Written Answers Nos. 55-64
55. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to reverse Dublin Airport's monopoly and ensure the national planning framework's target of having three quarters of population growth outside Dublin between now and 2040 is deliverable (details supplied). [5749/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAirports are strategically vital to Ireland. We depend on our aviation links with the rest of the world both socially and economically. The National Aviation Policy for Ireland (NAP) acknowledges this position and supports the development of our State and regional airports - Dublin Airport as a secondary hub, Cork and Shannon Airports as key business and tourism gateways for their regions, with the regional airports enabling international access directly into their respective areas.
To ensure that our airports are prepared for the longer term, in September last, I announced a Review of the Capacity Needs of Ireland's State Airports. The review will examine the capacity requirements to meet forecasted passenger throughput at the three airports to 2050 and identify priorities for infrastructure provision. The Review will also take account of the wider Government objectives and policies for enterprise, tourism and balanced regional development in Ireland, including the goals and objectives set out in the National Planning Framework, Ireland 2040, launched recently by my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning Community and Local Government.
Tenders from consultants for this review have been received and are currently being assessed within by Department. I expect that the contract to undertake the review will be awarded to the preferred bidder shortly and that it will be completed by mid year.
56. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will make the reintroduction of the local improvement scheme a priority for the Government. [5759/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the local authority'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.
Maintenance of private laneways/roads not taken in charge by local authorities is the responsibility of the landowners concerned. Due to the major cutbacks in roads funding it was necessary for the Department to cease making separate allocations to local authorities in respect of LIS. The approved scheme remains intact and local authorities can use a proportion of State grant funding for LIS should they wish to do so.
While there is a modest increase in funding for roads this year, it will take some years yet under the Capital Plan to restore "steady state" funding levels for regional and local roads. The primary focus has to continue to be on the maintenance and renewal of public roads. Local authorities can continue to use a proportion of their Discretionary Grant for the Local Improvement Scheme in 2017.
In light of the provision in the Programme for Government indicating that, as the economy recovers, the Government will promote increased funding for Community Involvement and Local Improvement Schemes, I will review the scope for making a separate grant allocation once the planned Review of the Capital Plan is completed.
57. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his Department's and the National Transport Authority's plans regarding a review of public transport policy, as mentioned in Realising Our Rural Potential: Action Plan for Public Transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6103/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, this proposal originates in the Programme for Government which commits to reviewing public transport policy so as to ensure services are sustainable into the future and are meeting the needs of a modern economy. It has subsequently been restated as an action in Realising our Rural Potential - Action Plan for Rural Development and includes reference to the rural transport dimension, to ensure that it meets the needs of rural communities.
I would also refer the Deputy to my Department's Statement of Strategy 2016-2019 which lists the publication of a new Public Transport Policy Statement as a key indicator of progress.
My Department plans to undertake this work this year. Development of the policy statement will take cognisance of relevant initiatives in several other areas of public policy on which Government is deeply engaged including the preparation of a new National Planning Framework, a National Mitigation Plan and a Climate Adaption Plan for the transport sector, in addition to the Action Plan for Rural Development.
58. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the research commissioned by Tourism Ireland predicting that the hospitality sector will struggle to maintain revenue and visitor numbers from Britain in 2017 as a result of Brexit; and the status of the plans his Department has in place to buffer the sector from Brexit. [6097/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn common with the rest of Government, there has been considerable analysis of the challenges which tourism faces because of the outcome of the UK Referendum. In this context, on 23 January 2017, Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan T.D. and I hosted an All-Island Dialogue on the impact of Brexit on the tourism and hospitality sector. At that event Tourism Ireland presented on the research they had commissioned to assess the propensity of consumers living in Britain to travel overseas in a post Brexit world. The research shows that 7% of people living in Britain say they are less likely to holiday overseas in 2017. The research also indicates that spending patterns are likely to change, e.g. 50% of people expect that they will spend less while on holiday abroad.
Tourism Ireland also presented research which estimated that outbound travel from Britain will decline by 2.5% in 2017. Given Ireland's reliance on Britain, from where 41% of our overseas visitors came in 2016, tourism to Ireland is likely to be more impacted than to any other destination.
Tourism Ireland's strategy for responding to Brexit will involve various strands, including defending key segments of the British market, very focussed competition in existing markets in Europe and North America, and pursuing new, potentially lucrative, markets further afield.
In terms of markets further afield, a commitment is given in the Government's Tourism Policy Statement "People, Place and Policy – Growing Tourism to 2025" to prioritising tourism marketing efforts towards those markets providing higher revenue returns. The Programme for Government commits to implementing the policy objectives in the policy statement and achieving the targets for Irish tourism contained therein. The UK vote does not change this.
As regards competing more vigorously in existing markets, a key element of Tourism Ireland's strategy since 2014 has been market diversification which has seen Mainland Europe become the largest contributor of overseas tourism revenue and will see the United States overtake Britain as the number two contributor to tourism revenue over the next few years. In 2017, Tourism Ireland will continue to implement its market diversification strategy and intends to maximise holiday revenue through investment in Mainland Europe and North America.
In addition, the depreciation of the pound against the euro since the UK referendum means that value for money will be a key message for Tourism Ireland in Britain this year. A strong focus on the "culturally curious", who tend to stay longer and spend more, will assist Tourism Ireland in their defence of their British market. Looking to the medium term, Tourism Ireland is currently finalising its corporate plan for the period from 2017-2019. This plan will, inter alia, include the agency's response to marketing Ireland in Britain in the new situation that has developed following the referendum.
59. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason provided to him by the National Transport Authority regarding the decision it took not to adopt legislation passed in Dáil Éireann in December 2016, that is, an amendment to the Road Traffic Act 2016 allowing for the regulation of rickshaws; if he plans to sign the amendment into law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6101/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDáil Éireann voted to provide for the regulation of rickshaws, by way of an Amendment proposed by the Deputy, during its consideration of the Road Traffic Bill 2016, now the Road Traffic Act 2016.
I subsequently explained to the Seanad during that House's consideration of the Dáil amendments to the Bill that I would need to take further legal advice on the implications of the amendment, especially given that the amendment was not drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel or approved by the Office of the Attorney General.
During the debate on the Bill in the Dáil, I advised the House that the National Transport Authority (NTA) was working on a proposed policy and potential framework for the future regulation of rickshaws. I have just this week received the NTA's proposals which my Department and I will now urgently consider.
I share your concerns about the need for regulation of rickshaws. However, as I indicated to the Seanad, I am seeking legal advice on the implications of the Deputy's amendment - now Section 30 of the Road Traffic Act 2016 - and it is not my intention to commence that provision before the legal position is clarified and I have considered the NTA's proposals on an appropriate and robust regulatory framework for rickshaws.
60. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason an aircraft (details supplied) that passed through Shannon Airport on 17 January 2017 and again on 18 January 2017 changed its call sign from civilian to military; if it was contracted to the US military; if there were troops on board on either occasion; the reason the plane switched call sign on the next leg of its journey after Shannon, from Athens to Qatar; his views on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6031/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe airline operating the two flights referred to by the Deputy applied for an exemption under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973. My Department carried out the standard consultation procedure in relation to the applications and exemptions were granted for both flights. These exemptions were for the personal weapons of the troops on board.
Call signs are a matter for the airline concerned.
61. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration will be given to representatives of an organisation (details supplied) being included in the collaborative group that will be developing the noise management regime for Dublin Airport in accordance with EU Directive 598/2014 and the requirement for consultation with local residents. [6030/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is proposed that the legislation currently in preparation in my Department, in consultation with the Attorney General's Office, will outline requirements concerning the collaborative working arrangements to apply between the Competent Authority and the various statutory bodies that have roles and expertise in relation to noise management, in particular An Bord Pleanála, Fingal County Council and the Environmental Protection Agency. Insofar as public consultation arrangements are concerned, the Competent Authority will also be required to organise consultation processes to secure the views of all concerned stakeholders, including from local residents and businesses. The detailed public consultation requirements and mechanisms will be defined legislatively for the Competent Authority in order that all concerned parties have full clarity of the regime and can provide the necessary inputs and advices at clearly defined stages of the overall regulatory process.
62. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider the inclusion in Estimates of funds for the introduction of a dedicated funding stream similar to the sports capital fund for the sole purpose of constructing walkways and greenways across the country. [3269/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Partnership Government commits to providing additional capital funding in the order of €100m for various tourism projects, including greenways. I will be seeking to deliver this additional funding in the context of the mid-term review of the Capital Plan this year.
Greenways or cycleways, of course, are relevant to many different policy areas and can contribute to the delivery of many different policy objectives across Government particularly within my Department's sphere of responsibility. Cycling infrastructure generally can help to promote modal shift to more sustainable forms of transport, and greenways in particular can also promote rural tourism, sport and recreation. My Department is planning to develop a new Strategy for the future development and funding of greenways. The proposed Strategy will include the approach to be taken by authorities and agencies tasked with delivering greenway infrastructure. My Department will undertake a public consultation process in the near future to inform the development of the new Strategy and all interested parties will have the opportunity to submit their views as part of this public consultation process.
My Department works closely with other relevant Departments and agencies in the delivery of greenways/cycleways. The public consultation on the development of a future Strategy on Greenways will provide an opportunity to consider issues such as that proposed by the Deputy.
63. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider investing money in the Dublin to Rosslare harbour rail line in view of the fact that over €700 million has been spent on two upgrades to the M11 from 2012 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6105/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe role of heavy rail in Ireland's Transport sector is currently under review. Last November, the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Iarnród Éireann launched a public consultation process on the Rail Review Report. The public consultation concluded on 18th January and the NTA is preparing a report about the process which I intend to bring to Government. No decisions on any changes to the rail network will be made until the public consultation process has been evaluated.
The main emphasis of funding for the rail network under the Government's current Capital Plan has been on the maintenance of the existing network to ensure it remains safe and fit for purpose. Present funding allocations should see steady-state levels of maintenance achieved by 2020. The Government is embarking on a Mid-Term Review of the Capital Plan, which will take stock of progress and provide the Government with an opportunity to consider the scope for increased levels of investment, including in the transport sector, taking economic growth and fiscal progress into account.
As the Deputy has pointed out, considerable capital funding has been made available to provide upgrades to the M11, providing safer and more efficient travel for both public transport passengers and those travelling by private car on this route.
64. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the N2 from a safety point of view and in addition from the perspective of the effectiveness of the road as a national route. [6002/17]
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 (including the N2) is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) 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 don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
