Written Answers Nos. 604-615
606. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the external consultant reports commissioned by his Department since March 2011; the costs per report; the company involved; the title of the report; and the publication date, in tabular form. [54255/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department administers a very diverse, complex and technical brief across critical and strategic sectors of the Irish economy. While it has a total complement of around 388 full time equivalent staff of whom a number are technical personnel, the technical, commercial, legal complexity and evolving nature of sectors with which the Department deals requires access to external professional expertise to assist in discharging its functions. In procuring these specialised services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and that these services contribute to project delivery and informed, robust and evidence based policy making.
The bulk of the studies are technical and specialist in nature and were necessary to address specific issues as they arose and enable the Department to discharge its policy and project responsibilities in the areas concerned.
Details of external consultant reports commissioned by my Department since March 2011 are set out at the following link.
607. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the level of expenditure by his Department from 1 January 2017 to date in 2017 on advertising of Government information campaigns published specifically in national and regional newspapers in addition to all online advertising for all such Government information campaigns; the name for each such information campaign to which this expenditure related; the cost of each, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54271/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra608. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the level of expenditure by his Department or organisations under the aegis of his Department from 1 January 2017 to date in 2017 on photography, advertising, communications advice, public relations, website development, media interview training and preparation; the events, campaigns or policies to which this expenditure related; the company or person to which such payments were made, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54287/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 607 and 608 together.
My Department's remit includes complex policy areas, oversight of State regulation and service provision across key strategic services such as energy and public broadcasting, and regulation of sectors such as mining and hydrocarbon exploration. Given the technical complexity, economic significance and community interest in these areas, there is a requirement to disseminate information and to address specific issues as they arise. The Department therefore necessarily incurs some expenditure on public relations, communications advice and advertising, from time to time.
In procuring these services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and keeping expenditure to the minimum necessary.
The information which the Deputy requested is outlined in the following table:
Expenditure 1 January 2017 to date in 2017
|
Company Name |
Photography |
Advertising |
Communications Advice |
Purpose/Event/Campaign/Policy to which expenditure relates |
|
Mediavest |
€5,834 |
Press Advertisements for the Local Agenda 21/Local Environmental Partnership Fund |
||
|
MediaVest Ltd |
€6,336 |
Advertising for Public Consultation on Clean Air Strategy |
||
|
Ashville Media Group |
€12,300 |
Multi-page spread in magazine highlighting environmental awards as part of Tidy Towns competition |
||
|
Iris Oifigiúil |
€31 |
Advertisement of Order designating events of major importance to society.(27th October 2017) (S.I. No. 465 of 2017). |
||
|
Iris Oifigiúil |
€106 |
Notice of appointments of Chairman and Ordinary Member to the Mining Board |
||
|
Mediavest |
€1,947 |
Advertising in National Newspapers to promote EU LIFE Information day. |
||
|
Danielle Coombs |
€65,608 |
Communications consultancy for Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) |
||
|
Mediavest Ltd |
€41,747 |
Provision of printed advertising services in relation to the Tellus programme |
||
|
Iris Oifigiuil |
€3,255 |
Advertising in relation to Statutory Matters |
||
|
Mediavest Ltd |
€8,984 |
Advertising in relation to Statutory Matters |
||
|
Andrew Fox photography |
€450 |
Local Authority Broadband Officers NBP Workshop to highlight the: - Announcement of the eir 300k rural roll out Commitment Agreement - Launch of the updated High Speed Broadband Map |
||
|
Doggett Group |
€994 |
Brochures to be distributed at the National Ploughing Championship |
||
|
Doggett Group |
€942 |
Brochures to be distributed at Local Authority Broadband Officers NBP Workshop which was to highlight the: - Announcement of the eir 300k rural roll out Commitment Agreement with Minister Naughten - Launch of the updated High Speed Broadband Map |
||
|
Tony Harris Design |
€2693 |
Design of brochures to be distributed at the National Ploughing Championship |
||
|
Maxwell Photography |
€499 |
Photo shoot to highlight the NBP: - Announcement of the eir 300k rural roll out Commitment Agreement - Launch of the updated High Speed Broadband Map |
||
|
Maxwell Photography |
€529 |
School Digital Champion Programme – Showcase Event 13th May 2017. |
||
|
Cawley NEA/TBWA |
€8,500 |
Trading Online Voucher Scheme |
||
|
PHD Media (Ireland) Ltd |
€43,285 |
Trading Online Voucher Scheme |
||
|
Mediavest Ltd |
€44,744 |
Trading Online Voucher Scheme |
||
|
Independent Newspapers Marketing Ltd* |
€6,150 |
Trading Online Voucher Scheme |
||
|
Mediavest |
€8,870 |
Publication of Public Notices in National Newspapers in respect of Petroleum Prospecting Licences (PPLs). |
||
|
Maxwell Photography |
€120 |
IPCC Event |
||
|
Maxwell Photography |
€241 |
Forum on Food Waste |
||
|
Maxwell Photography |
€482 |
LGFA Free to Air Finals |
||
|
Maxwell Photography |
€430 |
National Broadband Launch |
||
|
Andrew Fox Photography |
€200 |
Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce Forum |
||
|
Marc O’ Sullivan Photography |
€553 |
Advanced Mobile Location Launch |
||
|
Impression Print |
€348 |
GPP4Growth Printing of Project Material |
||
|
Media Vest Limited |
€6,738 |
National Newspapers adverts for Consultation on Draft National Mitigation Plan in mid- March 2017 |
||
|
Doggett Group Creative Media |
€215 |
Cost of 2 Pull up Stands for Tidy Towns Competition (to promote Climate Change Award) April 2017; Pull Ups can be reused in future years; |
||
|
Clever Cat Design |
€664 |
Design of Tidy Towns Climate Change logo May 2017 |
||
|
Clever Cat Design |
€547 |
Production of 2,000 leaflets – Our Community Climate Action Award / Tidy Towns Awards leaflet September 2017 |
||
|
Clever Cat Design |
€940 |
Production of 2,000 leaflets – Our Community Climate Action Award / Tidy Towns Awards leaflet; Production of 500 Our Community Climate Action Awards / Clean Air Awards Winners Leaflets both for use at National Ploughing Championships- September 2017 |
||
|
Doggett Group Creative Media |
€98 |
Production of 1Pull Up stand ‘Everyday Power Use’ for use at National Ploughing Championships; can be reused in future; |
||
|
Tony Harris Design / Green Room Media |
€405 |
Production of 1Pull Up stand ‘What’s a Watt’ for use at National Ploughing Championships; can be reused in future; |
||
|
Mediavest |
€5842 |
Advertising the Public consultation of the National Adaptation Framework |
||
|
OPW Iris Oifigiuil |
€42 |
Payment for Notice in Iris Oifigiuil of making of Statutory Instrument relating to the Fuel Quality Directive May 2017 |
||
|
Limerick City & County Council |
€668,878 |
Grant to Regional Waste Management Offices in relation to expenditure on Household Waste Awareness Campaign |
||
|
Dublin City Council |
€133,860 |
Grant to Regional Waste Management Offices in relation to expenditure on Household Waste Awareness Campaign |
||
|
PHD Media (Ireland) Ltd |
€342,978 |
Provision of services in relation to Household Waste Awareness Campaign |
||
|
Mac Innes Photography |
€51 |
Headshots for whodoeswhat.gov.ie |
||
|
|
€22 |
Trading Online Voucher Scheme Regional Event |
*In addition to the Independent Newspapers figure there was an additional payment in January for work done the previous year for €3,075.
|
Company Name |
Public Relations |
Website Development |
Media Interview Training and Preparation |
Purpose/Event/Campaign/Policy to which expenditure relates |
|
Morrow Communications Ltd |
€36,962 |
Provision of services in relation to outreach in rural communities with respect to the Tellus low flying geophysical survey and soil geochemical survey |
||
|
Mandy Johnson Communications |
€7,200 |
€1,500 |
Provision of services in relation to Household Waste Awareness Campaign |
|
|
Focus Advertising |
€15,855 |
Provision of services in relation to Household Waste Awareness Campaign |
||
|
Limerick City & County Council |
€1,751 |
Grant to Regional Waste Management Offices in relation to expenditure on Household Waste Awareness Campaign |
||
|
Storm Technology |
€91,382 |
DCCAE Website Update |
||
|
Storm Technology |
€33,265 |
GSI Website Redesign |
||
|
ELM Solutions |
€13,195 |
GSI Shop |
609. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress as provided under the programme for Government on €100 million capital investment in the Wild Atlantic Way and greenways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53714/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government provides that the Government will set aside €100 million in additional capital funding for investment in the Wild Atlantic Way, Greenways and a number of other initiatives. This commitment covers a number of funding programmes and
Departments.
Following from the mid-term review of the Capital Plan, an amount of almost €108 million is being provided for tourism product development in the period from 2018 to 2021. This allocation will provide for continued capital investment by Fáilte Ireland in their experience brands, including the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland's Ancient East. It will also enable Fáilte Ireland to commence work on the development of a brand for the Midlands region as a separate proposition to sit alongside the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland's Ancient East.
In relation to the Wild Atlantic Way, my Department's role in relation to tourism lies in the area of national tourism policy. It is not directly involved in the management or development of individual tourism projects, which are operational matters for Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority.
In relation to Greenways, almost €56 million will be provided for investment in greenways in the period from 2018 to 2021. My Department is currently developing a strategy for the future development of greenways. 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.
610. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress as provided under the programme for Government on €10 million in additional funding for regional airports; the capital expenditure that has been allocated in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53715/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Aviation Policy, published by my Department in 2015, acknowledges the role played by the regional airports of Donegal, Ireland West Airport Knock, Kerry and Waterford as being important in promoting a level of international connectivity to support the tourism and business sectors in their regions.
In this regard I am pleased to inform the Deputy that as part of the Review of the Capital Plan that was carried out by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, my Department secured over €17 million in additional capital funding for the Regional Airports Programme in recognition of this role. These additional resources will be available in the period 2019 to 2021 and are considerably in excess of the €10 million in extra Capital Plan funding that was originally envisaged in the Programme for Government.
Capital funding of €1.9m has been allocated in 2017 and will be paid to the regional airports in the current year.
611. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress as provided under the programme for Government on review of the western rail corridor phase two between Athenry and Claremorris for passenger and freight use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53716/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to provide for an independent costing and review of the Western Rail Corridor Phase Two between Athenry and Claremorris for passenger and freight use. It also commits that no measures will be taken to prevent the future reactivation of the Western Rail Corridor for rail use.
The costing and review has not been undertaken but the Deputy will be aware that a number of wider processes underway that are being advanced first as they are highly relevant to the general rail environment.
Firstly, around this time last year, the National Transport Authority (NTA) held a public consultation process to start a national debate on the current and future role of rail transport in Ireland. The public consultation process was launched with the publication of the Rail Review Report 2016, which examined the funding required to support the heavy rail network now and into the future, together with a consultation document "The Role of Rail in Ireland and Funding its Delivery". Over 300 submissions were received by the NTA in response to that consultation process which have now all been examined and the NTA has submitted a report of those submissions which - when updated to reflect the increased Exchequer funding now being made available for rail services and infrastructure - I intend to bring to Government, and expect to be published shortly thereafter.
Secondly, on a broader front, the Government is at an advanced stage on the finalisation of the National Planning Framework which has been developed under the leadership of my colleague the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government. Once agreed by Government, the approach which that Framework adopts toward land-use planning and settlement patterns for the country will have significant impacts on the potential of rail and other transport infrastructure and services into the future.
612. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress as provided under the programme for Government on TEN-T transport funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53719/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Programme for Partnership Government, the Government committed to applying to the European Union for the revision of the TEN-T Core Network, including in relation to the Western Arc. A submission is being prepared for the European Commission for a revision of the TEN-T Core Network, which would seek to facilitate consideration of transport-related project proposals for funding under the Connecting Europe Facility for transport in the Western Arc region. The submission will also take into account the implications of Brexit on western and northwest regions.
My officials met the European Commissioner for Transport, Ms Violeta Bulc, and her officials in October 2017 in relation to transport issues, including the potential impacts of Brexit on Ireland’s connectivity and increased geographical isolation in the EU. In that context, my officials informed the Commissioner that a submission will be forthcoming. My officials also separately met with the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) last month and briefed DG Move on the Government’s commitment and on the pending submission. DG Move advised that the submission would be considered on receipt but did not see that the Western Arc would meet the criteria for the Core Network. However, it noted that under the Regulation, a review of the implementation of the core network will take place by end 2023.
613. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress as provided under the programme for Government on the capital budget for local and regional roads and the commitment to increase this budget by approximately 50%; the capital expenditure that has been allocated for 2016 and 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53720/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the 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.
The Capital Plan published in September 2015 outlined proposed transport investment priorities to 2022. The transport element of the plan was framed by the conclusions reached in my Department's Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport. This report highlighted the importance of maintenance and renewal of transport infrastructure together with targeted investments to address particular bottlenecks and critical safety issues. The bulk of the funding allocated under the Capital Plan and the increased funding allocated under the Capital Plan Review is earmarked for the maintenance and strengthening of the existing extensive network throughout the country together with some targeted road improvement projects.
The Plan provides for the phased increase in capital funding and in this context 2018 will see a significant increase in funding for regional and local roads. Capital expenditure for 2016 and the allocation for 2017 is included in the Regional and Local Road payment and allocation booklets which are available in the Dáil Library. The expenditure figure for 2016 of €331.5 million includes the extra funding allocated by Government to assist local authorities with road repairs resulting from damage caused by severe weather in late 2015 and early 2016. It is envisaged that the 2017 allocation of €280.6 million will increase by about €100 million (including €10 million to assist Donegal County Council with road repairs caused by the severe weather in August 2017) in 2018.
614. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress as provided under the programme for Government on rural transport and the commitment that a report will be provided to the relevant Oireachtas committee within six months examining the way in which existing routes can be made more sustainable and accessible to the public and the potential for new routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53721/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn recognition of the value and benefit of rural transport to many communities, the Programme for a Partnership Government undertakes to examine how best to improve integration of services in the rural bus network within regions, and proposed that a report about this should be provided to the relevant Oireachtas Committee. This matter is being examined and developed by my Department in the context of the wider work on which it is now embarking around review of public transport policy, which is another commitment in the Programme for Government.
The Department's work is drawing on input that has been provided by the National Transport Authority (NTA) - the agency with responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including management of the Rural Transport Programme (that now operates under the “Local Link” brand) - in relation to the role and operation of the Local Link services in connecting rural dwellers to facilities and services in their area, and the potential for the future.
Finally, the Deputy is probably aware that, in recent days, the Joint Committee on Rural and Community Development - which is one of the Committees with an interest in this area - has written to ask about progress on the Programme for Government commitment about rural transport; I expect to respond to the Committee on that very shortly.
615. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if discussions were held between his Department and the FAI regarding the possibility of bidding for the extra games in Euro 2020 after Brussels lost the right to host matches for the tournament; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53523/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn partnership with the FAI and Dublin City Council, my Department continues to actively support the planning to host three group games and one second round game as part of the the EURO 2020 Championships in Dublin in June 2020.
In regard to the recent re-allocation of the EURO 2020 matches originally awarded to Brussels, it is my understanding that the FAI was not in a position to bid for these games. The decision to re-allocate the Brussels matches was taken by UEFA's Executive Committee and the cities considered were either not allocated games in the original bid process i.e. Stockholm and Cardiff or were existing host cities not already staging group games i.e. London. Cities already hosting group games, including Dublin, were not invited to submit an application. Accordingly, no discussions regarding bidding for these games were held between the Department and the FAI.
