Written Answers Nos. 59-66
59. Deputy Michael D'Arcy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions required for the M11-N11 junction 4 M50 to junction 14 Coynes Cross upgrade; if funding has been allocated for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21964/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I indicated in response to Deputy Wallace's Question, the planning, design and implementation of individual national road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
The Needs Assessment Report as published by TII in April sets out the range of measures that could be considered for implementation on a phased basis along the M11/N11 Road Corridor. As already indicated the strategic analysis in relation to the M11/N11 Corridor is at an early stage.
As regards funding, the Capital Plan published in September 2015 outlined proposed transport investment priorities to 2022. The transport element of the plan was framed by the conclusions reached in the Department of Transport's Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport. This report highlighted the importance of maintenance and renewal of transport infrastructure together with targeted investments to address particular bottlenecks and critical safety issues.
The Capital Plan provides €6 billion for investment in the national, regional and local road network in the period to 2022, with €4.4 billion earmarked for the maintenance and strengthening of the existing extensive network, €600 million to develop the road PPP projects and €860 million for road upgrades. Allowing for the commitments relating to PPP projects, the balance available for new projects within the available capital envelope was limited. The upgrade of the M11/N11 Corridor is not provided for in the Plan.
As regards the possibility of additional funding within the Plan period, the Capital Plan Review process is underway. My Department is making a strong case for additional funding, including the development of a project pipeline for national road schemes, encompassing possible improvements of the M11. The final decisions on allocations are, however, matters for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and Government as a whole.
60. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the consequences for aviation here if a single aviation market is not maintained with the UK; and if he has had discussions with his UK and European Union counterparts on a future air service agreement with the UK to ensure same. [22128/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAviation services between the UK and Ireland and within the EU operate within the EU Single Aviation Market. When the UK leaves the EU, an alternative aviation agreement between the UK and the remaining 27 EU Member States will be required. In the absence of such an agreement, existing traffic rights could be negatively impacted, including the rights of Irish licensed airlines to fly between the UK and Ireland, the UK and the rest of the EU, within the UK, and between the UK and a range of other third countries. The full implications for Ireland of the UK leaving the single aviation market will only become apparent as formal Brexit negotiations develop. Ireland's priority for aviation will be to protect a fully liberalised and deregulated market in order to ensure no erosion of our connectivity or disruption to airlines, airports, business, tourism and personal travel. I have not had the opportunity to meet with my UK counterpart or my other EU counterparts since the British referendum on Brexit took place. However, staff from my Department in the Permanent Representation in Brussels and all Departmental staff attending EU meetings are in regular contact with their counterparts in other EU states, and are building on our assessment of the impacts for aviation across the EU with a view to the negotiations ahead. My Department is also engaging with aviation stakeholders on a regular basis. I chaired the All Island Dialogue on Transport & Logistics on 23 January in Dundalk at which the seriousness of the aviation challenges arising from Brexit were emphasised.
The Secretary General of my Department and members of the Department's Management Board also had an extensive meeting with their UK Department for Transport counterparts on January 19th 2017 in London on the transport implications for both States of Brexit, including the challenges facing the aviation sector as a result of the UK exit.
The outcomes of the dialogue, meetings and other transport fora feed into the overall Department analyses. These analyses inform the Government position and form the basis for engagement by the Department of the Taoiseach with the European Commission's negotiating team in preparing for the EU/UK negotiations. I am seeking a meeting with the European Commission's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, and his team to discuss the implications of Brexit on aviation and other transport modes.
61. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there has been liaison between Louth County Council and his Department regarding the northern cross route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22122/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I outlined to the Deputy in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 592 of 24 January 2017 regarding the same road scheme, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in Co. 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 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. My Department has no grant application on hand in relation to the proposed Drogheda Northern Cross Port Access road and there has been no engagement between my Department and Louth County Council in relation to such a scheme. Given the cutbacks in State funding for regional and local roads since the financial crisis, it has been necessary to curtail the grant programme for major new regional and local road schemes and for major realignment schemes in order to protect the funding available for the maintenance of the existing network. The bulk of the funding allocated under the Capital Plan published in 2015 is, therefore, earmarked for the maintenance and renewal of the road network with some limited investment in the new projects.
The Drogheda Port Access Northern Cross Route is not provided for in the Capital Plan.
62. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the windfall of approximately €100 million from the Revenue Commissioners to Transport Infrastructure Ireland can be used in part to increase the subsidy to Bus Éireann. [22092/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI set out the position in relation to the appeal of the 2010 Revenue ruling applying VAT to tolls on the M50 and the Dublin Port Tunnel in my earlier answer to Deputy Smith. I think an important point to bear in mind is that TII has been absorbing the VAT cost since 2010 with a knock on effect on the national roads programme so any refund would not represent a windfall. It is also the case that while Revenue has indicated to TII, in light of the European Court of Justice January decision, that VAT is not applicable to toll charges on the M50 and the Dublin Port Tunnel, Revenue has not concluded its consideration on the close out of the appeal, including the payment of a refund.
As regards the additional funding released this year on foot of Revenue's confirmation that VAT is not applicable, the Board of TII has decided to use this money for safety projects - a decision which I endorse in light of the continuing death toll on our roads and the many representations I have received from local communities and their public representatives on roads needing such action taken.
63. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his policy regarding funding traffic calming measures at schools; his plans to enhance funding in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21967/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs indicated to the Deputy in response to Parliamentary Question No. 1259 of 21 March 2017, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads 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 Council's 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. Under Road Traffic legislation traffic management is also the responsibility of the relevant local authority. Applications were sought last year from local authorities for funding in 2017 for my Department's Safety Improvement Works Programme and it is open to local authorities to submit traffic calming projects for consideration under this grant category. Alternatively, it is also open to local authorities to consider funding such projects from their Discretionary Grant or their own resources.
It is important to reiterate that it is a matter for the local authority to select, prioritise and agree the works to be funded and progressed each year as part of its annual works programme. In addition, the purpose of Exchequer funding is to supplement the own resources of the local authority, not to meet the full cost of a local authority's roads programme.
64. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider amending Schedule 3 of the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Act 2014 to include the designated fishing ports as port of registration in order that vessels can be registered in their home port; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22171/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchedule 3 of the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Act 2014, which lists 13 ports of registry, has not yet been commenced. However, those ports of registry are the same as those currently designated under section 32 of the Mercantile Marine Act 1955. They are: Arklow, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Dundalk, Galway, Limerick, Skibbereen, Sligo, Tralee, Waterford, Westport and Wexford. While additional ports may be designated under the 1955 Act, after consultation with the Revenue Commissioners, I have no current plans to do so, in advance of the coming into operation of the Registration of Ships Act.
Section 30 of the Registration of Ships Act will allow additional ports to be prescribed as ports of registry, or ports to be removed from the list. In considering an additional port, the Minister must have regard to any or all of the following:
- the demand that exists for the port to be a port of registry,
- the importance of the location for commercial shipping traffic or business, fishing, recreational or other maritime activity,
- the geographical location of the port, and
- the level of maritime activity with regard to shipping at the port.
In due course, I will be open to considering any case for a particular port that is made to me on this basis.
The Registration of Ships Act will provide for an updated and modernised ship registration system and replace the 1955 Act. A core element of the new system will be the establishment of a new electronic Irish Register of Ships. This will require a new IT project within my Department, and its progress will be subject to the availability of resources.
65. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will liaise with Fáilte Ireland to ensure that there is a marketing budget put in place to further promote County Donegal further to the county being nominated by a magazine (details supplied) as the coolest place on the planet to visit in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21971/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the boards and management of the two tourism agencies -Tourism Ireland in regard to overseas tourism marketing and Fáilte Ireland in regard to regional tourism development and domestic tourism promotion. Tourism Ireland is responsible for promoting the island of Ireland overseas as a holiday and business tourism destination and undertakes extensive marketing campaigns in 23 key source markets for tourism to Ireland. Within Ireland, individual counties may compete for domestic visitors. Research carried out for Tourism Ireland indicates that the level of awareness of Ireland's county boundaries is low among potential overseas visitors, and therefore expenditure by public or private entities on marketing an individual county to consumers in overseas markets is unlikely to provide an adequate return on investment.
I am delighted that National Geographic Traveller has named Donegal at the top of its list of 'coolest places to visit' in 2017. Donegal features prominently in Tourism Ireland's global marketing activity. For example last autumn, filming took place at places like Malin Head, Fanad Lighthouse, Glenveagh National Park and Slieve League in Donegal for Tourism Ireland footage of the Donegal section of the Wild Atlantic Way. Tourism Ireland has rolled out a series of Wild Atlantic Way advertising campaigns in overseas markets over the past year, in which Donegal has featured.
Donegal, and the accolade received from National Geographic Traveller, are highlighted on Tourism Ireland's suite of international websites as well as through Tourism Ireland's social media platforms. Donegal continues to be extensively promoted through a series of Wild Atlantic Way adverts and will feature in the upcoming Star Wars film providing a superb promotional opportunity. Tourism Ireland also works with overseas travel, lifestyle and special interest media as part of their overseas promotional programme. I understand that Tourism Ireland recently provided details of such campaigns to the Deputy.
In 2016, Fáilte Ireland invested €1.7m on marketing the Wild Atlantic Way and, along with the local authorities from Donegal to Galway, have co-funded a marketing campaign in Great Britain in 2017 in which Donegal features heavily.
66. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department is seeking additional capital funding for road development in the Border region in the present review of the capital plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22131/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra79. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, in view of the particular challenges for the Border region due to Brexit, his Department is seeking additional funding for specific road projects in the Border region in the present review of the capital plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22132/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 79 together.
As I outlined in the Deputy in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 299 of 3 May 2017, 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 (SFILT). Based on the findings in that report it is envisaged that maintenance and renewal of the road network - including that of the border region - will continue to be the main priority over the next period and the bulk of the roads capital budget, approximately €4.4 billion, is earmarked for such essential work. A further €600 million has been 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.
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has indicated that there is a total of €2.6 billion in additional funding available between 2018 and 2021 for allocation under the Review of the Capital Plan. While I am conscious of the many competing demands for extra resources, my Department has submitted a very strong case for additional funding consistent with the principles identified in SFILT and a number of the proposed measures, if approved for funding, will be of benefit to the border counties.
