Written Answers Nos. 1237 - 1255
1237. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to trying to free up funds from the unclaimed prize fund of the National Lottery to top up the sports capital programme; if not, his plans to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15418/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recently published National Development Plan (NDP) contains a commitment that at least €100m will be available for the Sports Capital Programme (SCP) over the coming four years. This amount will cover all existing commitments including all allocations made under the 2017 round of the SCP and will also allow for new allocations under the scheme.
In relation to future rounds of the SCP, my Department will be engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in the coming weeks in relation to the timing and the scale of the next round including the funding available for it. Any sources of additional funding will be considered in this context. An announcement regarding the next round of the SCP will be made once these discussions are complete.
1238. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the national evaluation and its outcomes that Sport Ireland carried out of the various programmes developed and funded in 2016 in view of the fact that each programme was to have strict evaluation criteria with regard to learners’ reaction and impact of programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15421/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport. This includes responsibility for the allocation of funding for sports programmes and their subsequent evaluation.
As the finer details of the reply to this question would be a matter for Sport Ireland, I have referred the question to Sport Ireland for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
1239. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review the capital grant application of a club (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15428/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe organisation referred to by the Deputy made an application under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme (SCP) but was deemed invalid at assessment stage for reasons which were notified to the club. All applicants deemed invalid or partially invalid were invited to appeal the Department’s decision if it was felt that an error had been made in the assessment process but the organisation in question did not lodge any such appeal.
All clubs with applications that remain invalid have been informed that they can resubmit their 2017 application, along with any corrected documentation to make their application valid for the next round of the SCP without the necessity of submitting a full new application. I expect an announcement will be made shortly regarding when the new round of the programme will be open for applications.
1240. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 472 of 8 March 2018, if he will notify officials in the relevant section of his Department that a person (details supplied) continues to receive correspondence from a toll operator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15458/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe matter of the individual concerned receiving a penalty fine for an outstanding toll was addressed in my previous reply to PQ Ref 10953/18.
My Department notified eFlow that the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) record had been updated and that the individual concerned ceased to be the owner of the vehicle with effect from January 9, 2018.
My Departments officials have again contacted eFlow regarding this matter and have been informed that the notice they issued, dated March 27, 2018 was done so due to an administrative error.
I understand that eFlow have contacted the individual concerned directly to apologise and assure him that he is not responsible for payment of this fine, and that a letter from eFlow will also issue confirming same.
1241. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of proposed minimum passing distances to increase the safety of cyclists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15460/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have put in motion the necessary steps to legislate for the introduction of a minimum passing distance (MPD) for cyclists. As all existing overtaking offences are set out in secondary legislation, this is the most appropriate route for introducing the MPD. Following the finalisation and approval by the Office of the Attorney General, the regulations will be introduced once the required equipment for measuring the minimum passing distance has been tested, approved and procured by An Garda Síochána.
1242. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding allocated to the delivery of improvements in public transport infrastructure referenced in his budget 2018 speech in each of the years 2019 to 2023; and the way in which the funds will be spent. [15493/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1243. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding allocated to the delivery of BusConnects in each of the years 2019 to 2023; the estimated cost of delivering the project; and the expected timeline for completion of the project. [15494/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1244. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding allocated to the delivery of the upgrade to rail infrastructure in each of the years 2019 to 2023; the estimated cost of delivering the required upgrade to rail infrastructure; the way in which the funding will be spent in each of the years 2019 to 2023; and the expected timeline for completion of an upgrade to rail infrastructure. [15495/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1245. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding allocated to the delivery of the city centre resignalling project in each of the years 2019 to 2023; the estimated cost of delivering the project; and the expected timeline for its completion. [15496/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1246. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding allocated to the delivery of the new central traffic control centre in each of the years 2019 to 2023; the estimated cost of its delivery; and the expected timeline for completion. [15497/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1247. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding allocated to increasing the rail fleet in each of the years 2019 to 2023; the estimated cost of its delivery; and the expected timeline for completion. [15498/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1248. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding allocated to the delivery of electrification of the northern line to Balbriggan in each of the years 2019 to 2023; the estimated cost of delivering the project; and the expected timeline for completion. [15499/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1249. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding allocated to the delivery of electrification of the Maynooth line in each of the years 2019 to 2023; the estimated cost of delivering the project; and the expected timeline for completion. [15500/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1250. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding allocated to the delivery of electrification of the Kildare line to Hazelhatch in each of the years 2019 to 2023; the estimated cost of delivering the project; and the expected timeline for completion. [15501/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1251. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding allocated to the delivery of investment in maintenance and safety projects on the rail network as referenced in his budget 2018 speech in each of the years 2019 to 2023. [15502/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1252. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding allocated to the delivery of the metro link in each of the years 2019 to 2023; the estimated cost of delivering the project; and the expected timeline for completion. [15503/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1253. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding allocated to the delivery of the retrofitting of existing public transport facilities to improve accessibility as referenced in his budget 2018 speech in each of the years 2019 to 2023; the estimated cost of delivering the project; and the expected timeline for completion. [15504/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1254. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding allocated to the delivery of the environmental sustainability schemes as referenced in his budget 2018 speech in each of the years 2019 to 2023; the estimated cost of delivering these schemes; and the expected timeline for completion. [15505/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1255. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding allocated to the delivery of the urban walking and cycling routes in each of the years 2019 to 2023; the estimated cost of delivering the projects; the details of expected routes and projects; and the expected timeline for completion. [15506/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1242 to 1255, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy is aware, Budget 2018 provided a four-year enhanced capital envelope for public transport of over €2.7 billion to 2021 including funding of over €400 million for investment in public transport in 2018. As I announced at the time of Budget 2018, this increased funding will allow roll out of a number of key programmes to address congestion and emerging capacity constraints on our public transport system across our cities. It includes:
- investment of more than €750m for the BusConnects programme - a transformative investment to enhance and expand the bus network, improving bus access through and around the Capital, and including designated segregated cycle lanes.
- over €110 million for new urban cycling and walking routes in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), and in Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford Cities areas, which will provide additional sustainable travel options to complement increased capacity and faster, higher quality public transport in our main cities.
- over €220 million capital investment in additional heavy rail infrastructure between now and 2021. This will deliver: the City Centre Re-signalling Project to improve speeds on mainline rail; a new rail Central Traffic Control Centre; progress on the DART Expansion Programme to include increase rail fleet and further progress on electrification of both the Northern rail line to Balbriggan and the Maynooth line.
- funding of almost €460 million investment in light rail for additional Luas capacity - with additional trams and longer trams across the Luas network - and to progress the Metro Link, with construction work starting on the project in 2021, and passenger services commencing in 2027.
- investment in maintenance and safety projects to maintain safety and service levels in railway operations of our national railway system.
- multi-annual funding of almost €30 million over the next four years to continue the programme of retro-fitting older, existing public transport facilities to improve their accessibility features. This effectively triples the previously planned investment amount.
- funding in the region of €130 million over the next four years for traffic management, bus priority and other smarter travel projects in our cities.
- €35 million to back new ideas that will help decarbonise the transport sector, including pilot initiatives for low emission technologies. This is complemented by the investing of €15 million in lower energy lighting on national roads.
Building on the enhanced 4-year capital allocations to Departments announced last October as part of Budget 2018, more recently we have now published the new National Development Plan (NDP) which will run from 2018 to 2027. It sets out how the State's overall capital investment of €116 billion for the lifetime of the NDP is being allocated on a thematic basis across all ten of the National Strategic Objectives (NSOs) that are identified in the National Planning Framework (NPF). The NDP sets out Strategic Investment Priorities and indicates some of the specific investments which have been identified by the relevant Departments, including my own, as central to the delivery of the NPF vision. The NDP is a 10-year investment plan and it recognises that there are different planning and delivery horizons applying to different types of capital expenditure depending, for example, on whether they involve the construction or development of major new infrastructure, the purchase of new capital assets, protecting the quality and value of existing infrastructure, or providing a programme of capital grants.
The NDP will enable extensive investment across Ireland's transport sector, supporting and will support the overall development of an integrated and sustainable national public transport system. Investment priorities to be delivered over the full lifetime of the NDP include the following:
- delivery of the BusConnects programme,
- provision of additional capacity on the Luas Green Line;
- construction and opening of the new MetroLink;
- delivery of priority elements of the DART Expansion Programme, including investment in new train fleet, and extended electrification;
- investment to protect the quality and value of the existing rail network and to support safety and service levels;
- investment in strategic park and ride sites including investment in expanding existing parking facilities at rail and Luas locations;
- completing construction of the National Train Control Centre and the city centre resignalling project;
- supporting programmes of railway and bus station improvement/development;
- passenger information programmes;
- accessibility enhancements;
- smarter travel projects along with new urban walking and cycling routes; and
- the appraisal, planning and design of LUAS network expansions to ensure readiness when and where extensions are needed.
It is worth noting that as part of the annual Estimates process, the multi-annual capital allocations for Government Departments under the NDP will be reviewed and extended annually on a rolling basis to cover the coming 5-year period. This will provide Government with an annual opportunity to review the allocations in light of any implementation issues arising and/or new priorities which may emerge as the NDP is implemented.
The NDP also commits to a full mid-term review of the Plan in 2022, to allow Government to take stock of progress in terms of delivery of the planned projects and programmes, and to allow Government to review and reaffirm its investment priorities. It is envisaged that the review will be carried out in order to prepare and publish a new updated 10-year plan for public capital investment in 2023, covering the period 2023 to 2032.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) - working with the other relevant State bodies - is responsible in the main for ensuring the planning and delivery of the public transport infrastructure priorities. Therefore, in light of the NTA’s role, I have forwarded the Deputy’s questions to the NTA for further response.
