Written Answers Nos. 1288-1304
1288. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a company (details supplied) is compelled in line with the Government ports policy to take on overall responsibility for Dún Laoghaire Harbour; and if funding will be provided to create a reserve to assist Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in outstanding liabilities as part of a final agreement of transfer. [15737/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraDun Laoghaire Harbour Company (DLHC), as a Port of Regional Significance, is designated under National Ports Policy 2013 to transfer to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. The Harbours Act 2015 provides the necessary legal framework for the transfer to take place.
In preparation for the transfer of the port, the Chief Executive (CE) undertook both a due diligence and a risk assessment. At a special meeting of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council on 6th March 2018, the CE presented her final report to Council.
National Ports Policy recognised that the future of Dun Laoghaire port lies in marine leisure, maritime tourism, cultural amenity and urban redevelopment. In addition, it clearly states that there is no Exchequer funding for any port company.
On transfer, all assets and liabilities will transfer to the local authority. In addition, the port will continue to generate income from marine-related and other activities such as rents, leases and car parks. In the ports sector, remedial and engineering works are normally prioritised and the funding of those works is planned and the funding allocated to undertake those works over a period of time (immediate, medium and long term).
1289. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will hold discussions with the motor industry and promote policies to ensure that all new cars and commercial vehicles have advanced driver assistance systems as standard features of all new vehicles being imported here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15745/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1291. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will promote policies to ensure that key advanced driver assistance systems (details supplied) become standard features of all vehicles being driven on roads here to move towards an Irish vision zero road deaths and injuries target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15747/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1289 and 1291 together.
My Department is fully committed to promoting safety on Irish roads and is constantly working to improve standards. I would be glad to facilitate discussions with representatives from the motor industry in order to advance that aim.
A number of legislative policies governing vehicle safety standards are already in effect. The current Regulations (EC) No 661/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 concerning type-approval for the general safety of motor vehicles, their trailers and systems, components and separate technical units, underpins the construction requirements for new vehicles. This Regulation contains provisions relating to the mandatory fitment of certain advanced safety features such as Electronic Stability Control Systems (ESC), Advanced Braking Systems (ABS) and Lane Departure Warning Systems (LDW) and has applied since 1 November 2011.
Further to this, the European New Car Assessment Programme (EURO NCAP) is a vehicle safety rating system used to rate the performance of a vehicle over a range of tests aiming to replicate crash scenarios. The EURO NCAP provides an assessment of the safety performance of some of the most popular cars sold in Europe which consumers can use to compare the safety performance of similarly sized vehicles.
1290. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which he plans to address concerns over the high level of no-shows at driver tests; the way in which he will encourage learner drivers to complete their training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15746/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
1292. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps his Department has undertaken to operate a piece of equipment (details supplied) at airports here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15767/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe matter raised by the Deputy in relation to the use of a specific piece of equipment at airports in Ireland is an operational matter for the airports themselves.
Specifically in relation to the three State airports at Dublin, Cork and Shannon, the daa and Shannon Group have statutory responsibility to operate, manage and develop those airports. In the circumstances, I have forwarded the question to the companies for direct reply. If the Deputy does not receive a reply within ten working days, please advise my Private Office.
1293. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is standard practice for Irish Rail to confiscate a return ticket from a student (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15780/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is an operational 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.
1294. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of the 9,449 drivers disqualified in court in 2017 that surrendered their licence to the RSA's NDLS. [15793/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for the Road Safety Authority, I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
1295. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of learner drivers that obtained their learner permit on or after 1 August 2014 who were since disqualified having reached the threshold of seven penalty points; the number of those learners who surrendered their licence to the National Driver Licence Service, NDLS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15794/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of learner drivers that have obtained their learner permit on or from 1st August 2014 to 31st March 2018 is 218,754, of which 544 learner drivers have been disqualified having reached the seven penalty points threshold and 263 of these learner drivers have surrendered their licence to the NDLS.
1296. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for a public swimming pool in north County Kildare in view of the fact no such facility exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15811/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP) provides grant aid to local authorities towards the capital costs of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools.
In January 2016 the Department contacted local authorities and sought expressions of interest in a limited round of swimming pool allocations. There were three expressions of interest received for new pools, two of which were valid and both in Dublin, one in Lucan and the other in Ballyogan. The third was for North Kildare but was not valid as the Council did not have title to the proposed site. Following consideration of the expressions of interest, and the two valid proposals for new pools, it was decided to include the proposal from South Dublin County Council (SDCC) for a new swimming pool in Lucan in the LASPP.
Accordingly, there are now four swimming pool projects in the current LASPP and the priority in 2018 will be on progressing these projects.
In relation to the future funding of swimming pools, the upcoming National Sports Policy, which I expect will be considered by Government in the coming weeks, with a view to its publication shortly thereafter, will include a specific focus on how Government should fund sports facilities, including swimming pools, in the years ahead.
1297. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a road project (details supplied); the proposed timeline for progression; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15821/18]
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 10 working days.
1298. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if matters related to an organisation (details supplied) will be clarified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15838/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1304. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the significant budget changes in an organisation (details supplied) will be examined; if a clarification of a rise in staff costs and reduction in athlete grants will be sought; if an explanation from the organisation on the new ratio split between staff costs and athlete funding will be sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16011/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1298 and 1304 together.
Sport Ireland is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport. This includes responsibility for the allocation of funding to the National Governing Bodies of sport, including to the organisation mentioned by the Deputy. I have therefore referred the Deputy's 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.
1299. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the market share of each airport here for each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15852/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Central Statistics Office (CSO) publishes data relating to passenger numbers for Irish airports annually. The Department of Transport and Tourism also publishes data relating to passenger numbers for Irish airports quarterly, although this data is provisional and subject to review. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, information on the market share for the airports, based on the information available to the Department, is set out in the table attached.
Passenger Number Distribution by Airport (%)
|
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
|
DUBLIN |
72.3 |
73.1 |
74.6 |
75.3 |
75.4 |
77.6 |
78.6 |
79.9 |
81.1 |
81.7 |
83.8 |
84.6 |
85.1 |
|
CORK |
10.7 |
10.4 |
10.2 |
10.5 |
10.2 |
10.2 |
9.9 |
9.8 |
9.1 |
8.1 |
6.9 |
6.8 |
6.6 |
|
SHANNON |
12.9 |
12.5 |
11.6 |
10.2 |
10.3 |
7.4 |
6.9 |
5.8 |
5.6 |
6.2 |
5.7 |
5.3 |
5.0 |
|
DONEGAL |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
|
KERRY |
1.5 |
1.4 |
1.2 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
1.6 |
1.3 |
1.2 |
1.2 |
1.1 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
|
KNOCK |
2.1 |
2.2 |
1.8 |
2.0 |
2.2 |
2.5 |
2.7 |
2.9 |
2.7 |
2.6 |
2.3 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
|
WATERFORD* |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
0.5 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.05 |
0.01 |
1300. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the identification documents required when applying for a driver licence or learner permit in view of the recent different reports from the Road Safety Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15924/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
1301. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the proposals for BRT between Swords and Dublin city centre in view of the recently announced MetroLink plans; if the BRT scheme will be progressed during the planning and construction phase of MetroLink; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15985/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, Budget 2018 provides for an increase in the multi-annual capital investment for public transport with a four-year capital envelope of €2.7 billion over the period 2018-2021. This substantial multi-annual envelope includes funding of over €770 million for the BusConnects programme to fundamentally transform our bus system, so that journeys for bus passengers will be fast, reliable, punctual, convenient and affordable.
The recently launched National Development Plan also identifies the BusConnects programme as well as MetroLink as key public transport investment priorities for completion in the GDA over the period of the plan.
I wish to advise the Deputy, that work is ongoing on the redesign of the bus services network in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and also on infrastructure proposals for Core Bus Corridors which will be an integral part of the programme. When this work is complete, the National Transport Authority (NTA) will launch a number of public consultations over the coming months. The results of the public consultation will inform the final decisions to be made on the network redesign and Core Bus Corridors routes. Furthermore, integration between MetroLink and other modes of transport including BusConnects is a feature of the recent MetroLink public consultation material published by the NTA and TII.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter I have referred the Deputy's query to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
1302. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he plans to launch the National Greenways Strategy; the reason for the delay in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15990/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI expect to be in a position to launch the National Greenways Strategy before the end of Q2 2018. The Strategy will, amongst other things, set out the criteria for projects to be eligible for funding over the coming decade. Many submissions were made during the public consultation process. All of these have been considered and some matters remain to be addressed before the strategy is finalised.
The Strategy will determine the type of project that will be funded over the coming decade by my Department. I was very pleased to achieve additional funding for Greenways last year and expect that the €56m to be spent between this year and 2021 will see a number of high quality Greenways built around the country.
1303. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a HGV driver licence is now only issued for five years in view of the fact that a regular driver licence is issued for ten years at the same cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15996/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCategories of driving licence and periods of validity are set in the first instance at EU level. Member States may lower the period in cases where a person's medical condition means that a shorter term of validity followed by a renewed medical report is required.
EU law requires that the period of validity for a category C licence - which covers HGVs - should be 5 years, while a category B licence - for a car - has a period of 10 years. This has been the case since January 2013.
