Written Answers Nos. 83 - 90
83. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the degree to which he has examined existing road networks throughout the country in both urban and rural areas with a view to the identification of apparent difficulties in respect of capacity and the need to ensure the completion of the national arterial road network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22137/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 7 year transport element of the Capital Plan published in September 2015 sets out transport investment priorities to 2022. Decisions on the transport elements of the Capital Plan in the period to 2022 were framed by the conclusions reached in my Department's Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport (SFILT). The SFILT report highlighted the importance of maintenance and renewal of transport infrastructure together with some targeted investments to improve the existing network. The Capital Plan includes provision for expenditure of €6 billion on the road network. €4.4 billion of this funding is earmarked for essential maintenance and strengthening works on the network. Given the annual funding profile, maintenance and strengthening is the main focus of expenditure in the early years of the Plan. This category of expenditure, which includes roads pavement resurfacing and renewal, is essential to protect the country's road assets. A further €600m in the Capital Plan relates to PPP projects and €860m is targeted at progressing a limited number of new roads projects. While the Capital Plan reflects the overall funding envelope available in the period to 2022, the Deputy will be aware that the Government is undertaking a Review of the Capital Plan at present. The purpose of the Review is to take stock of progress and provide the Government with an opportunity to consider the scope for increased levels of investment, including in the transport sector, taking economic growth and fiscal progress into account.
84. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there will be another Gathering event in 2018 or 2019; his views on whether this is a good idea; and if there is support within the tourism industry for this. [22126/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAction 9 of the Tourism Action Plan 2016-2018, published in January 2016, stated that the tourism agencies, in collaboration with my Department and tourism industry stakeholders, would draw up a shortlist of suggested themes (including the possibility of a successor to the Gathering) for a focused tourism marketing initiative. The original Gathering was conceived at a time when Ireland's tourism sector was struggling with the effects of the economic crisis and tourist numbers had fallen very significantly. At that time, there were no "experience brands" like the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's Ancient East, and Dublin - A Breath of Fresh Air. Since then, these branding initiatives have received very considerable public investment in capital and marketing expenditure and have been hugely successful in attracting overseas visitors. My officials have been engaging with Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and the Tourism Leadership Group with regard to the possibility of a themed year. A number of possible themes have been put forward and further consideration is being given to the timing of a themed year. Ideally, a themed year would be timed to avail of spare capacity, particularly with regard to accommodation, and also with regard to access to Ireland through our air and sea ports. 2016 was a record year for Tourism in Ireland, as was 2015 and 2017 is continuing that trend. My officials will continue to monitor the tourism trends, along with wider developments (including the impacts of Brexit) and feed that into their consideration of the timing of a themed year.
86. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has satisfied himself that there is adequate funding for the construction of the N22; and if he will release it to tender for construction. [22141/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I outlined to the Deputy in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 75, ref 5888/17 of 8 February, 2017 as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects, including the N22 is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for TII in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
87. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to promote the Lee valley area in County Cork as a tourist destination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22142/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of developing national tourism policy, while the tourism agencies have operational responsibility for the implementation of this policy. The 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. Accordingly I have referred the Deputy's question to the two tourism agencies for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not hear from them within ten working days.
The referred replies under Standing Order 42A were forwarded to the Deputy.
88. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach when the terms of reference on the inquiry into Project Eagle will be finalised. [22099/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing extensive consultations with Opposition party representatives, the Government yesterday (9th May) approved a draft Order establishing a Commission of Investigation to examine certain matters of public concern relating to certain transactions to which the National Assets Management Agency (NAMA) is, or was, a party. The Government also agreed terms of reference for the Commission which provide that it will, in the first module of its work, investigate NAMA's disposal of its Northern Ireland loan portfolio, referred to as Project Eagle. There will be scope to amend the Terms of Reference under section 6 (1) of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 to provide for further modules of investigation at a later stage.
This approach reflects a consensus view from Opposition representatives that a Commission on these lines should be established, notwithstanding the limitations which a Commission will face given ongoing criminal investigations and location of potential witnesses outside the jurisdiction, as well as the likely costs which a Commission will incur, which have been tentatively estimated at €10m.
Copies of the draft Order and the terms of reference for the Commission have now been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas along with a statement of reasons for establishing the Commission, which is also required under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004. In accordance with the Act, resolutions approving the draft Order must be made by the Dail and Seanad and I am arranging for the necessary motions to be put to the Houses for approval.
89. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the number of FOI requests his Department has received since May 2016; the number of requests still outstanding; and the charges imposed in full. [22100/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has received a total of 296 FOI requests between the period 1 May 2016 to 8 May 2017. Of these, 20 FOI requests are ongoing. The costs received in the Department for the same period total €60. This amount relates to two Internal Review appeals received in 2017.
90. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the reclassification of equestrian centres for commercial rates valuation purposes from leisure premises to agricultural premises; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22247/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 provide for the valuation of all commercial and industrial property for rating purposes. The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions under the Acts and the making of valuations for rating is his sole responsibility. I, as Minister for Justice and Equality, have no role in decisions in this regard. Under Irish law there is a distinct separation of function between valuation of rateable property and setting and collection of commercial rates. The amount of rates payable in any calendar year is a product of the valuation set by the Commissioner, multiplied by the Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV) decided annually by the elected members of each local authority.
Having a modern valuation base is very important for the levying of commercial rates on a fair and equitable basis across all economic sectors. This has been the policy of successive governments and is the express purpose of the National Revaluation Programme now being rolled out by the Valuation Office. The Valuation Acts provide for revaluation of all rateable property within a rating authority area so as to reflect changes in value due to economic factors such as business turnover, differential movements in property values or other external factors and changes in the local business environment. The Valuation Office is currently engaged in a national revaluation programme, the immediate objective of which is to ensure that the first revaluation of all rating authority areas in over 150 years is conducted across the country, as soon as possible, and on a phased basis. This is a welcome and positive development which is long overdue and on which considerable progress has been made to date.
Revaluation is an important instrument in addressing historical anomalies in relation to commercial rates for both urban and rural properties and between particular classes of property within a local authority area. The general outcome of revaluations conducted to date by the Valuation Office has been that about 60% of ratepayers have had their liability for rates reduced following revaluation and about 40% had an increase, a pattern which is expected to be replicated elsewhere as the programme advances. The current phase of the national revaluation programme, "REVAL 2017", covers revaluation of all rateable properties in counties Longford, Leitrim, Roscommon, Westmeath, Offaly, Kildare, Sligo, Carlow and Kilkenny where a revaluation is being undertaken for the first time since the nineteenth century. It also includes the second revaluation of South Dublin County Council area. Revaluation in these counties will be completed in September 2017 and become effective for rating purposes from 2018 onwards.
Where the Valuation Office proposes to enter a new valuation or amend an existing valuation on a Valuation List, there is an extensive process available to cater for ratepayers who may be dissatisfied with the proposed valuation. A dissatisfied person can make representations to the Valuation Office within 40 days of the date of issue of the proposed valuation certificate. The Valuation Office will consider any such representations and may or may not change the proposed valuation depending on the circumstances of each individual property. If any ratepayer is still dissatisfied with the final valuation to be placed on their property following consideration of the representations, they have a right to lodge a formal appeal with the Valuation Tribunal, which is an independent statutory body established for the purpose of hearing appeals against decisions of the Commissioner of Valuation.
Specifically in relation to property used in the equine industry, I am advised by the Valuation Office that there has been some apparent confusion as to the ratability of certain elements of the industry. The Valuation Act 2001 (Schedule 3, Sections 1(a) and (b)) provides that all buildings and lands used or developed for any purpose, are rateable. The basic premise under the Act is that all interests (including buildings) and all developed land are rateable unless expressly exempted under Schedule 4.
Regarding the Deputy's specific question, I am advised by the Commissioner of Valuation that no re-classification of properties from rateable status to exempt status has occurred within the general equine industry since the Valuation Act 2001 came into force on 2 May 2002. The only element of the equine industry which satisfies the exemption provisions in Schedule 4 is the breeding of horses. Buildings used for breeding of horses are classified as being of agricultural use and are "farm buildings" as defined in the Act. Therefore these buildings are exempted from the payment of rates under paragraph 5 of Schedule 4. On the other hand, buildings used for the training of racehorses, recreational equestrian purposes or livery premises are rateable under the Act because they are considered to be part of a commercial enterprise. Such buildings would typically include stables for horses, covered riding arenas, tack rooms and ancillary buildings used to support the enterprise. While acknowledging the important contribution which all elements of the equine industry make to the economy, there are no plans to reclassify these as exempt from rates. To do so would be at variance with the provisions in the Valuation Acts which maintains the long-standing position that all property occupied and used for commercial enterprises are liable for rates. Exceptions to this key principle would quickly be followed by demands for similar treatment from the providers of other equally important services and products, which would be difficult in equity to resist. This could thus substantially reduce local authority revenues, which would have to be made good by imposing corresponding increases on the remaining ratepayers.
