Written Answers Nos. 182-201
182. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to compensate persons impacted by the hen harrier designation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49740/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the outset, I would like to clarify that my Department has no role in the designation of lands. That function is exercised through the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The question of compensation does not arise, therefore, in the context of any schemes or measures introduced by my Department.
That said, many of these designations are for species or habitats whose conservation is encouraged. With regard to the Locally-led Hen Harrier Programme I have provided a budget of €25 million for this new innovative agri-environment approach. This is in addition to the significant framework of support for farmers with hen-harrier designated land already in place through my Department's agri-environment scheme GLAS. Under GLAS, farmers with hen harrier habitat qualify for a payment of €370 per hectare and can earn up to €7,000 per annum through a combination of GLAS and GLAS Plus payments. The GLAS Hen Harrier action has proved hugely successful, with some 2,678 farmers now signed up. This accounts for almost 70% of all farmers with hen harrier habitat and represents a major step forward in the conservation of the bird and in securing important additional income for the farmers concerned.
183. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a disadvantaged area payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49745/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received from the person named on 9th May 2017. During the processing of this application a query arose in relation to equine passports. An official from my Department has been in direct contact with the herd owner to request further information which will allow processing of his application to be completed.
184. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the compensation scheme for eel fishermen; if he will confirm that ESB management is engaging positively on this matter. [49698/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question Nos. 60 and 74 of 21 November 2017. Discussions are ongoing with ESB Fisheries in this context.
185. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of times he or officials in his Department have been in contact with mobile telephone providers; and the reason for the engagement. [49713/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials and I are in contact with mobile phone providers, as necessary. The reasons for engagement cross many subjects - examples include the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce, consultation on national and EU-level policy issues and in relation to telecommunications market and technical matters. We also met with the IBEC Telecommunications and Internet Federation (TIF) which is the representative body for leading industry and associated interest groups in the field of electronic communications. TIF represents companies involved in fixed, mobile, wireless, fixed wireless, satellite and cable based service provisions, outsourcing and internet service provision.
186. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the engagement he has had with his counterpart in the United Kingdom in the past six months. [49714/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra187. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the engagement he has had with his counterpart in France in the past six months. [49715/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra188. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the engagement he has had with his counterpart in Germany in the past six months. [49716/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra189. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the engagement he has had with his counterpart in Italy in the past six months. [49717/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra190. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the engagement he has had with his counterpart in Northern Ireland in the past six months. [49718/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra191. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the engagement he has had with his counterpart in Scotland in the past six months. [49719/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra192. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the engagement he has had with his counterpart in Wales in the past six months. [49720/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra193. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the engagement he has had with his counterpart in Canada in the past six months. [49721/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra194. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the engagement he has had with his counterpart in the United States in the past six months. [49722/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 186 to 194, inclusive, together.
The following table sets out engagements I have had with my counterparts in the countries listed in the Questions. I have not met with my counterparts from the United States, Wales or Northern Ireland in the past six months.
|
Engagements |
Counterparts |
|
Environment Council, Luxembourg – June 2017 |
Ms Thérèse Coffey, UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment |
|
IEA, Paris – June 2017 |
Mr Carlo Calenda, Italian Minister of Economic Development |
|
Leinster House, Dublin – July 2017 |
Ms Catherine McKenna, Canadian Minister for Environment |
|
Leinster House, Dublin – October 2017 |
Ms Catherine McKenna, Canadian Minister for Environment |
|
Environment Council, Luxembourg – October 2017 |
Ms Roseanna Cunningham, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Environment |
|
Ms Thérèse Coffey, UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment |
|
|
Mr Gian Luca Galletti, Italian Minister for Environment |
|
|
Green Growth Group Ministerial meeting, Luxembourg – October 2017 |
Mr Jochen Flasbarth, German State Secretary for the Environment |
|
Telecoms Council, Luxembourg – October 2017 |
Mr Mounir Mahjoubi, French Minister of State for Digital Affairs |
|
IEA Ministerial, Paris – November 2017 |
Mr Richard Harrington, UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister for Energy and Industry |
|
Mr Jim Carr, Canadian Minister of Natural Resources |
|
|
COP23, Bonn – November 2017 |
Mr Jochen Flasbarth, German State Secretary for the Environment |
In addition to engagements with the Countries specified in the Questions I have also met with my counterparts from a number of other Countries; these engagements are set out in the following table.
|
Telecoms Council, Luxembourg – June 2017 |
Mr Peter Eriksson, Swedish Minister for Housing and Digital Development |
|
Mr Karol Okonski, Polish Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Digital Affairs |
|
|
Environment Council, Luxembourg – June 2017 |
Mr Jan Szyszko, Polish Environment Minister |
|
Ms Carole Dieschbourg, Luxembourg Environment Minister |
|
|
Mr Andrä Rupprechter, Austrian Agriculture & Environment Minister |
|
|
Mr László Sólymos, Slovakian Environment Minister |
|
|
Dr. Sándor Fazekas, Hungarian Environment Minister |
|
|
Mr. Esben Lunde Larsen , Danish Minister for Environment and Food |
|
|
Mr Kimmo Tiilikainen, Finnish Minister for Environment |
|
|
Mr Kaspars Gerhards, Latvian Minister for Environmental Protection |
|
|
IEA, Paris – June 2017 |
Mr. Aziz Rebbah, Moroccan Minister of Energy, Mines and Sustainable Development |
|
Environment Council, Luxembourg – October 2017 |
Dr. Sándor Fazekas, Hungarian Environment Minister |
|
Mr Neno Dimov, Bulgarian Minister for Environment and Water |
|
|
Mr Kimmo Tiilikainen, Finnish Minister for Environment |
|
|
Telecoms Council, Luxembourg – October 2017 |
Mr Álvaro Nadal, Spanish Minister for Energy, Tourism and Digital Agenda |
|
IEA Ministerial, Paris – November 2017 |
Mr Kimmo Tiilikainen, Finnish Minister for Energy |
|
Mr Ibrahim Baylan, Swedish Minister for Energy |
|
|
COP23, Bonn – November 2017 |
Ms Isabella Lövin, Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Climate, and Deputy Prime Minister |
|
Mr Kimmo Tiilikainen, Finnish Minister for Environment |
|
|
Mr. Esben Lunde Larsen , Danish Minister for Environment and Food |
|
|
Ms Carole Dieschbourg, Luxembourg Environment Minister |
|
|
Ms Dominique Gantenbein, Liechtenstein, Ministry for Home Affairs, Education and Environment |
|
|
Mr Andrä Rupprechter, Austrian Agriculture & Environment Minister |
|
|
Mr Kstutis Treiokas, Lithuanian Ministry of Environment |
The engagements listed in the tables were both formal and informal and discussions covered a wide range of topics.
195. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the persons entitled to a disabled person's parking permit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49759/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra196. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a car can be used for disabled parking if not adapted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49760/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra197. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a person with a car that has not been adapted can be entitled to a disabled parking permit when used for disabled users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49761/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 195 to 197, inclusive, together.
The Disabled Parking Permit is available to people living in Ireland who have a permanent condition or disability that severely restricts his or her ability to walk. Under the Disabled Parking Permit scheme, people who are Primary Medical Certificate holders or registered blind are automatically eligible to avail of the scheme. People who are not holders of the Primary Medical Certificate or registered blind are required to have their application form completed by a certified medical practitioner.
The medical criteria for issue of the permit are strict and only persons whose mobility is severely and permanently restricted qualify. These criteria were revised and clarified in my Department’s Review of the Disabled Parking Scheme in 2010. Specific measures for the degree of impairment of lung capacity and the severity level of heart conditions which apply are given in the Guidelines for Medical Practitioners. These Medical Fitness to Drive Guidelines can be found on the Road Safety Authority website at www.rsa.ie.
The Disabled Parking scheme is operated on behalf of my Department by the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland (DDAI) and the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA). Details on eligibility and how to apply for a Permit are available on their respective websites www.iwa.ie and www.ddai.ie.
The Disabled Parking Permit is assigned to the individual, not the vehicle, and so can be used by a disabled person in any vehicle in which he or she is traveling. This means that a disabled person who is being driven at different times by different people can bring the permit with him or her and display it in the appropriate vehicle. It is not necessary to have an adopted car in order to use the permit.
198. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the rail fare structures for fares from Newbridge and Kildare will be reviewed in view of the fact that they are significantly higher than the fares from Naas and Sallins, which are included in the short hop commuter zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49346/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
199. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied); the reason for the delay; his plans to reduce same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49655/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within ten days.
200. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the level of funding allocated through Fáilte Ireland to County Longford for the purpose of promoting tourism within the county (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49670/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is an operational matter for the board and management of Fáilte Ireland.
Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to the agency for further information and direct reply. I ask the Deputy to please advise my private office if he does not receive a reply within ten working days.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
201. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Coughlanstown Road, Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare, will be considered for national funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49671/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of local authorities, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from a local authority'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.
Kildare County Council was allocated grant funding of €18.9 million in January 2017 in respect of regional and local roads. It is open to Kildare County Council to fund works along the L6042 Coughlanstown Road, Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare from its grant allocation if it so wishes.
It is important to reiterate that the role of Exchequer grants for regional and local roads is to supplement local authorities in their spending in this area and it is also open to Kildare County Council to fund works from its own resources.
