Written Answers Nos. 981-1004
981. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of all planning and research work under way for the impact of the result of Brexit negotiations in his Department or related State agencies; if this analysis is intended for publication; the expected completion and publication date respectively of this research in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46115/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for Brexit, Minister Coveney has responsibility for co-ordinating the whole-of-Government response to Brexit. In this capacity, he is working closely with his colleagues across Government to address the many challenges resulting from Brexit. This co-operation also involves the relevant State Agencies.
Work at Cabinet level is being prepared through cross-Departmental coordination structures. These represent a frequent and active channel through which all relevant Departments are providing their policy input to the Government’s wider response to Brexit, including its priorities for the ongoing Article 50 negotiations between the EU and the UK.
As the outcome of the negotiations is not yet known, an important focus of the planning and preparation being undertaken through these structures is on deepening the Government’s analysis and understanding of the exact consequences of a range of different possible scenarios.
The potential impact on any sector will depend largely on the shape of the future relationship between the EU and UK. Prior to the decision by the UK to exit the EU, my Department prepared an internal paper outlining the significant potential Brexit impacts, with recommendations, across the various sectors for which the Department is responsible including energy, communications and broadcasting. This paper has been updated and elaborated on an ongoing basis since then. Senior officials from the Department are engaged with the TF50 EU negotiating team in Brussels including on mapping out particular North/South issues as part of the signalled preparations for future trade discussions .
My Department has convened two Civic Dialogues this year focusing on Energy. The objective of these events is to gather input from energy stakeholders, including citizens and industry, regarding the potential impact of Brexit. This input is taken into consideration by the Department in its Brexit related activities and planning.
Independent research specific to energy has been published by the ESRI, though not commissioned by my Department.
982. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the contracts his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department have with a company (details supplied) or its subsidiaries; the value of the contracts; the year in which the contracts were concluded; when the contracts will be up for renewal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46368/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe company referred to in the Question were awarded a contract in 2013 to design, build, operate and maintain the national postcode system under licence for a ten year period, extendable by a further five years at the discretion of the Minister. The expected cost to the Exchequer over the life of the Contract is €33.2m.
The Internal Audit Unit of my Department entered into a contract on 14 August 2012 with one of the company's subsidiaries for the provision of internal audit services. This contract ended on 30 June 2013. This was a joint contract with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The cost of this contract to my Department was €38,546. Both amounts are inclusive of VAT
The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations.
983. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the names of the special advisers employed in his Department; the names of special advisers to junior ministers in his Department; the annual salary of each adviser; if these persons were special advisers immediately prior to taking up their current role or immediately prior to the June 2017 Cabinet reshuffle; if so, the minister to which they were appointed to; the date each special adviser was appointed with effect as stated in the Government order; the date of the Government order; if they received a salary for the period before the appointment order was signed in the case of special advisers whose appointment order date has an effect date earlier than the order date; if so, by whom they were paid; if a special adviser during a period later backdated by appointment order had access to confidential material and or Cabinet papers; if they were subject to the Official Secrets Act 1963 during this period; if any persons currently employed as special advisers have not yet been appointed by order since the Cabinet reshuffle of 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46463/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested in relation to my two special advisors is set out in the table:
|
Post |
Name |
Gross Salary p.a. |
|
Special Advisor |
Ms Suzie Coogan |
€91,716 |
|
Special Advisor |
Mr Ross Elwood |
€85,091 |
The two advisors were employed in my Department prior to the June 2017 Cabinet reshuffle. On my reappointment as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, both were re-appointed under Order No. 418 of 2017 with effect from 15 June 2017. This order was approved by Government on 13 September 2017. I understand that there is no legal prohibition on the Order having retrospective effect.
Both advisors continued to be paid after June 2017 as there was no break in their roles and continued to be subject to the Official Secrets Act 1963 during that period.
No advisors have been appointed by Minister of State Kyne to my Department.
984. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to a recently published report (details supplied) on the national broadband plan which claims that current levels of resources suggest delivery in counties such as County Donegal will not be completed until 2025 or 2026; the initiatives that are being taken to address this potential delay in the rolling out of the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46477/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra985. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if county level targets and milestones will be published to help offset future delays in the roll-out of the national broadband plan; if resources and training requirements for additional personnel to support the objectives and timeframes of the plan will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46478/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 984 and 985 together.
The report to which the Deputy refers has quite a broad focus and one of the areas it discusses is the State led intervention under the Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP). As the Deputy will be aware, the NBP is being achieved via a mix of commercial investment by the telecommunications sector and a State led intervention in those areas where commercial providers acting alone will not provide this essential service.
In relation to the NBP, I note that the report recommends that the Local Authorities, for whom the report was commissioned, "should fully embrace what is a remarkable plan". Representatives from ICBAN have requested a meeting with my Department to discuss the report and I am happy to confirm to the Deputy that a meeting is being arranged.
The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) will ensure high speed broadband access (minimum download 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecommunications sector so that to date approximately 1.5m or 65% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland can get high speed broadband and this footprint is expanding. By 2020 it is expected that 90% of premises in Ireland will have access to high speed broadband.
The Government is determined to ensure that the network is built out as quickly as possible and at a minimum cost. As part of the competitive process in awarding a contract(s) under the State led Intervention, my Department will engage with winning bidder(s) on the best roll-out strategy, in order to target areas of particularly poor service, business needs and/or high demand. This will need to be balanced with the most efficient network roll-out plan. A prioritisation programme will support this process, in consultation with the Minister for Rural and Community Development.
In addition, the Department of Rural and Community Development has established two Regional Action Groups, working with all Local Authorities, Local Enterprise Offices and other relevant agencies. It has also provided funding to support each Local Authority to appoint a Broadband Officer. The Regional Action Groups will help accelerate the broadband network build in rural Ireland, once a contract(s) has been awarded, by ensuring that there are no local barriers to deployment and by identifying priority areas for roll-out. The Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements with operators and clearing obstacles to developing infrastructure
In April of this year, I published an updated High Speed Broadband Map, searchable by eircode. The map is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services and the areas that will be included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan (NBP).
The map shows that there are over 101,200 premises in County Donegal, about 68,000 of which fall within a BLUE area of the Map and will be covered by commercial operators. Just over 16,500 of these 68,000 premises form part of eir's planned rural deployment to deliver rural high speed broadband between now and the end of 2018. . Information on eir's planned rural deployment is available at http://fibrerollout.ie/eircode-lookup/ The remaining 33,000 premises in County Donegal fall within an AMBER area and will be part of the State led Intervention under the National Broadband Plan.
The procurement process for the State led Intervention comprising some 540,000 premises and represented as AMBER on my Department’s High Speed Broadband Map is progressing. My Department is currently evaluating the "Detailed Solutions" submitted by two bidders in September. This is the last stage in the procurement process before seeking final tenders and progression to the appointment of a preferred bidder(s).
986. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding fibre broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46500/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn April I published an updated High Speed Broadband Map, available at www.broadband.gov.ie , which outlines how premises around the country will be able to access a high speed broadband service. Premises are separated by colour into 3 categories.
- The AMBER areas on the High Speed Broadband Map represent the areas that will require State Intervention.
- The BLUE areas represent those areas where commercial telecommunications providers are either currently delivering or have indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
- LIGHT BLUE areas are part of eir’s planned rural deployment of high speed broadband to 300,000 premises.
The Castlemaine Community Centre is in a BLUE area. BLUE areas are parts of the country where commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have indicated plans to do so. While I have no statutory authority to intervene in the day to day operations of commercial operators, my Department is collating information in relation to individual cases where commercial plans to provide access to high speed broadband to premises within a BLUE area do not materialise. I would encourage the manager of Castlemaine Community Centre to provide my Department Broadband@dccae.gov.ie with details of the attempts made by the centre to access a high speed broadband connection, with a view to my Department engaging further on this issue.
The Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) will ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. Where commercial plans to provide access to high speed broadband to premises within a BLUE area do not materialise, it is my intention that the implementation of the National Broadband Plan will ultimately overcome these issues and that all premises will be able to access high-speed broadband services.
To improve both mobile and broadband services in rural Ireland in advance of the roll-out of the high speed broadband network to be built in the State intervention area, I established, in July 2016, a Task force to identify solutions which can be implemented in the short, medium and long term to alleviate mobile phone and broadband coverage deficits, to identify priority areas for roll-out and investigate how better services could be provided to consumers. These solutions will enhance the existing services prior to the full build and roll-out of the network planned under the NBP State led intervention.
Under this Task force, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements with operators and clearing obstacles to developing infrastructure. There is a link to a list of these local Broadband Officers on my Department's website.
987. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the roll-out of the national broadband plan in relation to counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46621/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question No. 235 of 26 October 2017. The position is unchanged.
988. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has discussed with the newly appointed chairman and secretary of Bord na Móna their plans to invest €60 million in the United States of America which was brought to his attention by way of a Topical Issue in Dáil Éireann recently; the outcome of those discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46717/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have not discussed this matter with the newly appointed Chairman of Bord na Móna. As I stated in my response to the House during the topical issue debate on 28 September, there has been no formal request for Ministerial consent in respect of this project. Any request for Ministerial consent would be subject to detailed financial analysis by NewERA and policy analysis by the shareholding Departments.
989. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if broadband services will be available in an area (details supplied). [46764/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) will ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector so that to date approximately 1.5m or 65% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland can get access to high speed broadband and this footprint is expanding.
In April, I signed a Commitment Agreement with eir in relation to its plans to provide broadband to an additional 300,000 premises in rural areas on a commercial basis. My Department will be monitoring this roll-out to ensure that eir meets its obligations under the Agreement. A copy of the Agreement is available on my Department's website, www.dccae.gov.ie. Whilst the full programme of work is due to be completed by the end of 2018, more precise information on the timeframe for roll-out is available from eir’s website on http://www.fibrerollout.ie
I also published an updated High Speed Broadband Map in April which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The updated Map shows the following categories of areas for delivery of broadband:
- The BLUE areas represent those areas where commercial telecommunications providers are either currently delivering or have indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services;
- The AMBER areas on the High Speed Broadband Map represent the areas that will require State Intervention and are the subject of the current procurement process; and
- LIGHT BLUE premises are part of eir’s planned high speed broadband roll-out.
The map shows that there area approximately 48 premises in the townland of Edoxtown. 15 (31%) premises in Edoxtown fall within the AMBER area and will be covered under the State Led Intervention. The remaining 33 (69%) premises are LIGHT BLUE and fall to be covered by eir's planned rural deployment.
Individuals can themselves check whether their premises is in a LIGHT BLUE or AMBER area by accessing the High Speed Broadband Map and entering their eircode at www.broadband.gov.ie .
My Department is engaged in an on-going procurement process to select a company or companies who will roll-out the new high speed broadband network for the State led intervention. A significant milestone in that process was reached in September with the submission of "Detailed Solutions" by two bidders. This is the last stage before receipt of final tenders and progression to the appointment of a preferred bidder(s).
To improve both mobile and broadband services in rural Ireland in advance of the roll-out of the high speed broadband network to be built in the State intervention area I established, in July 2016, a Task force to identify solutions which can be implemented in the short, medium and long term to alleviate mobile phone and broadband coverage deficits, to identify priority areas for roll-out and investigate how better services could be provided to consumers. These solutions will enhance the existing services prior to the full build and roll-out of the network planned under the NBP State led intervention.
Under this Task force, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements with operators and clearing obstacles to developing infrastructure. There is a link to a list of these local Broadband Officers on my Department's website.
990. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to introduce a pay by weight scheme operated by waste collection firms; the assurances he can provide that the scheme will not result in increased costs for households; the way in which the new scheme is environmentally friendly; his views on competition in the area of waste collection; the consumer protections that are in place for households and in particular for older persons; the public information and awareness campaigns that have been conducted to inform persons on the new charge scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46827/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the commitments set out in A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland published in 2012 and in the interest of encouraging further waste prevention, flat-rate fees for kerbside household waste collection will be phased out over the period autumn 2017 to autumn 2018, as customers contracts come up for renewal. The necessary regulatory steps have been put in place to give effect to this. It is worth noting that the measure to phase out flat fees is not ‘new’ for about half of kerbside household waste customers, who are already on an incentivised usage pricing plan, i.e., a plan which contains a per lift or weight related fee.
The waste collection market is operated by private companies where prices charged are largely a function of costs and competition in the market. The charges applied by a company are a matter between that company and its customers and not set by the State. However, when introducing the measure to phase out flat fees, the Government gave a commitment to consumers to carefully monitor the transition in the sector. Accordingly, a Household Waste Collection Price Monitoring Group has been established and has begun the process of tracking the rates charged by household waste collectors. The Household Waste Collection Price Monitoring Group has met on two occasions, 13 September, 2017 and 11 October, 2017. The Group comprises representatives from the Waste Policy & Resource Efficiency Division and an economist from my Department, the Central Statistics Office and a company with expertise in price monitoring. The company made a presentation to the Group at the meeting on 11 October, 2017 based on the data it had collected as part of the first data sweep of the market. They will report back to the Group on a monthly basis and a report on the data collected will be published.
In addition, the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation has asked the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) to conduct a study on the operation of the household waste collection market. The CCPC has indicated that it hopes to finalise the study in early 2018.
The results from the Household Waste Collection Price Monitoring Group will be monitored and analysed and, in conjunction with the study being undertaken by the CCPC, will provide an evidence base regarding future monitoring or the potential need for additional regulation of the waste market.
Information and awareness campaigns have been, and will continue to be, rolled out by the Department and the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices. In particular, the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices will continue to roll out waste awareness and education initiatives re-focussing on the use of the brown bin, but also concentrating on improving and increasing recycling, driving waste prevention and the correct use of the kerbside collection system.
991. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the expenditure to date on the Wild Atlantic Way in County Mayo in terms of infrastructure and marketing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45712/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy. It is not directly involved in the management or development of individual tourism projects, such as the Wild Atlantic Way. These are operational matters for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland.
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.
992. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the budget in 2018 in County Mayo for the Wild Atlantic Way in terms of infrastructure and marketing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45713/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy. It is not directly involved in the management or development of individual tourism projects, such as the Wild Atlantic Way. These are operational matters for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland.
The overall level of funding to be allocated to Fáilte Ireland for tourism product development in 2018 will be confirmed on publication of the Revised Estimates for 2018. Fáilte Ireland will then be in a position to set out its spending plans for 2018, including its spending plans for the Wild Atlantic Way.
993. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the signature discovery point Achill Skywalk project at Moiteóg Head, Keem Bay, Achill, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45714/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy. It is not directly involved in the funding of individual tourism projects, such as the one mentioned by the Deputy. These are operational matters for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland.
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.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
994. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which he plans to optimise the south eastern region’s access to greenway and blueway funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46711/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently developing a Strategy for the future development of greenways following a public consultation process earlier in the year. The Strategy will provide a long term vision and framework upon which Ireland's greenways can be planned in a strategic manner ensuring the best possible return for State investment.
The synergies which exist between Greenway and Blueway infrastructure are being considered as part of the discussion taking place relating to the development of the Strategy. Waterways Ireland is the agency with responsibility for the Blueway brand and my officials have already met with Waterways Ireland to discuss these synergies as part of the consultation process.
I am pleased to have secured additional funding for Greenways in the Mid -Term Review of the Capital Plan, bringing the total amount available for the development of Greenways in the period 2018 -2021 to almost €56m. I expect to be in a position to announce a new round of funding for the development of Greenways in 2018, following completion of the Greenways Strategy.
I am aware of the potential which exists for the expansion of greenways in the South Eastern region and would urge the relevant local authorities to progress to the greatest degree possible the planning and statutory requirements for projects which they wish to progress in order to be best placed in the event of future funding calls.
995. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department liaises regularly with Dublin city council, taxi drivers and operators and similar private providers of public transport in relation to traffic restrictions in place in the city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45717/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTraffic management in our cities and towns are a matter for the relevant local authorities which fall under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.
There is, however, regular liaison between the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Dublin City Council in respect of traffic management aspects arising from the planning and implementation of public transport infrastructure projects such as Luas Cross City, bus priority schemes and cycling schemes.
996. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department will liaise with the National Transport Authority and Dublin City Council in order to help taxi drivers that are finding it increasingly difficult to negotiate around Dublin city centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45718/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTraffic management in Dublin city centre is a matter in the first instance for Dublin City Council.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the development and implementation of public transport and sustainable transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA). Under the Sustainable Transport Measures Grants (STMG) Programme, my Department provides funding to the NTA for the seven local authorities in the GDA, including Dublin City Council, for the implementation of sustainable transport projects including traffic management projects.
Noting the NTA's responsibility for the STMG Programme, I have referred your question to the Authority for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
997. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the statistics for collisions and accidents on the M50 to date in 2017; specifically between junction 11 and junction 13; the delays that these incidents have on traffic across the city, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45722/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & 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 is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Collision data for national roads is mapped and collated by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). Accordingly I am forwarding your query to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
998. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason applicant taxi drivers that fail their theory and or knowledge tests must pay the full fee to repeat the exams; and his plans to review the regulations with a view to reducing the charge for repeat exams or allowing a combined grade from both sets of exams to ensure fairness for those applying. [45732/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the licensing of drivers to work in this sector, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.
I have 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 deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
999. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of consultants engaged by Irish Rail to head up and or oversee internal departments at the company; the duration of their contracts; their salary per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45747/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1000. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of departments in Irish Rail that have an interim department head; the name of those departments; the expected timeframe to fill the posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45748/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 999 and 1000 together.
The issues raised are matters for Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.
1001. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding status for a project (details supplied) in County Mayo; the amount budgeted for the project; the projected final completion date; the amount of this funding that has been drawn down by Mayo County Council since 2015; the way in which these specific funds have been spent to date; his views on whether the project will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45767/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy. It is not directly involved in the funding of individual tourism projects, such as the one mentioned by the Deputy. These are operational matters for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland.
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.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
1002. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the capital budget in place to fund further development of the Wild Atlantic Way; if his attention has been drawn to complaints of congestion along the route during the season; his plans to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45768/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy. It is not directly involved in the management or development of individual tourism projects, such as the Wild Atlantic Way. These are operational matters for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland.
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.
In relation to the capital budget, funding of almost €108m has been allocated for tourism product development under the Capital Plan for the period 2018-2021. This will allow for continued capital investment by Fáilte Ireland in the experience brands, including the Wild Atlantic Way.
1003. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the capital expenditure to date on the Wild Atlantic Way by county, in tabular form; his future capital expenditure plans for the Wild Atlantic Way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45769/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy. It is not directly involved in the management or development of individual tourism projects, such as the Wild Atlantic Way. These are operational matters for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland.
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.
In relation to future capital expenditure plans, funding of almost €108m has been allocated for tourism product development under the Capital Plan for the period 2018-2021. This will allow for continued capital investment by Fáilte Ireland in the experience brands, including the Wild Atlantic Way.
1004. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, once the Fáilte Ireland talking statues scheme is rolled out nationwide Tralee, Listowel and Killarney will be considered for the scheme in view of the fact they each have attractions and statues of historical significance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45775/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy. It is not directly involved in the management or development of individual tourism projects, such as the talking statues. These are operational matters for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland.
I understand that the talking statues project in Dublin is a pilot initiative and Fáilte Ireland will be monitoring the usage and performance of the project before it decides how best to extend it further.
Should it be extended, Fáilte Ireland has confirmed that it will consider all statues of historic significance that are dispersed across the country, including those situated in Kerry.
Finally I would like to thank the deputy for raising this question and I would agree with him that the towns of Killarney, Tralee and Listowel would have statues of historical significance and would be worthy additions to a national roll-out of this initiative.
