Written Answers Nos. 594-615
594. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of exploration licences issued in the past five years; the extent to which they have been activated to date in 2017; the prospects emerging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22156/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of all petroleum exploration and mineral prospecting authorisations granted are published on my Department's website www.dccae.gov.ie on a quarterly basis. In addition, I am required, under the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960, and the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1999, to lay before the Oireachtas half-yearly reports detailing all petroleum and mineral exploration authorisations granted during the period of the report. The last such reports under both of these Acts were in respect of the six-month period ending 31 December 2016. The table outlines, in respect of both petroleum exploration licences and mineral prospecting licences, the number of licences granted over the last five years to date.
Exploration Licences granted 2012 to 2017
|
Year |
Petroleum Exploration Licences granted |
Mineral Exploration Licences granted |
|
2012 |
0 |
102 |
|
2013 |
5 |
142 |
|
2014 |
6 |
71 |
|
2015 |
0 |
90 |
|
2016 |
0 |
94 |
|
2017 |
0 |
52 |
|
Total |
11 |
551 |
When an exploration licence is granted, whether relating to petroleum or minerals, it is granted subject to an agreed work programme, the progress of which is monitored by my Department. All exploration licences granted in the past five years have been activated as such.
There have been no commercial discoveries of oil or gas within the territory of the State in the last five years. Ireland, however, has witnessed a positive upswing in the level of petroleum exploration activity in recent years, in particular acquisition of new seismic data. It is anticipated that this will translate into an increased level of exploration in the coming years.
In a similar manner, while the number of active minerals prospecting licences indicate the buoyant state of mineral exploration in Ireland, no new commercially viable deposits of minerals have been discovered in the last five years, although there have been some encouraging results. It is too early to determine, however, whether these results will lead to identification of commercially viable deposits.
597. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the degree to which he expects to meet carbon and other emission requirements in 2017 or thereafter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22159/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra598. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which he and his Department continue to take specific steps to meet climate change challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22160/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 597 and 598 together.
I refer to the answers to Questions Nos. 45 and 58 on today's Order Paper.
In accordance with the 2009 EU Effort Sharing Decision, Ireland has greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets for each year between 2013 and 2020 covering the sectors of the economy outside of the EU Emissions Trading System. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the competent authority in Ireland for the preparation of official inventories of greenhouse gas emissions and projections of future emissions. Inventories of greenhouse gas emissions are normally published by the EPA for each year towards the end of the following year. While it is not possible to provide a forecast of Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2017 or in future years, the EPA has projected that for each year between 2017 and 2020, Ireland is likely to exceed its annual targets under the Effort Sharing Decision. The most recent projections, published by the EPA in April 2017, are available on the EPA’s website at http://www.epa.ie/climate/emissionsinventoriesandprojections/.
599. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which he has studied the effect of various plastics on the environment with particular reference to the best way to deal with the situation in its various forms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22161/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOur use of plastic has increased exponentially in recent decades. Plastics feature across a wide range of applications and products, such as packaging, construction, electrics and electronics, agriculture, medical and health. In Ireland, the latest statistics available show 55% of all plastic waste was sent to landfill in 2011. The last waste characterisation study showed that 12.4% of our household waste, by weight, was plastic. My Department is funding the EPA to undertake new characterisation work this year and new figures will be available over the coming 12 months.
Plastic packaging waste represents a significant element of our plastic waste. Under the EU Packaging Directive, 22.5% of plastic packaging must be recycled. The most recent waste packaging statistics show that Ireland has met and exceeded this target, reaching 40% for plastic packaging recycling.
It should also be noted that waste collectors are obliged under waste management legislation to ensure that specified plastics are collected from households for the purpose of facilitating the recycling of such material.
My Department provides funding to the EPA for the commissioning of research and is providing €8.75 million for this purpose in 2017. A number of studies on plastics have been completed through this funding stream. This year, the EPA has commissioned a study to identify the sources and pathways of microplastics into our river systems and also to ascertain the harm caused to aquatic lifeforms.
Ireland has worked to address the issue of plastics in the environment and was the first EU country to address the issue of plastic bags which were a significant component of litter. The introduction of the plastic bag levy has resulted in reductions from an estimated 328 bags-per-person per-year, prior to the introduction of the levy, to 12 bags-per-person per-year in 2015, of bags subject to the levy. The EU has since introduced an amendment to the Packaging Directive to control plastic bags.
At a European level, the European Commission is preparing a Plastics Strategy for publication later this year as part of its Action Plan on the Circular Economy. The Strategy is intended to address issues such as recyclability, biodegradability, hazardous substances of concern in certain plastics.
On marine litter specifically, the Government will continue to work with partners to reduce the amount of plastic entering the riverine and marine environments as litter. My colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, recently committed to introducing legislation which will prohibit the manufacture and sale of certain ‘rinse down the drain’ products containing plastic microbeads and is supporting related research in the matter.
600. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which reliance on landfill waste disposal facilities continues to be monitored with particular reference to the utilisation of best practice in terms of reduce, reuse and recycle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22162/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment waste management policy is predicated on the waste hierarchy, i.e., to prevent the generation of waste in the first instance and then to divert waste which cannot be prevented away from landfill through preparing for re-use, recycling and other recovery. There are numerous measures under the policy to give effect to minimising the amount of waste consigned to landfill.
The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) is charged with reporting data on waste management, which includes reporting the amount of waste consigned to landfill. A wide range of waste statistics is available on the EPA website (http://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/waste/stats/), including information on our performance against targets under the Landfill Directive and other European legislation.
In addition, annual reports on the implementation of the three Regional Waste Management Plans (2015 to 2021) are available on the respective Regional Waste Management Planning Office websites. The plans contain targets which cover the areas of prevention, recycling and landfilling. The relevant websites may be accessed at http://www.epa.ie/waste/policy/regional/
Notwithstanding the substantial progress made in terms of reducing our reliance on landfill from 95% in 1995 to 41% in 2012, I am aware that in 2016 there was insufficient capacity to dispose of residual waste and emergency powers were invoked by the regulatory authorities to make additional landfill capacity available. My Department is working with the three Regional Waste Management Planning Offices and other regulatory bodies to ensure such emergency measures are not required going forward. This will be especially important in terms implementing Government waste, renewable energy and jobs policies and in meeting current and future targets under EU legislation.
602. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocations from his Department to support research and development in coastal tourism in each of the years 2012 to 2016, in tabular form. [21431/17]
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, such as the development of tourism in marine regions, including the Wild Atlantic Way and the promotion of cruise tourism. These are operational matters for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland. While my Department provides capital funding to Fáilte Ireland for investment in tourism, it does not have a role in the administration of tourism capital programmes.
Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply to the Deputy. Please contact my private office if you have not received a reply within ten working days.
603. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1236 of 21 March 2017, if he has been presented with the final report into the circumstances surrounding the distribution of tickets for the Rio Olympic Games and related matters by Judge Carroll Moran; if so, if he and the Minister of State in his Department will meet with the Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport to discuss its contents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21447/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn a letter to Minister O'Donovan and me, dated 31 March 2017, Judge Moran asked for an extension of time to Friday, 19 May 2017, for the presentation of his Report. This request has been granted.
Once the Report has been presented, it will require careful consideration prior to its publication. Minister O'Donovan and I would be happy to meet with the Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport to discuss the Report following its publication.
604. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the budget allocated to Fáilte Ireland in each of the years 2007 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [21459/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra605. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the budget allocated to Tourism Ireland in each of the years 2007 to 2016, and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [21460/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra606. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the Exchequer funding for overseas tourism marketing in each of the years 2007 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [21461/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 604 to 606, inclusive, together.
The breakdown of the total Exchequer provision for tourism services from my Department's vote is available in the annual Revised Estimates Volume (REV) for Public Services, which is published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and available on that Department's website. The subheads of relevance to the two tourism agencies, Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland, are E3, E4, E5 and E6. Allocations under subheads E3 and E6 (previously E7, up to and including 2012) are for Fáilte Ireland; subhead E4 provides funding towards Tourism Ireland's administration and general expenses; whereas allocations under subhead E5 (previously E6, up to and including 2012), the Tourism Marketing Fund, are split between the two agencies to fund overseas tourism marketing efforts.
With regard to allocations to date in 2017, of the overall annual Exchequer allocation to the tourism agencies, the amount of funding provided by my Department to Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland totals €38.289m, of which €15.956m is for overseas tourism marketing.
607. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he expects the independent evaluation of overseas tourism marketing expenditure to be published; and the details of the study. [21462/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraPolicy Proposal number 1.1.3 of "People, Place and Policy - Growing Tourism to 2025" stated that the State's investment in overseas destination marketing will be externally evaluated on a regular basis in order to ensure the optimal use of the Government's tourism budget. Action number 8 of the subsequent Tourism Action Plan 2016-18 states that my department will arrange for an independent evaluation of Ireland's overseas tourism marketing expenditure, and the findings of this evaluation will be shared with the tourism industry.
Following on from this, the Economic and Financial Evaluation Unit within DTTAS (a constituent part of the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service) has initiated work on the evaluation of overseas tourism marketing expenditure. The evaluation will be carried out under the established system of Value for Money and Policy Reviews and will entail a full analytical assessment of the efficiency, effectiveness and rationale of the expenditure. It is expected that the evaluation will be completed by the end of this year.
608. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding extending the Dublin bikes scheme to west Dublin in Dublin City Council and to Dublin 15 in Fingal County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21650/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the administration and development of the Dublin public bikes scheme in cooperation with the relevant local authority.
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.
609. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the bus rapid transit project for Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21653/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA).
The NTA's Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) 2016 - 2035 includes proposals for two specific BRT schemes, Blanchardstown to UCD and Clongriffin to Tallaght. The NTA is preparing an Implementation Plan for the delivery of the strategy for the period 2017 - 2022. Key to implementation over this period is the capital funding that will be available for investment in public transport infrastructure over the period.
Funding is being made available for initial planning and design work for the Blanchardstown to UCD BRT under the Government's Capital Plan 'Building on Recovery Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016 - 2021'. I understand from the NTA that following from a recent tender competition a design team has now been appointed to progress the design and planning documentation for the scheme.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for a more detailed 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.
610. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the projects that will be funded from the €3.6 billion earmarked for public transport in the Exchequer capital transport envelope 2016-2021; and the amount that will be used to enhance public transport outside County Dublin and specifically in Cork city and county. [21677/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe focus of the €3.6 billion investment in the Public Transport Capital Programme over the 7-year period of the Government's Capital Plan, particularly in the early years of the Plan, is on achieving essential steady state maintenance of our public transport network to ensure that it remains safe and fit for purpose.
It is not possible to draw a clear line between investments in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and outside of the GDA in all cases. Approximately €1.3bn of the overall funding for public transport over the period of the Plan is required for maintenance of the heavy rail network which benefits all areas of the network both within and outside the GDA.
A further €250m approximately is provisionally allocated for other improvements to the heavy rail network. While this includes almost €70m for phase one of the DART expansion programme and €30m for other heavy rail projects in the GDA, over €150m is allocated for the City Centre Re-signalling project, development of the Central Traffic Control Centre and ticketing programmes which will deliver benefits across the whole rail network.
The light rail network in Dublin, including completion of Luas Cross City, and new Metro North will receive approximately €1bn over the period of the Plan.
Over €800m is provisionally allocated for development of the bus system throughout the country. This includes fleet replacement and enlargement programmes for the Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann PSO fleets, as well as bus network infrastructure development in the GDA and the regional cities of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.
Funding is also provided to continue development and further roll-out of the Leap Card Scheme over the period of the Plan. The scheme is now available in the regional cities and the GDA and is being rolled out nationally on a gradual basis. The Plan also provides over €70m for sustainable transport projects in the regional cities and accessibility programmes.
A mid-term review of the Capital Plan is underway and I will be seeking to improve the funding available for public transport in order to meet increasing demand, tackle congestion in the GDA and in our regional cities in particular.
611. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the planned extension of the DART to Balbriggan, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21704/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra612. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the DART interconnector and DART underground; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21705/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 611 and 612 together.
The National Transport Authority's (NTA) 'Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035' 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. The NTA is preparing an Implementation Plan for the delivery of the GDA strategy for the period 2017-2022.
The DART Expansion Programme also incorporates the DART Underground Tunnel (previously known as the DART Interconnector). The Government decided in September 2015 that the original proposal for the tunnel should be redesigned to provide a lower cost solution and work is underway on that at present.
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 and for the redesign of the DART Underground Tunnel.
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.
With regard to the Underground Tunnel, work has commenced to determine the optimal connection location for the tunnel to tie-in to the Heuston Mainline. Other work is also ongoing in relation to tunnel variants.
613. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will create a category of hackney and taxi permit to allow otherwise private vehicles owned and operated by a person living in a specific rural area to be used in that specific and appointed rural area on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights with restricted hours of operation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21544/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the licensing requirements for SPSVs and their drivers, 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.
614. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will alter the manner in which resitting of the PSV test for taxi drivers is done in order that those failing one module do not have to resit both modules when resitting the test. [21612/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra615. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will alter the manner in which feedback is given to those who fail the PSV test for taxi drivers in order that there is a question by question result rather than by topic. [21613/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 614 and 615 together.
The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including issues pertaining to the SPSV Entry Test, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.
I have therefore referred your questions 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.
