Written Answers Nos. 616-628
616. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if officials from his Department have studied the Australian Institute of Sport; his plans to fund something similar to exceed the State's goals in sporting tournaments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53524/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards.
Sport Ireland, through the National Sports Campus, and the high performance facilities at the Sport Ireland Institute, plays a major role in the preparation of athletes for international competition. Sport Ireland Institute delivers world class support to high performance athletes and is expert in the approaches taken by various similar high performance institutes around the world.
As this is a matter for Sport Ireland and the Sport Ireland Institute, I have referred the Deputy's questions to Sport Ireland for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within ten days.
617. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding a bus stop. [53557/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing or providing public transport in the State in relation to bus stops, bus shelters, bus stations, bus stands and bus fleets.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
618. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the Acts, or parts of Acts, awaiting commencement within his area of statutory responsibility; the reason for the delay in the commencement of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53575/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is being collated and will be forwarded to him within ten working days.
619. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will include two fishing ports (details supplied) in the list of merchant shipping registry of ports here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53599/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraShip registration is currently governed by the Mercantile Marine 1955, as amended. Section 32(2) of that Act provides that the Minister may by order, after consultation with the Revenue Commissioners, amend the list of ports of registry mentioned in the Second Schedule to the Act.
The Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Act 2014, while not yet commenced, provides a basis for the establishment of an updated and modernised ship registration system in Ireland, replacing the 1955 Act. The list of ports of registry contained in Schedule 3 of the 2014 Act is the same as those designated under the 1955 Act.
Section 30 of the 2014 Act will allow changes to the list of ports of registry subject to a number of considerations:
- the demand that exists for the port to be a port of registry,
- the importance of the location for commercial shipping traffic or business, fishing, recreational or other maritime activity,
- the geographical location of the port, and
- the level of maritime activity with regard to shipping at the port.
When the new central Irish Register of Ships and modernised ship registration system are in place and the 2014 Act is commenced, I will be open to considering any case for a particular port that is made to me on the basis of the framework set out in the Act. Until such a time however, I do not propose to amend the list of ports of registry.
620. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Castlebar train station is to become an unmanned station; and if so, the date of same. [53606/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra621. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the staffing levels at Castlebar train station; his plans to reduce staff numbers; and the staff positions that will be made redundant. [53607/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra622. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to remove the station manager from Castlebar train station. [53608/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 620 to 622, inclusive, together.
The issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the Company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
623. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to extend a scheme to include a new category (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53623/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder a new Roadworthiness Directive, 2014/45/EU, published in 2014, motorcycles, motorcycles with sidecar, motortricycles and heavy quadricycles with an engine displacement of more than 125 cm3 will be required to be roadworthiness tested from 1 January 2022. However, the Directive allows that where a Member State has effective alternative road safety measures in place for such vehicles, an exemption to this requirement may apply.
If the testing of motorcycles was to be introduced it would have to be under national legislation following consultation with the public and stakeholders. There is no doubt that motorcyclists are one of the more vulnerable groups of road users and an on-going area of concern is the behaviour displayed by and shown towards motorcyclists.
While any measures which have a positive effect on road safety are to be welcomed, it is important that we achieve the optimum road safety measures at the best cost and least administrative burden on industry and vehicle owners. The RSA will examine the requirements of the Directive in due course.
624. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to develop a vision zero policy toward road traffic fatalities and serious injuries and to meet the target reductions in these casualties proposed by 2020 at the recent World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53908/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAfter the joint safest year on record, 2015, when 162 deaths were recorded, there was a sharp rise in road fatalities last year. I tasked all stakeholders to make every effort to reverse this trend during 2017 including through increased frequency of meetings of the Ministerial Committee on Road Safety to once every second months instead of twice yearly. Thankfully, as a result of the increased efforts by all, road deaths have decreased this year, and 2017 may be our lowest year for road deaths ever.
The Road Safety Strategy 2013 to 2020 identifies 144 actions which are designed to make our roads safer for all users, with a target of no more than 124 deaths on our roads by 2020. I have recently approved the mid-term review of the Road Safety Strategy, which included bringing together all of the major stakeholders, including the Road Safety Authority, my Department, an Garda Síochána, the Medical Bureau of Road Safety, the Health and Safety Authority and others, to ensure that all actions were still relevant and fit for purpose, and to identify any new priorities which may have arisen since 2013. Flowing from that review I am committed to enhancing interventions to address the main killer behaviours on our roads, with stricter penalties for non-compliance and targeted visible enforcement.
In that context, I am delighted by the announcement that the number of Gardaí assigned to roads policing will increase by 10% to the end of 2017, and a further 10% next year. I believe that robust enforcement of the road traffic laws is key to reducing road deaths.
However, every death is one too many, and we must continue our efforts to reduce the number of people killed on our roads. Regrettably, the four main causes of road deaths remain speeding, drink driving, using a mobile phone and not wearing a seatbelt, so all road users must take personal responsibility for our behaviour in order to make the road safer for all users.
625. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to launch a new sports capital programme in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54063/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2017 round of the Sports Capital Programme closed for applications on the 24th February. By the closing date, a record number of 2,320 applications seeking €155 million in grants were received. When the programme was launched, it was envisaged that €30m would be available which would have made the allocation of grants particularly challenging. Following the conclusion of the budget discussions and in order to allow as many worthwhile projects as possible to receive some funding, significant extra resources were secured to allocate under the round.
The allocations in respect of all local applications were announced on Thursday 30th November and full details of these allocations are available on my Department's website. The priority in the medium term will be on advancing these projects. A decision on the timing of the next round of the programme will be taken next year and all clubs and sports organisations registered with my Department will be informed at the time.
626. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to increase funding available to the local improvement scheme programme; and the cost of restoring the programme to pre-2012 levels. [54092/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra630. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to increase funding available to the local improvement scheme programme; and the cost of restoring the programme to pre-2012 levels. [54096/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 626 and 630 together.
Due to the major cutbacks in roads funding resulting from the financial crisis it was necessary for my Department to cease making separate allocations to local authorities in respect of the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) in 2012. No provision was made for LIS in 2012. Since 2013 local authorities have had the option of using a proportion of their Discretionary Grant for LIS should they wish to do so. The decision on whether to allocate funding for LIS and the management of the allocation process has been a matter for each local authority.
Details of LIS allocations before 2012 are included in the Regional and Local Road Grant Payment booklets which are available in the Dáil Library.
Minister Ring's Department is now taking the lead regarding the LIS having launched a scheme in September 2017 and I understand further funding will be allocated by that Department in 2018.
627. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated number of persons that avail of parking at park and ride facilities at all rail stations on a daily basis. [54093/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
628. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding that has been allocated by his Department in 2018 for the introduction of variable speed limits on the M50. [54094/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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 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 ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.
