Written Answers Nos. 263- 273
263. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to fully implement the national cycle policy framework; and the status of the review of the policy framework promised for 2017. [14365/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile significant progress has been made under a number of objectives contained in the National Cycle Policy Framework (NCPF) my Department has not yet undertaken a formal review of the policy framework or its implementation. However, the NCPF has been integrated into the Development Plans of the majority of local authorities so ensuring that the objectives and policies to support and promote cycling are taken account of in current and future planning. In addition, the National Transport Authority (NTA) published the GDA Cycle Network Plan covering the seven local authority areas in the Greater Dublin Area in 2013.
I think that the success of the framework can be seen in the significant increase in the numbers of people cycling numbers shown in the Dublin City Canal Cordon Report for 2016 published recently by Dublin City Council and the NTA. This showed that over 12,000 people cycled into Dublin's centre in November last year in the morning peak, nearly the same number as used the LUAS during the morning peak commuting hours. It must be remembered that this figure does not include the numbers using Dublin Bikes between the canals.
In 2013 and 2015 my Department requested local authorities and other stakeholders for an update on progress on implementation. The Department now intends to undertake a full review of the framework and we will be pursuing this during 2017.
264. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he intends to take to ensure all rural bus services operated by Bus Éireann are maintained in view of the current difficult financial position of Bus Éireann. [14397/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am fully aware of the important role the bus fulfils in ensuring public transport connectivity for rural communities.
This Government has supported that role through the 11% cumulative increase I secured in Budget 2017 for both the Public Service Obligation (PSO) programme and the Rural Transport Programme. That increase means that in 2017 approximately €277 million will be available to the National Transport Authority (NTA) to support these important programmes, which underpin the delivery of taxpayer funded bus services across rural Ireland. I have committed publicly to further increasing the funding of those programmes in the future as resources allow. Bus Éireann has benefitted from that increased funding for its PSO services and I have no doubt it will benefit again this year. So let's be clear, publicly funded bus services in rural Ireland are expanding and improving and that includes Bus Éireann's PSO network.
I have no doubt the Deputy is aware that across rural Ireland the publicly funded bus services are complemented by a huge range of privately operated bus services. These bus services are provided by operators under licence from the National Transport Authority pursuant to the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009, receive no taxpayer funding and operate on a commercial basis. Unlike the PSO network, commercial routes are decided by the operator with a view to a commercial return. In 2015 around 23 million people travelled on a commercial bus service, which represents approximately 9% of all public transport journeys that year.
I have repeatedly assured rural Ireland that the NTA has the statutory powers available to it to ensure continued public transport connectivity for communities who may lose services in cases where a commercial operator introduces service changes. In its recent response to proposed Expressway route changes announced by Bus Éireann, the NTA has utilised these statutory powers through for example announcing increased PSO services and amending the scheduling of existing rural transport services in order to address identified transport needs caused by the Expressway changes.
265. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there will be any change in Irish Rail pricing on commuter lines as census 2016 produces more detailed statistics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14013/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (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.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
266. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of tourists visiting County Wicklow on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14500/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe collection of statistics are primarily a matter for the Central Statistics Office (CSO). I understand that the CSO does not provide a county by county breakdown of statistics in their monthly 'Overseas Travel' publication. I am aware, however, that Fáilte Ireland, provides an estimated county by county breakdown of overseas visits on an annual basis, based on research of its own as well as available CSO statistics. I have asked Fáilte Ireland to provide the Deputy with further information. 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.
267. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the percentage of his Department's budget spent on tourism, including a breakdown of these costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14501/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraREV 2017 provides a total of approximately €122m for the Tourism Services Programme which is 6.7% of the overall Department's budget. Apart from the pay and administration overhead, this funding is all channelled through the tourism agencies - Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland - as set out below:- Fáilte Ireland €57.9m - Tourism Ireland €14.6m
- Tourism Marketing €35.9m
- Tourism Product Development €12.5m
- Pay and Administration Overhead allocation €1m.
268. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the available grants for local communities to develop tourism opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14502/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies in the area of national tourism policy. It is not directly involved in the management or development of individual tourism projects. These are operational matters for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland. While the Department provides funding to Fáilte Ireland to develop tourism offerings, it does not have a role in the administration of those capital programmes. Similarly, the Department does not have discretionary funds at its disposal to assist with individual tourism proposals.
Fáilte Ireland provides a range of practical supports to help businesses and communities better manage and market their products and services. Fáilte also provides supports for investment in tourism attractions as well as advice on the supports available from other agencies. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte for further information and direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not hear within ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
269. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to develop public transport links in County Wicklow, particularly in south-east Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14503/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development and implementation of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) which includes Wicklow. The NTA's Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035 provides a framework for the planning and delivery of transport infrastructure and services in the GDA over the next two decades. The NTA is currently preparing an Implementation Plan for the delivery of the GDA Strategy for the period 2017-2022 in line with the capital funding that will be available for investment in public transport infrastructure over the period. Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, 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 ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
270. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if plans exist for the installation of a pedestrian bridge at a location (details supplied), in view of the ongoing danger to pedestrians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14504/17]
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 is a matter for 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 do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
271. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of fatal and serious road traffic collisions that have been reported over the past ten years in which a tractor was involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14512/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra272. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the location of all road traffic collisions involving tractors on the road, that is if they were at road junctions, a gateway and so on, and the road types such as national, regional or local roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14513/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra273. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for tractor-related accidents; if there were issues such as visibility, road junctions and poor road maintenance or bad corners that were reported as being the causes of the accidents in which tractors were involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14514/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 271 to 273, inclusive, together.
The following table, compiled by the Road Safety Authority, sets out the number of fatal and serious injury collisions over the period 2004 - 2013 involving an agricultural vehicle or tractor. This information relates to collisions that occurred on a public road, based on reports provided to the Road Safety Authority by an Garda Síochána. Please note that more recent statistics detailing collisions involving tractors are not currently available and those supplied do not include collisions which took place on private land, which are outside the remit of my Department. No further details of the location and circumstances spanning this time period are available; and the Deputy should note that in this data, while at least one party was using an agricultural vehicle, it does not necessarily mean that the driver/passenger of the agricultural vehicle was the injured party.
|
Year |
Fatal |
Serious |
|
2004 |
7 |
11 |
|
2005 |
5 |
11 |
|
2006 |
5 |
12 |
|
2007 |
5 |
5 |
|
2008 |
6 |
8 |
|
2009 |
3 |
4 |
|
2010 |
4 |
7 |
|
2011 |
3 |
4 |
|
2012 |
4 |
4 |
|
2013 |
6 |
3 |
