Written Answers Nos. 51-58
51. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he has evaluated the sporting and recreational infrastructure throughout the country with a view to a continuation of the programme of providing facilities locally and nationally to ensure all communities throughout the country have reasonable access to such facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22138/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sports Capital Programme (SCP) is the Government's primary vehicle to support the development of sports facilities and the purchase of sports equipment. It aims to foster an integrated and planned approach to developing sports and physical recreation facilities throughout the country. On 21 December last, we announced that €30 million is being made available under the 2017 SCP. The application process closed on the 24th February and all of the 2320 applications received are in the process of being assessed by officials in my Department. Given the number of applications received and the detailed information submitted, it will take a number of months to complete the assessment process with allocations not expected to be announced until September.
While there has been no recent evaluation of the SCP, work is ongoing on the drafting of a new National Sports Policy Framework, which Minister Ross and I expect to present to Government in before the summer break. The question of the strategic provision of facilities in order to ensure access for all communities across the country is a key issue, particularly in the context of the Government's commitment to continued investment in the SCP. The National Sports Policy Framework will consider the optimal approach to ensure access to facilities nationally, regionally and locally. The matter of a nationwide audit of sports facilities is also being considered in that context. Furthermore, work on a detailed Value for Money review of the SCP with input from the Department of Public Expenditure will be commencing later this year.
52. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for the development of a third terminal at Dublin Airport; the meetings which have taken place on the matter between him and his officials since he came to office in May 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21957/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently no plans for the development of a third terminal at Dublin Airport. However, the question of the third terminal has risen in the context of a high level, strategic capacity review of Ireland's State airports which I announced late last year would be undertaken by my Department in 2017.
This is in line with the National Aviation Policy which committed that the Department would commission such a review in 2018 and which I decided to bring forward given the anticipated continued strong passenger growth and the decision by daa to proceed with the construction of the second parallel runway.
As part of the normal interaction between Ministers and the Department, I regularly meet with my officials to discuss a range of matters covering the aviation area.
The review will consider the long-term development of the three State airports to 2050, with the identification and prioritisation of new infrastructure development including modification, if any, to the existing airport infrastructure.
In the case of Dublin Airport only, the study will consider the timeframe for the development of new terminal capacity – Terminal 3 – and its appropriate design and optimum location. The review will also assess the relative advantages and disadvantages of the funding and operation of Terminal 3 by the existing airport operator in comparison to being operated on an independent basis.
The review will take account of the wider government objectives and policies for enterprise, tourism and balanced regional development in Ireland and developments in the global aviation market.
The selection process is nearing completion and work is expected to commence shortly. It is anticipated that this review will be completed by the end of the year.
53. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on calls for funding for the Donegal mountain rescue team, which has seen an unprecedented increase in demand for its support services, not only in upland areas but also in the lowlands, given the difficulties this presents in view of funding cutbacks made since 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20398/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a Coastal Inshore Mountain and Cave Grant to the Donegal Mountain Rescue Team in the amount of €7,407, in line with its policy of providing grants to a small number of Mountain and Cave Rescue organisations. The grant awarded has been maintained at its current level since 2011. The Department has no role, other than the provision of grant aid, in respect of Mountain rescue. Mountain Rescue Teams are tasked by An Garda Síochána, which comes under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Coastguard is a Division of this Department. The Irish Coastguard have a number of functions, which include Search and Rescue and Maritime Pollution Prevention and Response. With the exception of Aviation Rescue Co-ordination Centres and Rescue Co-ordination Sub-Centres, which are the responsibility of the Irish Aviation Authority, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is the authority responsible for both Maritime and Aviation Search and Rescue under the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the International Maritime Organisation Conventions and under domestic law.
The location, distribution and response service provided by Irish Coastguard assets are kept under continuous review with a view to development and improvement in the delivery of search and rescue services around the country. While I accept the vital nature of the commitment made by Donegal Mountain Rescue, I believe that budgetary priority must be given to the primary responsibility of providing a marine emergency response service.
54. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 23 of 22 March 2017, if he will report on progress appointing residents' representatives to the collaborative working group to develop protocols and rules on the management of noise at Dublin Airport under EU Regulation 598/2014. [22102/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that, as previously stated in my response to Deputy Daly on 22 March 2017, before any decisions are made about aircraft noise management at Dublin Airport, there will be an opportunity for all stakeholders, including residents, to have their views taken into consideration by the designated Competent Authority. I also stated, at the request of the Deputy, that I would be happy to request the IAA meet with a community representative from the resident's forum group to discuss EU Regulation 598/2014. As the Deputy will be aware, officials in my Department continue to engage with the Office of the Attorney General and the Parliamentary Counsel to implement EU Regulation 598/2014 by way of Statutory Instrument.
I would like to make it clear that it will ultimately be the responsibility of the designated Competent Authority to implement the rules and procedures which are set down in EU Regulation 598/14 relating to the new noise management regulatory regime for Dublin Airport. The Competent Authority will be appointed shortly, following finalisation of the SI. While I am providing for public consultation in the legislation, it is not envisaged that the Competent Authority will establish a collaborative working group to develop protocols and rules in relation to the management of noise as, I have just outlined, the rules and procedures have already been established under Regulation 598/14.
However, I do expect and I am ensuring under the SI, that the Competent Authority shall interact with stakeholders, including residents, before any decision is made on noise management.
55. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the Dublin-based transport infrastructure projects he has submitted for consideration with regard to the mid-term capital review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21959/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDeputy Curran is aware that a mid-term review of the Capital Plan has been initiated by Government to look at where capital investment priorities lie over the remaining 4 years of the current plan in the context of a growing economy. I, along with Ministerial colleagues, am engaged in making our cases to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for increased funding for a variety of important capital investments. Transport has already been identified as a top priority in this review. I intend to ensure we secure a significantly increased level of investment over the remaining 4 years of the plan which will help to address growing congestion and bottlenecks across out transport network. This is vital for Dublin but also for the rest of the country.
The existing capital plan already provides funding to advance a number of key public transport projects in Dublin such as Luas Cross City, Metro North, the Dart Expansion programme and Dart Underground. One of the most effective approaches to tackle congestion over the short to medium term is to radically improve the bus system to deliver a step change in performance across the GDA region and in our regional cities. This can be complemented with a network of park and ride sites and investment to increase capacity across public transport and to improve the infrastructure for sustainable transport options. All of these projects form part of the solution. I will be putting forward a robust case for them over the coming months.
I understand all Departmental submissions will be published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in due course. For the moment, these submissions are part of a deliberative process which will be completed over the Summer with final decisions to be taken by Government as part of the 2018 Estimate. At this point, I am not in a position to provide any more specific details on the proposals and priorities contained in my Department's submission. Once these are published, however, I will of course be more than happy to discuss them.
56. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if EU Regulation 598/2014 will be implemented here through primary legislation or statutory instrument, or both; and the likely timescale for same. [22104/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for her question on this significant piece of legislation.
The entry into force in June 2016 of EU Regulation 598/2014 represented a shift in responsibility from the airport operator to a separate, independent statutory entity or competent authority to oversee the delivery of the new, more prescriptive approach to aircraft noise management. Along with all other EU Member States, Ireland must give effect to this changed situation.
There are two key reforms in the planned implementation of this EU Regulation. Firstly, a dedicated, expert-focused competent authority in Ireland is being designated to take responsibility for consideration of all aircraft noise issues at Dublin Airport. While I acknowledge there is no one available body perfectly suited to fulfilling this function, the Irish Aviation Authority is considered to be best placed to perform this important regulatory role. This is particularly relevant to the on-going requirement for aircraft noise assessment at the airport. The second essential reform is to clarify the collaborative working and public consultation arrangements that have to be applied in this area. It is important that there is clarity about how the legitimate concerns of residents about aircraft noise at the airport will be taken into account.
Insofar as the question of primary legislation is concerned, deliberations are still ongoing with the Attorney General's Office regarding any elements that may necessitate primary legislation. I hope you can appreciate that until concrete clarification in this area is achieved, I cannot give absolute information at this stage. As you will now be keenly aware, officials in my Department are engaging in long and careful consideration of all advice from the Office of the Attorney General. The immediate focus remains on the completion of the Statutory Instrument and any further issues which may need to be clarified by way of primary legislation will follow in due course.
57. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the way the €100 million of VAT on tolls collected by the National Roads Authority and then Transport Infrastructure Ireland will be spent; the plans the agency has for these funds; and the implication this may have for his Department and the funding of transport projects over the coming period. [22129/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into agreements relating to tolls on national roads is vested in Transport Infrastructure Ireland under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 as amended.
The background to the toll VAT issue is a ruling made by the Revenue Commissioners in May 2010, that the M50 and Dublin Port Tunnel tolls were to be subject to VAT from 1st July 2010. Both the Toll Scheme and the Toll Bye-laws for the M50 and the Dublin Port Tunnel provide that the stated toll amounts are "inclusive of VAT if applicable". The toll was not, therefore, increased to take account of the Revenue ruling. Rather 21% (subsequently increased in 2012 to 23%) of the toll received was deemed to be VAT and remitted to Revenue. The cost of the VAT ruling was, therefore, absorbed by TII. This in turn meant that TII had less funding available for the maintenance and improvement of the national road network.
TII appealed the Revenue VAT ruling which resulted in a referral to the European Court of Justice. In its decision in January this year, the European Court of Justice concluded that VAT should not apply to tolls on the M50 and the Dublin Port Tunnel. Following on from that decision, Revenue is considering its position in relation to the close out of the appeal process but has confirmed that TII is not a taxable person in relation to tolling. Therefore VAT is not applicable to toll charges on the M50 and the Dublin Port Tunnel. As a result TII is no longer remitting 23% of the toll charge to Revenue since April.
TII has informed me that, with the revenues now available to it again as a result of the Court decision, its board has decided to go ahead with the construction of a number of safety projects this year. These projects were identified through a review of minor realignment projects that have planning consent. It targeted identified safety benefits, and took account of their state of preparedness. The schemes identified as suitable for construction this year are:
- N61 Coolteige
- N70 Kilderry Bends
- N56 Coolboy to Kilmacrennan
- N2 Monaghan to Emyvale
I am very pleased at this decision to prioritise lives by TII, given the priority I attach to saving lives on our roads.
58. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress being made on the metro north project; and the amount of funding that has been allocated to progress the project since the publication of the capital investment plan for 2016 to 2021. [22127/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I outlined to the Deputy in my reply to question number 1178 of 21st March 2017, funding of over €700 million has been allocated under the Government's Capital Plan for planning, design and construction of new Metro North. Funding in the initial years of the Capital Plan is for planning and design work with construction expected to commence in 2021 with a view to delivering the project by 2026/2027. The Programme for Partnership Government commits to proceeding with the New Metro North project.
The decision to proceed with new Metro North followed consideration of the Fingal/North Dublin Transport Study and the National Transport Authority's (NTA) recommendations on the study, which identified the light-rail link as the optimum long term public transport solution on the Swords/airport/city centre corridor. It is expected that the service will offer capacity for 9,900 passengers per hour per direction with the potential to expand services in the future if demand requires.
The NTA and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) have commenced preparatory work on the planning and design of new Metro North and a dedicated project Steering Group has been established which is meeting on a regular basis. The NTA, in collaboration with TII, is undertaking an option analysis and selection study of possible metro alignments and station locations. Arising from this work a final route and station configuration will be established. It is my understanding that the NTA and TII anticipate that this process will be complete by the end of 2017, after which a public consultation process will be undertaken in 2018.
