Robert Troy
Ceist:430. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount that has been spent on the DART expansion project to date in 2017. [51016/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraRail Network Expansion
Ceisteanna (430, 431)
Robert Troy
Ceist:431. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of completing the DART expansion project. [51017/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 431 together.
As the Deputy is aware, the National Transport Authority's (NTA) Transport Strategy for the GDA 2016-2035 proposes implementation of the DART Expansion Programme. The original cost of the overall DART Expansion Programme (including the DART Underground Tunnel element) was estimated at €4 billion, of which €3 billion was in respect of the tunnel as originally designed. The Government decided in September 2015 that the original proposal for the tunnel should be redesigned to provide a lower cost solution. I understand that the NTA's work on this is expected to be completed soon.
The Government’s budgetary framework for capital investment, as set out in Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021, was reviewed earlier this year in the context of the Mid-Term Review of capital priorities, delivery and funding. Following this work, Budget 2018 increased the multi-annual capital investment funding envelopes for the coming four-year period, including providing an enhanced capital envelope of €2.7 billion for public transport investment between 2018 and 2021. This includes funding of about €230 million for mainline rail and DART capacity enhancement. This will enable acceleration of the initial stages of the overall DART Expansion Programme, focussing particularly at this stage on providing additional fleet to enhance capacity, and extending the electrified DART system. Specifically, it will allow substantial progress on electrification of the Northern rail line as far as Balbriggan - now expected to be delivered in 2022 - and the Maynooth line.
In light of the NTA’s responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy’s question to the Authority for information in relation to expenditure in 2017 on the DART Expansion Programme. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
Road Projects Expenditure
Ceisteanna (432)
Robert Troy
Ceist:432. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of completing the M20 Cork to Limerick motorway project. [51018/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As 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 Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), formerly the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
Departmental Expenditure
Ceisteanna (433)
Robert Troy
Ceist:433. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his Department's planned capital spend for each year until 2025, by project. [51019/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Full details on the allocations for each of my Department's subheads for 2018 will be set out, as usual, in the Revised Estimates Volume (REV). In the meantime my Department is in discussion with relevant agencies regarding the details of allocations. The Government has also proposed that a ten year national investment plan will be set out which will take account of the National Planning Framework. My Department will also take that into account when setting infrastructure investment priorities in the years up to 2027. This National Investment Plan is likely to be published in the coming weeks.
I have already outlined my view of what our current priorities for investment are to the Dáil and I have also published further details in a separate speech which is available at http://www.dttas.ie/speeches/2017/minister-ross-budget-2018-speech.
Road Projects Expenditure
Ceisteanna (434)
Robert Troy
Ceist:434. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of completing the Narrow Water bridge project. [51020/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Options are still being appraised in accordance with the terms of the Fresh Start Agreement in relation to the proposed bridge at Narrow Water and there is, therefore, no cost estimate available for the completion of the project.
Road Projects Expenditure
Ceisteanna (435)
Robert Troy
Ceist:435. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of completing the A5 Donegal road. [51021/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The planning and implementation of the A5 project, including management of the project budget and expenditure, is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland authorities.
The Stormont House Agreement and Implementation Plan - A Fresh Start - sets out the Government's commitment to contribute £75 million towards the cost of Phase 1 of the project (Newbuildings to north of Strabane) once the planning process in Northern Ireland is completed.
Traffic Management
Ceisteanna (436)
Robert Troy
Ceist:436. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount that his Department has budgeted for implementing congestion measures on the M50, M40 and M11. [51022/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As 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 Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), formerly the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.
Electric Vehicle Grants
Ceisteanna (437)
Robert Troy
Ceist:437. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount that his Department has allocated to a scheme to incentivise the use of electric vehicles among taxi drivers for 2018. [51023/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I was delighted to secure funding as part of Budget 2018 to support a range of low carbon transport options, including the transition of our SPSV (Taxi/Hackney/Limousine) sector to electric vehicles. This sector plays a vital role in championing the use of electric vehicles to members of the public, and in reducing harmful tailpipe emissions particularly across our urban areas.
€5.5m is allocated in 2018 and €29m from 2019-2021 for the Carbon Reduction Programme to fund measures to support decarbonising the transport sector.
A ‘Green Public Transport Fund’ will support use of low carbon technology in the public transport fleet e.g. emerging low emission technologies, particularly for buses. The fund will bridge the price differential between conventional and alternative fuelled vehicles and infrastructure.
Funding will also be targeted in support of the LEV Taskforce’s efforts to increase electric vehicle (EV) uptake e.g. encouraging the transition of the national taxi fleet to alternative technologies including the new EV Taxi Grant and introduction of a tolling incentive.
The electric SPSV grant scheme will be administered on behalf of the Department by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and will open to applicants early next year.
Further details of the electric SPSV grant scheme will be made available soon and will be on the NTA website and SPSV industry newsletter.
Electric Vehicles
Ceisteanna (438)
Robert Troy
Ceist:438. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding that will be available to individual taxi drivers who wish to switch to the use of electric vehicles; the conditions of this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51024/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I was delighted to secure funding as part of Budget 2018 to help encourage the transition of our SPSV (Taxi/Hackney/Limousine) sector to electric vehicles. This sector can play a vital role in championing the use of electric vehicles to members of the public, and in reducing harmful tailpipe emissions particularly across our urban areas.
The electric SPSV grant scheme will be administered on behalf of the Department by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and will open to applicants early next year.
Further details of the electric SPSV grant scheme will be made available soon and will be on the NTA website and SPSV industry newsletter.
Questions Nos. 439 and 440 answered with Question No. 427.
Child Detention Centres
Ceisteanna (441)
Jim O'Callaghan
Ceist:441. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost per week of a juvenile prisoner in a detention centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51096/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In 2016, Oberstown Children Detention Campus was provided with funding totalling €20.713 million. Oberstown provided 54 detention places in 2016. They consist of 48 male detention places and 6 female detention places. The weekly cost for one detention place is €7,376.
Child Detention Centres
Ceisteanna (442)
Jim O'Callaghan
Ceist:442. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the annual cost of a juvenile prisoner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51097/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In 2016, Oberstown Children Detention Campus was provided with funding totalling €20.713 million. Oberstown provided 54 detention places in 2016. They consist of 48 male detention places and 6 female detention places. The annual cost for one detention place is €383,574.
Child Detention Centres
Ceisteanna (443)
Jim O'Callaghan
Ceist:443. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in detention centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51100/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As of this morning (28/11/2017), there are currently 49 children detained in Oberstown Children Detention Campus. Oberstown is the national children detention campus. Of the 49 children, 18 are remanded by the courts and 31 are serving a period of detention following a conviction by the courts. Of the 18 on remand, 17 are male and 1 is female. Of the 31 on committal, 30 are male and 1 is female.
There are also 10 children currently on the pilot Bail Supervision Scheme who otherwise would have been remanded in custody to Oberstown by the courts. The Bail Supervision Scheme provides more therapeutic supports in the community for children who are subject to bail conditions. The service provides a ‘wraparound’ service to the young person and their family with a prescribed reporting system back to the courts through the appropriate statutory bodies; Probation Service, An Garda Síochána and Oberstown. The scheme offers a particular option to the courts not to detain the child in Oberstown, in the knowledge that closer monitoring will take place through interaction with the young people, their families and communities.
Visiting Teacher Service
Ceisteanna (444)
Thomas Byrne
Ceist:444. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated full-year cost of restoring the visiting teacher service for Travellers to primary and post primary schools. [51121/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy may be aware, the Visiting Teachers Service for Travellers was discontinued with effect from September 2011, in line with Department of Education and Skills policy on the phasing out of segregated Traveller provision.
The Department of Education and Skills have advised that the funding costs for the programme in the final full year of the programme in 2010 were €2,716,737.
Foster Care
Ceisteanna (445)
Anne Rabbitte
Ceist:445. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the statutory basis for the national standards in foster care. [50776/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The current National Standards for Foster Care, published by the Department of Health and Children in 2003, have no basis in statute.
Departmental Funding
Ceisteanna (446)
John McGuinness
Ceist:446. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if an extension to the period within which an early years capital grant of €50,000 must be spent by a community project (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be approved in view of the fact that the building project is at roof level. [50878/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Similar to many government capital grant schemes, capital funding is made available to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on an annual basis for use within that year.
In 2017, €8.4 million Early Years Capital funding was granted to service providers in a very competitive process to create new childcare places as well as increasing the quality of existing childcare facilities.
In particular for the largest grants under Early Years Capital 2017, those grants falling under Strand 1 of up to €50,000, some services experience pressure in relation to the time needed to complete their projects. In these circumstances, services are encouraged to contact Pobal directly to consider what options are available to them. Nonetheless, in accordance with the public spending rules applicable to the capital schemes, funding granted in 2017 must be spent in 2017 and therefore extensions beyond 31 December 2017 cannot be considered.
In relation to the childcare service provider you mention, I have asked Pobal to contact them directly and liaise further on this matter.