Written Answers Nos. 624-639
624. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has received an application from the local authority for the construction of a new pedestrian footbridge to span the Clady river at An Bun Beag in County Donegal, adjacent to the R527 road route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5361/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of projects to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
My Department has not received an application from Donegal County Council for funding a pedestrian bridge at Bun Beag.
Donegal did submit an application under the Bridge Rehabilitation Grant Programme for strengthening works at the existing bridge at Bunbeg. I announced the 2017 regional and local road grant allocations on 24th January and €15,000 has been allocated for the bridge at Bunbeg. Given the current spending constraints it is the Department’s policy when grant applications are received from local authorities for bridge improvement works to prioritise rehabilitation works over widening projects and proposed new bridges.
625. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding allocated to Limerick county for tourism and hospitality skills training in 2015 and 2016 by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5408/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra629. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding made available from his Department for tourism and hospitality skills in 2015 and 2016 and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5462/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra630. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has the overall authority and responsibility for hospitality and tourism skills development policy here; if not, the agency or State body which is responsible for these matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5463/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra632. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the body or agency under the aegis of his Department which has oversight and responsibility for hospitality and tourism skills development policy. [5563/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra633. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of tourism and hospitality skills training positions that were allocated by his Department in counties Sligo and Leitrim in 2015 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5565/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra637. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding that his Department allocated to the Cork East constituency for tourism and hospitality skills training in 2015 and 2016. [5591/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra640. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding allocated to the Cork North-Central constituency for tourism and hospitality skills training in 2015 and 2016 by his Department; the agency or Government body which has oversight and responsibility for hospitality and tourism skills development policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5685/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra643. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding that was allocated to the Cavan-Monaghan constituency for tourism and hospitality skills training in 2015 and 2016 by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5783/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 625, 629, 630, 632, 633, 637, 640 and 643 together.
With regard to policy oversight, the Department of Education and Skills has lead responsibility for skills development policy generally across all sectors, including hospitality and tourism, and delivers the required education and training through the mainstream higher and further education and training sectors. The Government's Tourism Policy Statement "People, Place and Policy – Growing Tourism to 2025" and the Tourism Action Plan 2016-2018, recognises the key role that this training and education plays in ensuring that there is an adequate supply of skilled staff in tourism and to develop talent accordingly.
As regards hospitality and tourism training positions and the funding for same, the Department of Education and Skills oversees the bulk of training provided nationally, channelling funding through its agency SOLAS for further education and through the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for higher education.
In addition to the mainstream higher and further education and training, a limited number of complementary tourism related business development and training supports are provided by Fáilte Ireland, in line with its responsibility for encouraging, promoting and supporting tourism as a leading indigenous component of the Irish economy.
As this aspect of the matters raised is an operational matter for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland, I have referred this aspect of the questions asked on to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply to those Deputies seeking further detail regarding funding for such supports and the number of positions available.
Please contact my private office if a response is not received within ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
627. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if any engagement has taken place with local authorities (details supplied) regarding the extension of the public bike scheme. [5448/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Transport Authority (NTA) established the public bikes scheme in Galway, Cork and Limerick and these are operated in cooperation with the relevant local authorities.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
628. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will publish the report submitted by the NTA to his Department reviewing the operation of Part 2 of the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009; and if he will provide a summary of the report's findings and recommendations. [5453/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy refers, the NTA submitted a review of Part 2 of the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009 to my Department in late 2016. This review has been prepared in accordance with section 25 of the 2009 Act, which provides for a periodic review to be conducted of the operation of Part 2. The findings of the review are currently being considered by my Department.
The NTA's review is primarily concerned with procedural and compliance issues related to the licencing system and makes recommendations for certain legislative changes that would enable the NTA to deal more efficiently with its bus licensing functions. The document does not contain a review of the policy that underpins bus licensing and does not incorporate an assessment of the existing regulated competition model.
Given the nature of the review, the NTA has expressed strong concerns about the release of the report due to the commercial sensitivity of some of the information and the potential prejudice to the continued effective enforcement of the relevant Sections of the 2009 Act. Therefore, I do not believe it would be in the public interest to publish it.
I had committed, at a recent meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport, to share the document with the committee members, subject to there being no issues regarding commercial sensitivity or other concerns. I will make arrangements for the report to be circulated in the coming days as promised with appropriate redactions to take account of these issues.
631. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is any discretion for the extension of taxi licences to older cars beyond 15 years where the car is in perfectly good condition, roadworthy and economical on fuel consumption. [5471/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including issues pertaining to vehicle standards, is a matter for 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 to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
634. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding new weight limits on rigid trucks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5567/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra635. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding new weight limits for rigid trucks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5568/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra636. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding new weight limits for rigid trucks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5569/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 634 to 636, inclusive, together.
Across the EU there is no maximum weight 'norm' for five axle rigid vehicles and until now Ireland's Construction and Use Regulations have not stipulated a regulatory weight limit for such vehicles.
Correcting this anomaly, a Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) study on the pavement wear effects of these vehicles on Ireland's road and bridge infrastructure has, in the interests of minimising pavement damage, recommended that they be capped at a maximum weight limit of 36 tonnes. Accepting TII's recommendations, it is not possible to retrospectively apply a 36 tonne limit to five axle rigids already in service and plated to 39 tonnes prior to the introduction of a maximum regulatory weight limit on 1 March 2017.
Equally, since 1 February 2017, the 36 tonne maximum regulatory weight limit will also apply to four axle rigids, which have subsequently been converted, through the retrofitting of an additional axle, to a now five axle unit. From this date, such conversions must be approved by the vehicle manufacturer, or one of their authorised distributors, to ensure that the vehicle in its modified form can satisfy manufacturer performance requirements.
638. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the planning extension of the DART to Balbriggan, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5623/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Transport Authority's (NTA) 'Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035', which was approved and published in 2016, proposes implementation of the DART Expansion Programme which will provide DART services as far north as Drogheda, to Hazelhatch on the Kildare Line and to Maynooth in the west and to the M3 Parkway.
As required under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the NTA is now drawing up an integrated implementation plan to outline how they will go about delivering upon the Strategy's objectives for the period 2017-2022.
Funding for some elements of the DART Expansion Programme is included in the Government's Capital Plan including funding for the extension of the DART to Balbriggan on the Northern line.
The NTA in collaboration with Irish Rail has commenced work on the pre-planning stages of the DART Expansion Programme. A project team has been established and will develop a programme of work that can be delivered on an incremental basis in line with available funding.
Subject to availability of funding and approval of the detailed business case for the project, it is envisaged that the extension of the DART to Balbriggan would commence in 2020.
639. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the provision of the metro north from Dublin city centre to Swords-Lissenhall, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5624/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including the new Metro North project.
The decision to proceed with new Metro North followed consideration of the Fingal/North Dublin Transport Study and the NTA's recommendations on the study, which identified the light-rail link as the optimum long term public transport solution on the Swords/airport/city centre corridor. It is expected that the service will offer capacity for 9,900 passengers per hour per direction with the potential to expand services in the future if demand requires.
Funding for the project is provided under the Government's Capital Plan, allowing initially for the planning and design phases of the project, followed by the construction phase which is expected to commence in 2021 with a view to delivering the project by 2026/2027. The NTA, in collaboration with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), are undertaking an option analysis and selection study of possible metro alignments and station locations. Arising from this work a final route and station configuration will be established.
It is my understanding that the NTA and TII anticipate that this process will be complete by the end of 2017, after which a public consultation process will be undertaken in 2018.
