improvement in performance and capabilities over previous 3G and 2G technologies. These 4G networks use the same technology as the most modern mobile networks providing public access internationally.
621. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the quality and speed of broadband will be improved over the next three years, particularly in County Kildare; if meeting the requirements of customers is a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45376/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.
The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades and enhanced services. These very significant investments represent a step-change in the quality of broadband services available.
Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. The areas marked BLUE on the map represent those areas that will have access to commercial high speed broadband services.
The AMBER areas show the target areas for the State intervention. All premises within the AMBER areas will be included in the State's intervention.
The map allows all members of the public, be they business or residential, to see whether their premises or home will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016 or whether they will be included in the Government's proposed intervention.
It is anticipated that speeds of at least 30Mbps will be also delivered through the Government's intervention and the network will be designed to cater for future increased demand from consumers and business.
I am informed by the commercial operators that next generation broadband services have been rolled out to over 55,000 premises to date in County Kildare with over 12,500 more expected to be served by commercial investment. Approximately 20,500 remaining premises in Kildare will be covered either by further commercial investment or the proposed State intervention.
Over 40 responses were received following the publication of the NBP proposed Intervention Strategy in July last. Non-confidential versions of these submissions are being published and can be accessed at www.Broadband.gov.ie.
Meanwhile, my Department continues to review the technical and financial detail relating to potential new commercial investment proposals with a view to updating the intervention area Map.
I expect to proceed to formal procurement before the end of the year. The Government is determined to ensure that the network is built out as quickly as possible and engagement with industry stakeholders has indicated that this could be achieved within 3-5 years of the contract award.
In this context, the NBP proposes that through the combination of commercial investment and State intervention, 85% of addresses in Ireland will have access to high speed services by 2018 with an ambition of 100% coverage by 2020.
622. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a ban on hydraulic fracturing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45383/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe multi-agency trans-boundary programme of research on the potential impacts on the environment and human health from Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction projects is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and co-funded by the EPA, my Department and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, with oversight from a broad based Steering Committee that includes my Department. This All-Island Joint Research Programme is a collaborative approach between Northern Ireland and this jurisdiction and is working very well. I regard the sharing of expertise between the various State Agencies in both jurisdictions as a positive initiative.
The research programme is broad in its scope, covering several environmental parameters, as well as operational practice and regulatory approaches around the world. The Terms of Reference for this research programme were agreed by a broadly based Steering Committee. The draft Terms of Reference had earlier been published for consultation and more than 1,300 submissions were received. The EPA and the Steering Committee reviewed the submissions and the draft Terms of Reference were amended and strengthened after this public consultation.
I understand that the contract for this programme of research was awarded following a robust evaluation process in compliance with public procurement guidelines, where the tender submitted by the winning consortium was evaluated as being the strongest bid. The constitution of the evaluation panel was approved by the project Steering Committee, which included personnel with the capacity to make informed decisions on the tenders received. The evaluation panel consisted of 27 existing and retired personnel from various State agencies spanning four jurisdictions.
The programme of research will assist regulators, both North and South, in making informed decisions about hydraulic fracturing and I believe that we should await the outcome of this research. Any policy decision on hydraulic fracturing will be taken in the context of the objective of achieving a low carbon energy system by 2050.
623. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding research on hydraulic fracturing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45384/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe multi-agency trans-boundary programme of research on the potential impacts on the environment and human health from Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction (UGEE) projects is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and co-funded by the EPA, my Department and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, with oversight from a broad based Steering Committee that includes my Department. This All-Island Joint Research Programme (JRP) is a collaborative approach between Northern Ireland and this jurisdiction and is working very well. I regard the sharing of expertise between the various State Agencies in both jurisdictions as a positive initiative.
As is usual in major projects such as this, the project team involves a wide range of expert institutions and companies. CDM Smith is the lead consultant in the consortium engaged to carry out the programme of research, with the consortium also including the British Geological Survey, University College Dublin, Ulster University, AMEC Foster Wheeler and Philip Lee Solicitors. Each offers a particular specialism required by the project scope.
I am aware that there has been some comment on the fact that internationally, CDM Smith has provided expert advice to oil companies involved in the development of unconventional gas resources. I should point out that CDM Smith has also provided advice to State bodies and regulatory agencies across its area of expertise. As I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, it is common that a broad range of parties will seek to draw on the specialist expertise available from a firm such as CDM Smith. The fact that disparate entities seek to draw on such expertise, is generally seen as an indicator of a company's recognised experience.
I can also confirm that Queens University Belfast (QUB) was initially participating as part of the Research Consortium. Due to a change in resources available in QUB, the tasks allocated to QUB were transferred to CDM Smith, supported by GSNI. QUB is still involved as part of the internal review process carried out by the consortium. While this internal review is carried out by the consortium as a quality control before submission of any interim and/or final deliverables of the UGEE JRP, all outputs are reviewed by a Technical Review Group which includes Steering Committee members and other external experts. This process is fully independent from the internal quality control process put in place by the consortium.
The programme of research will assist regulators, both North and South, in making informed decisions about hydraulic fracturing and I believe we should await the outcome of the research. Any policy decision on hydraulic fracturing will be taken in the context of the objective of achieving a low carbon energy system by 2050.
624. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the production of breathalyser test results in both Irish and English; if the Road Traffic Act 2010 should be amended in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44775/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 13(2) of the Road Traffic Act 2010 requires that in cases where testing of a breath specimen has indicated an alcohol concentration higher than the legal limit, the breath test apparatus should print '2 identical statements' of the result in a prescribed form. The form itself was prescribed by SI 541 of 2011 which provided both English and Irish versions of the form. The apparatus are programmed to be able to print either.
The High Court determined in a ruling on 21 September 2015 that the Regulations governing the circumstances where a person who has been arrested on suspicion of intoxicated driving provides a breath specimen, at a Garda station, by exhaling into an Evidential Breath Test (EBT) apparatus, provide that the printed statement produced by the EBT apparatus should be in both Irish and English.
Following the ruling, I revoked S.I. 541 of 2011 and replaced it with new Regulations on 22 September 2015 which state what was always intended, i.e. that there are two alternative versions of the form, one in Irish and one in English.
I have no plans to amend the Road Traffic Act in this regard.
625. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45140/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra639. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when funding will be provided to address erosion on the lower road at Rossbeigh in County Kerry and to ensure a permanent road is built. [44863/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 625 and 639 together.
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in Kerry is the statutory responsibility of Kerry County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. 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 Council.
I understand that Kerry County Council has examined a number of options concerning road access at Rossbeigh and that officials from my Department have met with an official from Kerry County Council in relation to possible options. Funding for regional and local roads continues to be constrained and the proposal from the Council will be considered in the context of the overall 2016 budget available to my Department. I expect to announce the 2016 allocations for regional and local roads early in the new year.
626. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Blessington greenway project (details supplied) in County Wicklow, which is shovel-ready, will be allocated funding given that several projects have not drawn down their allocated funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45378/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am not in a position to say at this stage which of the greenway projects already awarded funding under my Department's funding programmes will not draw down the full grant amount. I recognise that a small number of projects awarded funding are not progressing as expected, however, each will be dealt with on a case by case basis.
I have stated on many occasions that Local Authorities, if they wish to attract funding from the Exchequer, should carry out as much work as possible, including Part 8 planning, from their own resources so that if funding becomes available they would then be well positioned to obtain any such funding. Local Authorities shuould invest their own money and resources into preparing these projects rather than waiting on central Government funding to do so.
The fact that Wicklow County Council do not currently have Part 8 planning in place means that the project is not "shovel ready". Wicklow County Council may wish to consider proceeding with the Part 8 planning process for the Blessington Greenway so as to be shovel ready and well placed to compete in any future funding calls.
627. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated total cost to the Exchequer of completing an integrated motorway network from Cork to Letterkenny, County Donegal, along the western corridor. [45425/15]
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 (such as an integrated motorway network from Cork to Donegal) is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for TII in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
628. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to reply to Parliamentary Question No. 601 of 24 November 2015 in which the National Transport Authority stated that it provides funding to a range of public agencies for bicycle lockers, the amount of funding and the number of bicycle lockers provided to date. [44684/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to your further Parliamentary Question regarding secure bike parking requesting details of funding provided for the provision of bicycle lockers to public agencies and the number of lockers provided. I have forwarded your question to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for direct response. If you have not received a response within 10 working days please contact my office.
629. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider an amendment to the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 to facilitate licensed taxi drivers of small public service vehicles who, upon reaching the age of 66, wish to sell or transfer the ownership of their taxi plates to a third party, as the current provisions of the Act are preventing this and retirees are losing out on any return from their initial investment in a taxi plate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44728/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAction 14 of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011 recommended the introduction of a prohibition on the transferability of small public service vehicle (SPSV) licences with effect from 1st October 2012. The Taxi Regulation Review Group included representatives of the taxi industry and its recommendations were widely publicised to the industry, including through the National Transport Authority's website and industry updates.
The underlying principle for the recommendation was 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 measure was provided for in Section 14(1) of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 which was commenced with effect from 6th April 2014. Special provisions apply in the case of the death of the licensee.
I do not intend bringing forward amendments to the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 in relation to this matter.
630. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the efforts he is making to ensure the inclusion and integration of members of the Traveller community within sporting circles and clubs. [44742/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport, including the development of strategies for increasing participation in sport.
As this question is a matter for Sport Ireland, I have referred it to Sport Ireland for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
