Aindrias Moynihan
Ceist:75. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the N22 Macroom bypass will be released to tender for construction. [5888/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraNational Roads Authority Projects
Ceisteanna (75)
Freagraí scríofa
As 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 N22 Macroom Bypass is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland 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.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland
Ceisteanna (76)
Robert Troy
Ceist:76. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress being made by his Department or a body under its aegis in securing funding for critical transport infrastructure under the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many other countries in the EU have secured funding for transport projects and that of the EFSI transactions approved to date, 6% are in the transport sector; and the reason Ireland, by contrast, has no funding application for critical transport projects. [6094/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department actively encourages all transport sectors to explore all avenues of finance available including domestic banks, Trans European Network-transport (TENT), Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), European Investment Bank (EIB), Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI), to secure the most suitable funding instrument at the most favourable commercial rates. In many cases, a mix of funding instruments is used for capital projects by ports, roads aviation and public transport sectors.
There are no specific transport projects that have been assisted under the EFSI but some have been co-funded and assisted through CEF, the EIB and INTERREG (a European Territorial Cooperation programme that aims to stimulate cross border and inter-regional cooperation in the European Union).
Road Projects
Ceisteanna (77)
Martin Heydon
Ceist:77. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the role his Department has to play in the review process of a submission by Kildare County Council to allow the Athy ring road project to proceed to An Bord Pleanála; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3272/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As I already stated in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 268 of 25 January 2016 to the Deputy, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads, such as the Athy Distributor Road, is the statutory responsibility of Kildare 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 Capital Plan 2016-2021 provides that a number of schemes, including the Athy Distributor Road, targeting bottlenecks in the road network will be progressed subject to necessary approvals. In this context the project has to meet the requirements of the Public Spending Code and my Department's Common Appraisal Framework for Transport Projects as well as obtaining planning approval. It is a matter for Kildare County Council to progress the scheme through the approval process.
In relation to the project appraisal process, the Council has submitted the project Business Case and Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) documentation for consideration by my Department. Consideration of the project appraisal documentation involves a number of steps. As the project has an estimated cost in excess of €20 million, my Department's Economic and Financial Evaluation Unit in liaison with the Central Expenditure and Evaluation Unit (CEEU) in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will need to review the CBA for compliance with the Public Spending Code and my Department's Common Appraisal Framework. The overall Business Case will then need approval.
The project appraisal procedure will be progressed as soon as possible taking into account available resources.
I have made €1 million available to progress this project as part of 2017 Regional and Local Roads Grants.
Immigration Controls
Ceisteanna (78)
Clare Daly
Ceist:78. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the discussions he has had in relation to the review of US preclearance at Dublin and Shannon airports announced on 30 January 2017 in response to President Trump's Muslim travel ban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6033/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Firstly, I would like to state that I strongly disagree with the policy recently announced by President Trump to temporarily ban travel to the US by nationals of certain countries. As you know, there is currently a suspension in place for this Executive Order, which is the subject of an appeal at a US Federal Appeals Court and we await the outcome of that appeal.
Notwithstanding this, my officials have already been in contact with the US authorities and have conveyed our concerns about President Trump's Executive Order and its implications for US Preclearance Services at Shannon and Dublin Airports.
A meeting of the Preclearance Consultative Group had been arranged for 1 March 2017. However in light of recent events, my officials have requested that this meeting be brought forward. This is a mechanism outlined in the Preclearance Agreement which allows for representatives from both parties to meet and review any operational issues arising related to the Agreement. This meeting has now been set for Thursday 23 February.
As you will also be aware that An Taoiseach has requested that a review of US Preclearance in Ireland be undertaken by the relevant Departments:- Justice and Equality, Foreign Affairs and Trade and my own Department. I anticipate that a report will be made to An Taoiseach this week.
Road Network
Ceisteanna (79)
Imelda Munster
Ceist:79. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether the local and regional roads funding allocation for County Louth of €5.1 million, representing an increase on the previous year of €384,000 is adequate, in view of the serious deterioration in roads throughout the county over the past number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6099/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in County Louth is the statutory responsibility of Louth County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the 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.
On 24 January, I announced the 2017 regional and local road allocations to all local authorities which included a modest increase on the initial 2016 allocations to local authorities. It should be noted that the main grant programmes funded by my Department (Restoration Improvement, Restoration Maintenance and Discretionary Grant) are allocated on a "per kilometre" basis thus ensuring a fair and equitable approach for determining allocations to local authorities. The priority in 2017 continues to be the maintenance of our existing road network. I am not in a position to provide as much funding to local authorities as I would wish, as my Department has to work within the budgets available to it.
I have been emphasising to local authorities the importance of prioritising expenditure on roads when allocating own resources, including revenue from Local Property Tax receipts.
Skills Development
Ceisteanna (80)
Seán Barrett
Ceist:80. Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the recent plea by the chief executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland to have more persons trained as chefs and skilled hospitality employees due to the crisis that has arisen regarding trained staff in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5763/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of Education and Skills has lead responsibility for skills development policy generally across all sectors, including hospitality and tourism, and oversees the bulk of the required education and training delivered nationally through the mainstream higher and further education and training sectors. This work complements Fáilte Ireland's efforts to encourage, promote and support tourism as a leading indigenous component of the Irish economy.
In line with my Department's Tourism Action Plan 2016-2018, Fáilte Ireland is committed to working with the tourism industry and the wider education and training sector to implement the recommendations contained in the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) report on the hospitality sector. These recommendations are aimed at ensuring that there is an adequate supply of skilled staff in the tourism sector, including key roles such as chefs and other skilled positions.
Addressing projected skills demand requires a combination of measures, including providing appropriate direct enterprise support, entry-level training, advanced/professional training; increasing the attractiveness of employment opportunities; and improving staff retention in certain occupations. Government Departments, agencies, education and training providers, industry bodies and employers each have a role to play. In this regard, Fáilte Ireland participates in the Hospitality Skills Oversight Group, which oversees skills development and promotion in the sector, including monitoring the implementation of the EGFSN recommendations, and involves all relevant stakeholders - including the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI). Fáilte Ireland is also an active participant, alongside the RAI and other key industry bodies, on the consortium collaborating on the development of the culinary apprenticeship.
I believe that this collaborative approach is the most effective way to tackle the current challenges and to support the sustainable development of the Irish tourism industry, including addressing challenges concerning the supply of skilled chefs.
Sports Capital Programme
Ceisteanna (81)
Martin Heydon
Ceist:81. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the role that local sports partnerships can play in working with local sports clubs applying for sport capital grants to ensure a reduction in the number of invalid applications on this round; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6028/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
On 21 December last, I, along with Minister Ross, announced that €30m is being made available under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme. The application process opened on 23 January and will remain open until the 24 February.
For the 2017 Sports Capital Programme my Department has introduced a number of innovations to try to reduce the proportion of invalid applications submitted. These include:
- The application form has been simplified and reduced from 14 pages to 6;
- There is more online validation of application information to prompt users to provide the correct information and to prevent users from submitting incomplete or invalid applications;
- A relaxation in the requirements for applicants to provide supporting documentation especially around quotations and planning permission.
My Department has also produced a comprehensive written and video guide, both of which are available on my Department's website. The Guide details the relevant staff member in Sports Capital Division dealing with each county who can assist with any queries applicants may have. Furthermore, my Department has arranged seven regional workshops to guide organisations through the application process. These are taking place this week and next and I am aware that the Local Sports Partnerships have assisted in organising and advertising these events. All of these measures should ensure that the level of invalid applications will be reduced under this round of the programme.
Road Network
Ceisteanna (82)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:82. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to have a major programme of upgrading works carried out on specific regional routes which carry heavy volumes of traffic and are the key arterial routes for rural areas; if consideration will be given to areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan which face particular economic challenges due to Brexit with the resultant need to improve infrastructure to assist industry and business to remain as competitive as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5825/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in Counties Cavan and Monaghan is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the 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 transport element of the Capital Plan sets out investment priorities to 2022 and was framed by the conclusions reached in my Department’s Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport. Based on the findings in that report it is envisaged that maintenance and renewal of the road network will continue to be the main priority over the next period and the bulk of the roads capital budget, over €4 billion, is earmarked for such essential work with a further €600 million allocated for implementation of the PPP road programme which is already underway and the balance for the limited number of road improvement projects included in the Plan.
On 24 January, I announced the 2017 regional and local road allocations to all local authorities including Counties Cavan and Monaghan. My Department has to work within the budgets available to it in the Capital Plan and all grant funding for 2017 has now been allocated.
National Driver Licensing Service
Ceisteanna (83)
Charlie McConalogue
Ceist:83. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to reinstate the national driving licence centre in the Carndonagh public services, Carndonagh, County Donegal in view of the fact that it is an hour's drive for many Inishowen residents to Letterkenny; if not, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5755/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The operation of the National Driver Licensing Service - including the location of its offices - is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and I have no role in these matters. I have therefore forwarded the Question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
Bus Éireann
Ceisteanna (84)
Bríd Smith
Ceist:84. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has had any contact with the management of Bus Éireann prior to or since it announced a cost cutting plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6035/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware, Bus Éireann is developing plans to address its financial position. The Company is currently loss-making and these losses are not sustainable. In developing its plans, the Company is seeking to ensure a sustainable future for it in the years ahead; however, those plans remain under development and the company are seeking to engage with its employees on its proposals to secure the company's future.
Given the fact that the Company is still preparing its plan, I am unsure as regards exactly what date the Deputy is referring to in relation to any announcement; however, to clarify I have met the Chair of the Company on the following dates since my appointment as Minister:
- 12 September;
- 5 December;
- 12 January;
- 30 January.