Written Answers Nos. 67 - 74
67. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the possibility of having Rosslare harbour and the Rosslare to Connolly railway line incorporated into the TENtec core Atlantic corridor as a countermeasure to the effects of Brexit and the disconnection of the North Sea Mediterranean corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21961/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is considering the potential transport implications of Brexit, including the implications for the connectivity of the North Sea Mediterranean Corridor (NSMED). To be part of NSMED, the transport infrastructure would need firstly to be on the Core Network of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). Rosslare Port and the Dublin to Rosslare rail line form part of the Comprehensive Network but are not on the Core Network.
TEN-T is established under EU Regulation 1315/2013. The TEN-T network comprises the Comprehensive and Core Network, with the latter being the most strategic elements of the Comprehensive Network. On the Island of Ireland, the Core Network comprises the routes between Belfast, Dublin and Cork with a spur to Limerick and Shannon Foynes Port. In Dublin and Cork, the Core Network includes ports and airports. The Core Network is essentially the transport links between core nodes. In the case of Ireland, these nodes are the cities of Dublin, Cork and the maritime node of Shannon Foynes Port. In Northern Ireland, the only node on the Core Network is Belfast. To be a core port under the TEN-T Regulations, a port would need to meet criteria specified in European Commission planning methodology guidelines, including having 1% of European passenger or freight transhipment volumes per year. Rosslare does not meet this threshold. The Regulations provide that where a port meets the threshold after the coming into effect of the Regulations, the port can be considered for designation as a port on the Core Network.
Brexit offers many challenges to the port and logistics sectors. In stakeholder consultations, the implications for the UK landbridge route was identified due to the significent portion of goods that transit the UK to EU and wider markets. The possibility of enhanced or alternative direct maritime routes to the EU and wider international markets has been raised. As a result, a study is being planned to assess the implications for Irish trade of the UK Landbridge route and the current transport routes to EU and wider markets. The terms of reference of the Study are currently being finalised. Under the Programme for Partnership Government I will be making a submission to the European Commission in the near future on the TEN-T Core Network in relation to the west and north west of Ireland. The submission was planned for late 2016 but is held pending consideration by my Department on the emerging implications of Brexit for these regions and wider in order that these implications can be reflected in the submission where relevant.
My officials will continue to work with the maritime sector and with other stakeholders to identify the implications of Brexit and also the potential options for addressing Ireland's future international connectivity.
69. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the work of his Department and interaction with other Departments on Ireland's bid to host the Rugby World Cup 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22139/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 4 October 2016 World Rugby announced that Ireland had successfully completed the Applicant Phase of the bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023 and had progressed to the Candidate Phase of the competition. The Government and the Northern Ireland Executive are fully behind the bid.
My Department's role is to support the Bid Team and manage the interaction with Government departments and agencies to ensure the Public Sector requirements of the bid are delivered. In this regard, my Department supports the work of the Inter-Departmental/Agency Group (IDG) which was established to oversee the delivery of the Public Sector requirements. It also maintains a close liaison with the Northern Ireland Department for Economy and sits on the Northern Ireland IDG.
Ireland's bid will be supported by a wide range of public services and that is why we are working closely with all the relevant Government departments and agencies. To date, ten departments, as well as a number of agencies and local authorities, have been involved in supporting and inputting into the bid which is due to be submitted to World Rugby by 1 June 2017.
70. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on media reports that the management of Bus Éireann has contingency plans to declare insolvency depending on the outcome of the pending ballot of its workers; his plans to deal with this; and if he or officials from his Department met with Bus Éireann management recently to discuss this issue. [22130/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWe are all aware of the very difficult situation in Bus Éireann and I do not think that the situation is in anyway assisted by speculating on media reports that may, or may not, exist.
The Deputy is aware that trade union members are currently balloting on a Labour Court Recommendation. That Recommendation issued following a period of intensive discussions between both trade unions and management at both the Workplace Relations Commision and the Labour Court. I know that trade union members have been considering the Recommendation in great detail, and its implications for both them and the Company, ahead of their ballot. I believe those members should be allowed the opportunity to exercise their vote freely without undue external pressures or influence.
I am in absolutely no doubt as regards the seriousness of the situation facing the Company. The gravity of the Company's finances has been highlighted to me once again in a recent meeting I held with the Chair of the Company.
I believe Bus Éireann has a vital role to play in providing transport services and I have committed toward building upon the increased funding I have already provided to the Company in relation to supporting and expanding its PSO bus services in the years ahead.
71. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to allocate a specific marketing budget to Fáilte Ireland to promote County Donegal specifically, further to the county being nominated by a magazine (details supplied) as the coolest place on the planet to visit in 2017 and Donegal airport being named the second most scenic airport in the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21972/17]
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.
Donegal Airport certainly benefits from a very scenic approach and the recent publicity it received is welcome, both for the airport and the county. Tourism Ireland has, since 2015, supported direct access to regional airports through its Regional Air Access Cooperative Fund. This provides for funding to be made available where it is matched by carriers or airports in order to exploit marketing opportunities for direct access. I understand that Donegal Airport has availed of this fund in the past and would encourage it do so again.
I understand that Aer Lingus has announced they are interlining routes to Donegal (Carrickfinn) from Schipol Airport in Amsterdam and Charles de Gaulle in Paris. Tourism Ireland and Aer Lingus are trialling a new interlining initiative (to the end of October 2017) to make it easier for French and Dutch visitors to fly into Donegal Airport (Carrickfinn). This new pilot scheme means that visitors can travel Charles de Gaulle/Dublin/Donegal or Schipol/Dublin/Donegal with tickets issued all the way through and baggage transferred automatically all the way through to Donegal airport (so there is no need to reclaim luggage at Dublin and check in again for onward travel to Donegal). Tourism Ireland will promote the new scheme.
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.
72. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the Moran inquiry will publish its findings (details supplied). [22140/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe non-statutory inquiry, led by Mr Justice Carroll Moran, into the circumstances surrounding the distribution of tickets for the Rio Olympic Games commenced its work on 19 September 2016. Under its Terms of Reference, Judge Moran was asked to present a report setting out the findings and recommendations of the inquiry within 12 weeks of its commencement. While it was intended at the outset that Judge Moran would conclude the Inquiry within this 12-week period, it was not possible to do so. On 23 November 2016, Judge Moran requested an extension to 31 March 2017, which was subsequently granted.
On 21 March 2017, the Inquiry's solicitor contacted my officials to say that the Judge's Report would be circulated to certain parties on 31 March 2017. Those parties would be afforded three weeks to respond, and the Judge would then require time to consider these responses. As a consequence, on 31 March 2017 Judge Moran wrote to request a further extension of the deadline to 19 May 2017 for presentation of the Report. This extension has also been granted. Once the Report has been presented, it will require careful consideration prior to its publication and I am not yet in a position to indicate a publication date.
73. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his Department's progress in implementing the national cycle policy framework; his Department's progress towards meeting the smarter travel targets; and the reason for the lack of investment in the capital investment plan. [22108/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Cycle Policy Framework (NCPF) and "Smarter Travel - a Sustainable Transport Future" were published in 2009 and included a range of objectives and actions to be achieved and implemented over the period to 2020. The targets contained in the both policy statements were ambitious and were predicated on substantial investment under the Transport 21 investment plan at the time, which given the economic crisis that ensued could not be delivered in full.
Implementation of the various actions in the NCPF falls to a wide range of public bodies including local authorities, transport agencies, my Department and other Government Departments. The Framework has been integrated into the Development Plans of the majority of local authorities so as to ensure that objectives and policies that support and promote cycling are taken into account in current and future planning. Also, the National Transport Authority (NTA) published the GDA Cycle Network Plan covering the seven local authority areas in the GDA in 2013.
The success of the NCPF and Smarter Travel policy can be seen in the significant increase in the numbers of people cycling as shown in the Canal Cordan Count for 2016. This showed that over 12,000 people cycled into Dublin's centre in November last year in the morning peak - almost the same number as used the LUAS during the morning peak commuting hours. It should be noted that this figure did not include the numbers using Dublin Bikes between the canals.
Smarter Travel's overarching goals remain the cornerstone of my Department's transport policy. This is recognised and reflected in the Programme for Partnership Government where we commit to ensuring that the €3.6bn investment in the public transport system provided for in the Capital Plan will uphold the principles of Smarter Travel. My Department has prioritised investments that specifically encourage cycling and walking in accordance with Smarter Travel Policy with the intention of getting people to change their modes of transport in favour of sustainable travel. While €100m of my Department's capital allocation is earmarked specifically for Smarter Travel initiatives, this does not reflect the totality of funding for cycling and walking measures. In addition to the Smarter Travel funding, significant funding is also allocated for walking and cycling measures via the Sustainable Transport Measures Grants (STMG) Programme in the GDA and the Regional Cities Programme. In 2017, €355m is being invested in public transport and sustainable transport infrastructure. Of this figure over 10% (more than €37m) will be allocated to Smarter Travel and Sustainable Transport measures.
My Department will undertake a review of both the NCPF and Smarter Travel policy statements this year. These reviews will examine the extent to which each of the actions set out in the policy statements has been implemented and will help to determine what the focus of future investment in sustainable travel should be.
74. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding industrial relations at Bus Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21965/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy is aware that trade union members are currently balloting on a Labour Court Recommendation. That Recommendation issued following a period of intensive discussions between both trade unions and management at both the Workplace Relations Commision and the Labour Court. I know that trade union members have been considering the Recommendation in great detail, and its implications for both them and the Company, ahead of their ballot. I believe those members should be allowed the opportunity to exercise their vote freely without undue external pressures or influence.
I am in absolutely no doubt as regards the seriousness of the situation facing the Company. I believe Bus Éireann has a vital role to play in providing transport services and I have committed toward building upon the increased funding I have already provided to the Company in relation to supporting and expanding its PSO bus services in the years ahead.
