Written Answers Nos. 488 - 504
488. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to report on the total number of serious injuries due to road traffic collisions in the years 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and to date in 2016 [2975/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Road Safety Authority are working with the HSE on the collection of data on serious injuries arising from road traffic collisions. I have therefore referred Deputy Broughan's Question relating to serious injury data to the RSA for direct reply. Please advise my Office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
489. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will reintroduce the local improvement scheme though the local authorities. [3091/16]
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.
The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) provides funding for road and laneways that councils have not taken in charge, that is, private roads and laneways. The maintenance and improvement of these roads is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowner.
The LIS for regional and local roads remains in place but my Department does not provide a separate grant allocation towards this scheme. Instead local authorities may use a proportion of State grant funding for LIS should they wish to do so.
There are no plans at present to revise the current arrangement. I take the view that local authorities are best placed to assess whether funding should be allocated to LIS.
490. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to allocate funding for lighting for Tang village in County Westmeath. [2705/16]
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 Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the relevant County Council.
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 don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
491. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport how many of Bus Éireann's recently announced new fleet will be wheelchair-accessible; if they will be allocated to areas not currently serviced with wheelchair-accessible buses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2726/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for the 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 response within ten working days.
492. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the Vehicle Clamping Act 2015 will be commenced; the progress being made in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2738/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Vehicle Clamping Act 2015, the NTA will be the independent regulator of clamping activities wherever they are operated. The Department has recently finalised with the NTA the appropriate time to commence this legislation with a view to ensuring that the new arrangements operate effectively. It has now been agreed that the legislation will be commenced by September.
493. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a driving instructor (details supplied) in County Donegal can obtain an exemption from section 87 of the Road Traffic Act in order to complete level 3 of the emergency services driving standard training course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2759/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 87 of the Road Traffic Act 2010, as amended, provides exemptions from certain provisions of the Road Traffic Acts for members of the emergency services, including An Garda Síochána, in the course of their duties. I have no proposals to extend the exemptions already provided to any organisation or individual outside of those already provided for.
494. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding available to communities and groups under the smarter travel scheme for a community (details supplied) in County Galway which wishes to install footpaths and cycle lanes to enable children to travel safely to and from school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2808/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently funding a number of projects being delivered by Local Authorities which have responsibility for cycle lanes and footpaths in their areas. All Department funding for the purpose of delivering Smarter Travel projects is fully committed up until the end of 2016. I would advise the Deputy to contact Galway County Council in the first instance with a view to progressing this project in as far as possible. It would be advisable for Galway County Council to have plans prepared for sustainable transport projects, including securing agreement with the relevant stakeholders in order to be in a position to submit an application to my Department under the next funding call for Smarter Travel initiatives which I anticipate will be announced later in 2016.
I would also advise that schools in the vicinity in question apply to An Taisce to participate in the Green Schools Travel Programme which assists schools to develop sustainable and safe travel plans for their pupils.
495. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if and when another round of funding will be announced for locations under the marketing of Ireland's Ancient East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2826/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland's Ancient East is a tourism proposition which will build on the rich endowment of heritage treasures stretching over 5000 years of Irish history in Ireland's Midlands, East and South. The objective is to convey to the visitor a strong sense of a unified region which is endowed with a wealth of heritage assets each of which are within a relatively short distance of one another. It is also intended to act as a platform to enable collaboration amongst industry providers and groups in the area.
The matter of funding for development of Ireland's Ancient East is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have asked the agency to reply directly to the Deputy with further detail. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
496. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will open a programme of funding for swimming pools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2855/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme grant aid to a maximum of €3.8 million is provided to local authorities towards the capital costs of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. The current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme was closed to new applicants on 31 July 2000. Since 2000, 58 projects have or are being dealt with under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme of which 50 have been completed and the other 8 projects are at various stages of the Programme.
I wish to commence the process of opening a new limited round of swimming pool allocations. The Department has recently contacted local authorities seeking expressions of interest in such an allocation, with 5 February as the closing date for reply.
497. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will respond to Clare County Council's application for funding for a roundabout on the R 352 at the junction of Oakley Wood and Cappahard estates in Ennis, County Clare [2960/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads including the R 352 is the statutory responsibility of Clare 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 will be announcing the 2016 regional and local road allocations today.
498. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the modelling works carried out to estimate the potential future demand for a rail line from Navan, County Meath to Dublin city; the inputs to this model in terms of population and so on; and the comparisons with other towns in the Greater Dublin Area. [2969/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and for overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA).
The Authority is currently finalising a long term Transport Strategy for the GDA (2016-2035) which will incorporate proposals for the Navan-City Centre transport corridor. The methodology and transport modelling work undertaken in preparing the new strategy is entirely a matter for the NTA, in line with their statutory remit.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred your email to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
499. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a query regarding Sport Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2985/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my replies to his previous questions on this matter. As I have already informed the Deputy, the processing of this FOI request and the decision of the Information Commissioner are a matter for Sport Ireland and I have no role in the process. I have referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
500. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide figures for the potential additional costs on the Exchequer if his Department were to transfer operation of the Luas to Coras Iompair Éireann at the end of the current contract with Transdev. [3030/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for securing the provision of public transport infrastructure and public passenger transport services in accordance with the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, as amended by the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009.
The NTA has assigned its function in relation to securing the provision of metro or light rail passenger services to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and TII is the relevant statutory authority for all construction, operational and maintenance issues relating to Luas.
Section 48 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 requires a competitive tendering procedure to be used in the award of any light rail public passenger transport services contract. It is therefore not legally permitted to transfer operation of the Luas to any operator following the expiration of a particular contract period. Any such contract can only be awarded following a competitive tendering procedure.
501. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the State funding including capital investment packages received by Transdev or any of its subsidiaries for the operation of the Luas in each of the years since its launch in 2004. [3031/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraTransdev Ireland has not received any Exchequer funding in respect of its operation of Luas. It is a statutory requirement that light rail passenger services must be procured following a competitive tendering procedure. The most recent contract concluded between the National Transport Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Transdev Ireland was in September 2014 and the contract period runs until November 2019.
Contractual arrangements in relation to Luas are a matter for the National Transport Authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
502. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the problems Bus Éireann drivers are experiencing with icy roads, particularly in County Westmeath; and his plans to ensure a consistent road gritting policy across local authority areas. [3046/16]
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.
Local authorities are required to have winter road treatment programmes (including salting/gritting of routes) in place and they carry out their operations on a priority basis. The sequence is, national roads, major regional roads and finally, important heavily trafficked local roads. In determining a precise salting/gritting sequence, local authorities take account of various factors including road category, traffic volume, public transport routes and topographical or physical constraints. In this context I would expect Bus Éireann to liaise directly with the Westmeath County Council in relation to any difficulties it is experiencing.
503. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the costs of the recently launched Transport for Ireland advertising campaign; the agency or company funding the advertising campaign; and if he will provide details on the matter. [3078/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the development and implementation of the Transport for Ireland brand. In light of this I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
504. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport why bus providers that are awarded licences to operate routes by the National Transport Authority which are non-stop in nature and are in excess of two hours are not required to have a toilet facility on board; if he understands the concerns that vulnerable passengers availing of a non-stop service have in the absence of a toilet facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3079/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the Authority for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
