Written Answers Nos. 638-651
638. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a company (details supplied) was not approved for funding under the 2016 Fáilte Ireland capital investment programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16250/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra639. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which the assessment criteria for the 2016 Fáilte Ireland capital investment programme was applied in individual cases across the country, especially as it pertains to an application by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16251/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra640. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a company (details supplied) was deemed to not meet the stated criteria for the 2016 Fáilte Ireland capital investment programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16252/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 638 to 640, inclusive, together.
My Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily 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 for investment in tourism offerings, it does not have a role in the administration of Fáilte Ireland's tourism capital programmes, including the Grants Scheme for Large Tourism Projects.
Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you have not received a reply within ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
641. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the planned all-Ireland national indoor cycling velodrome construction will commence at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown. [16256/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAny proposal to proceed with the development of a velodrome at the National Sports Campus would be subject in the normal way to the availability of capital funding and the outcome of an appropriate financial appraisal, in accordance with the Public Spending Code. A financial appraisal for the project is currently being finalised by Sport Ireland. The availability of capital funding for the project will be determined after the Mid Term Review of the Capital Plan which is underway.
642. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will instruct Transport Infrastructure Ireland to postpone the 23% increase in toll costs on the M50 from 1 April 2017 following the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union that toll charges are not subject to VAT, in view of the fact the increasing costs to the road haulage industry will damage business and jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16323/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy in relation to roads. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects on national roads are a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the relevant local authority. For regional and local roads it is a matter for each respective local authority. More specifically, the statutory powers to levy tolls on the M50 and Port Tunnel, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors are vested in TII under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Roads Act 2007).
The position with regard to VAT on tolls is that TII absorbed the imposition of VAT within the pre-existing toll charge. By that I mean VAT was shown as part of the total toll charge. From 1 April 2017, the toll charge will no longer show a VAT element. There is no variation in the overall cost and there has been no variation in the overall toll cost since 2010.
Noting the above position, I have referred the matter to TII 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.
643. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a person (details supplied) will be permitted to renew a driver's licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16330/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operation of the National Driver Licensing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and I have no role in individual cases.I have therefore referred 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.
644. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of funding for a centre (details supplied) from the capital programme. [16334/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation referred to by the Deputy under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme. All of the 2,320 applications received under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme will be assessed by officials in my Department over the coming months.
An announcement regarding allocations will be made later this year.
645. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the expected timeframe for the processing of sports capital grant applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16337/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll of the 2320 applications received under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme will be assessed by officials in my Department over the coming months. Given the number of applications received and the detailed information submitted, it will take a number of months to complete this process and I expect that allocations will be made in August or September.
646. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of requests his Department received for material to be made available in Braille format in each of the years 2014 to 2016; the number of these requests which were accommodated by his Department; the cost implication and the person or body which provided the translation service. [16389/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department's Customer Service Action Plan 2017-2019 was published earlier this year. The service standards and indicators in this Customer Service Action Plan are set out in accordance with the 12 Guiding Principles of Quality Customer Service. One of these principles is Choice where we commit to providing choice in service delivery to our customers. One of the Department's service standards under this Principle is to "Ensure our publications are available, upon request, in a format appropriate to the customer, for example Braille". Since the publication of the Action Plan the Department has not received any requests for Braille. The information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated and will be forwarded as soon as possible. If the Deputy does not receive a response within 10 working days they should contact my private office.
647. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the lack of safe cycling infrastructure in place in view of the high percentage of road deaths among cyclists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16391/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra648. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to reduce the number of cyclists killed in road deaths, including plans for investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16392/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 647 and 648 together.
During the lifetime of the previous Road Safety Strategy, 2007-2012, fatalities among cyclists declined by 66%. While it is always difficult to keep up the downward momentum in fatalities, the current Road Safety Strategy (RSS) 2013-2020 contains a number of measures to make cyclists safer. Key to this are educational and public information measures aimed at both motorists, for example, RSA advertising campaigns, and at cyclists, for example, the 'Cycle Right' Initiative.
I look upon every cyclist fatality as an avoidable tragedy. I intend to tackle the issue of cyclist-related deaths through targeting cyclist and motorist attitudes and behaviour, through education programmes, through the provision of cycle tracks, and the rollout of the Cycle Right campaign, which was launched in January 2017 and which will be rolled out to primary schools nationwide during the year.
Cyclists are inherently vulnerable road users and as such I believe that cyclists are safest on segregated cycle tracks. Provision is being made for the funding of cycle tracks each year, with funding of €23.2 million allocated to the Greater Dublin Area for sustainable transport measures including cycling infrastructure in 2016, with total funding for this and for a similar scheme in the Regional Cities in 2016 amounting to €36.7 million. In 2017 my Department will be investing more than €37 million in Smarter Travel and Sustainable Transport measures including cycling infrastructure.
649. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reporting mechanism within his Department of the national co-ordinating committee for mountain and cave rescue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16474/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Co-ordinating Committee for Mountain and Cave Rescue (NCCMCR) was established in 1983 and has been chaired by the Irish Coast Guard of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport since 2002. The Committee meets twice a year. The Committee is currently chaired by the Volunteer Services and Training Manager of the Coast Guard, who ensures that any wider issues that require attention are brought to the appropriate forum.
650. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current or recent levels of greenhouse gas emissions, expressed in Mt CO2e, in the greater Dublin area which were used as the baseline emissions in the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2016 to 2035. [16478/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra651. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the levels of greenhouse gas emissions, expressed in Mt CO2e, in the greater Dublin area which are predicted to occur consequent on the implementation of the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2016 to 2035. [16479/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 650 and 651 together.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to addressing the effects of climate change. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2016 to 2035.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred your 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.
