Written Answers Nos. 188-193
188. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his key priorities in the forthcoming capital review; the projects submitted for priority inclusion in the review; the status of negotiations with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2298/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the Government has proposed that a ten year capital 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 capital plan is likely to be discussed at cabinet in the coming weeks.
On Thursday 12 October 2017, I 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
I trust the Deputy will find that useful.
189. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if bullying or sexual harassment claims have been lodged in his Department in each year since 2011; if so, the number of either complaints on an annual basis, in tabular form; if these complaints have been investigated; the outcome of each investigation; and the policies in place in his Department to combat bullying and sexual harassment. [2324/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to confirm to the Deputy that my Department's Human Resources Division has received one complaint of bullying from members of staff in each of the years 2011 and 2015. Neither complaint was upheld following investigation.
In terms of addressing complaints of bullying and sexual harassment, my Department is strongly committed to implementing the Civil Service Anti-Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Harassment Policy - Dignity at Work. Each staff member is made aware that all forms of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment are unacceptable standards of behaviour.
On appointment, all staff receive a copy of the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour, which sets the standards for their behaviour at work and towards colleagues. The Code also includes a commitment for staff to observe and support the Dignity at Work Policy.
190. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions abated by measures to encourage a modal shift to cycling and walking; the source of this estimate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2361/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra191. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions abated by measures to encourage a modal shift to public transport; the source of this estimate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2362/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra192. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions abated by measures to reduce the speed of motor vehicles; the source of this estimate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2363/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 190 to 192, inclusive, together.
Central to the development of the National Mitigation Plan (NMP) was the robust economic evaluation of key emission mitigation measures. A Marginal Abatement Cost Curve approach (MACC) was used to compare ‘business-as-usual’ economic activity to ‘low carbon’ options. The MACC tool was developed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). An estimated marginal cost per tonne of carbon abated was attributed to certain mitigation measures. This technique allows for comparative analysis of ‘low carbon’ alternatives across the key sectors in the NMP. An overview of costs and emission reduction potential of sector specific mitigation measures can be found in the NMP (https://www.dccae.gov.ie/documents/National%20Mitigation%20Plan%202017.pdf).
The Strategic Research and Analysis Division within my own Department employed the MACC tool to help model the economic and environmental impact of reducing speed limits on motorways from 120km/h to 110km/h for cars/vans and from 90km/h to 80km/h for heavy duty vehicles. They estimated that such a measure would be associated with a marginal cost of €573 per tonne of carbon abated. Reducing speed limits lessens energy use; it is estimated that this measure could potentially reduce CO2 emissions by about 1.9Mt CO2 between 2017 and 2030. The introduction of this measure would require extensive consideration of economic impact, traffic flows, implications of traffic transfer on to secondary networks, enforcement requirements, and potential modifications to the design of existing motorway infrastructure.
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the cost per tonne of carbon abated through measures that encourage modal shift to either public transport or active travel modes is not currently available in the format sought. Limitations in ascertaining robust baseline data and selecting representative modal shift scenarios hinder meaningful analysis; however, further work on modelling scenarios will continue over the lifetime of the NMP, and in the future it may be possible to do similar technical modelling work on these options.
In the meantime, modal shift towards public and sustainable transport continues to be usefully measured using other tools such as the National Travel Survey and the Canal Cordon Report. Findings from these sources show that in Dublin alone, over 67% of all journeys in to the city centre are now made through sustainable means (walking, cycling, public transport) - a dramatic increase from 59% of journeys in 2010; while cycling and walking have grown greatly in popularity increasing by over 16% and nearly 9% respectively between 2014 and 2016. Nationally public transport accounts for 5.5% of all journeys taken, with the number of passengers using public transport increasing to 251 million in 2017 - a 7% increase since 2016. Promoting modal shift away from the private car results in fewer CO2 emissions as well as a reduction in vehicle volume and so is an integral measure in decarbonising the Transport sector.
193. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the living arrangements of young persons in receipt of aftercare services as reported in the Tusla quarterly service performance and activity reports; the types of accommodation included in the other category in its published breakdowns of living arrangements; if homeless accommodation is included in this category; the number in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2156/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe most recent aftercare data available from Tusla indicates that the majority of young people aged 18-22 years, in receipt of aftercare services, remained with their foster families, while some progress to independent living. The following table outlines the living arrangements of young adults in receipt of aftercare services in Q3 2017.
|
Living Arrangements in aftercare |
Number and % of young people (18-22) |
|
Remained with carers |
878 (45.9%) |
|
Independent living |
522 (27.3%) |
|
Returned home/family |
203 (10.6%) |
|
Other Accommodation |
171 (8.9%) |
|
Residential placement |
95 (5%) |
|
Supported lodgings |
45 (2.4%) |
|
Total |
1,914 (100%) |
Tusla has informed me that the category 'Other Accommodation' includes psychiatric services, disability services, mother and baby centres and prison. A breakdown of the number of young adults in each type of accommodation included in this category is not available.
Tusla policy is not to discharge young adults from care into homeless services. Tusla is working with my Department, and the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, on projects to secure housing for care leavers.
Aftercare is an adult service, and young adults may choose whether they wish to engage with it. Aftercare workers engage with young adults leaving care to ensure that their needs are met in transitioning to adulthood.
