Written Answers Nos. 481-500
481. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the planned train station at Ashington and Pelletstown, Dublin 7; the precise location of the station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27560/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the development and implementation of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA).
As the Deputy is aware, work commenced last year to complete a detailed design and prepare tender documents for a new train station at Pelletstown which is located between the existing Broombridge and Ashtown railway stations. Planning permission is in place and detailed design and tender preparation for the new station is currently being finalised. The tender document is expected to be completed in the next two months with a view to go to tender for construction later this year.
In light of the National Transport Authority's statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for an update on the matter raised. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
482. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding a local authority swimming pools programme that closed for applicants on 31 July 2000; the status of the 57 applications that were being dealt with at that time; the pools that needed renovation and or modernisation; the new pools delivered and to be delivered in the next three years; the number of local authority swimming pools by county and local authority, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27575/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra483. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has allocated funding for the reopening of a pool (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27576/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra486. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the four swimming pool projects in the current local authority swimming pools programme, LASPP; the dates on which these projects will be delivered; the methodology being considered for the way in which LASPP funding will be awarded and applications for same assessed in the context of a national sports policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27670/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 482, 483 and 486 together.
Under the current (2000) round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP), grant aid to a maximum of €3.8m is provided towards the capital cost of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. To date 51 pools have been completed under the Programme and these are listed in the table below.
There are four principal stages in the LASPP, namely: Preliminary Report; Contract Documents; Tender and Construction. Grant-aid is allocated only when tenders have been approved for the project and is capped at the time of allocation. My officials and technical advisor evaluate each stage and projects cannot proceed to the next stage unless prior approval is given by the Minister.
In January 2016, my 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.
In April 2016, pool projects in Balbriggan, Ballaghaderreen and Loughrea, which had been included in the 2000 round of the Programme since 2000, were voluntarily withdrawn from the programme by the relevant local authorities.
Glenalbyn was also originally included in the 2000 round of the LASPP. However, in 2010, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) asked that Glenalbyn be replaced in the LASPP with Loughlinstown. Following receipt of a detailed case, the Department agreed to the Council’s request. €3.8 million was then allocated to Loughlinstown swimming pool in 2010 and the pool was developed and opened in May 2013. Accordingly Glenalbyn Pool is not considered to be in the current round of the Programme.
As mentioned earlier, in January 2016 the Department sought expressions of interest for the construction of new swimming pools and/or the refurbishment of existing pools. In response to this, DLRCC submitted an expression of interest for a pool for Ballyogan. An expression of interest for a grant for Glenalbyn swimming pool was not submitted.
Accordingly, there are currently four projects remaining in the current round of the LASPP. These are: Castlebar, Co Mayo, (a replacement pool where construction is underway and is nearing completion); Buncrana, Co Donegal, (a refurbishment which is at Contract Documents stage); Lucan, Co Dublin, (a new pool which is at Contract Documents stage); and Edenderry, Co Offaly, (a replacement pool which is at Preliminary Report stage). The priority in 2018 is on progressing the four projects through to the next stages of the programme, as appropriate.
In terms of any possible future funding, the recently published National Development Plan (NDP) contains a commitment to establish a new “Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund” (LSSIF) with at least €100m available over the coming years. It is intended that the Fund will primarily be targeted at larger new projects, including swimming pools, where the proposed Government contribution exceeds the amount currently available for individual projects under the Sports Capital Programme. The draft terms and conditions of the new scheme are expected to be finalised shortly and an announcement in relation to when applications will be accepted will be made once this work is complete. At this stage, it is envisaged that the fund will be initially focused on the National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Authorities and the possibility of accepting applications for larger scale refurbishment work is being considered.
|
|
County |
Pool Name |
Replacement or Refurbishment |
Date Opened |
|
1 |
Wicklow |
Arklow |
Refurbishment |
Jan 00 |
|
2 |
Wexford |
Enniscorthy |
Replacement |
Jan 00 |
|
3 |
Meath |
Navan |
Replacement |
Aug 00 |
|
4 |
Wicklow |
Wicklow |
Replacement |
Jun 01 |
|
5 |
Wexford |
Courtown/Gorey |
Replacement |
Oct 01 |
|
6 |
Louth |
Dundalk |
Replacement |
Mar 02 |
|
7 |
Roscommon |
Roscommon |
Refurbishment |
Apr 02 |
|
8 |
Clare |
Ennis |
Replacement |
Sep 03 |
|
9 |
Kerry |
AquaDome Tralee |
Refurbishment |
2003 |
|
10 |
Galway |
Ballinasloe |
Replacement |
Oct 03 |
|
11 |
Dublin |
Finglas |
Replacement |
Apr 04 |
|
12 |
Limerick |
Grove Island Limerick |
Replacement |
Jun 04 |
|
13 |
Kerry |
Sports and Leisure Centre Tralee |
Refurbishment |
Jul 04 |
|
14 |
Tipperary |
Clonmel |
Refurbishment |
Dec 04 |
|
15 |
Cork |
Churchfield, Cork City |
Refurbishment |
Jun 05 |
|
16 |
Dublin |
Ballymun |
Replacement |
Jun 05 |
|
17 |
Galway |
Tuam |
Replacement |
Sep 05 |
|
18 |
Louth |
Drogheda |
Replacement |
May 06 |
|
19 |
Monaghan |
Monaghan |
Replacement |
Aug 06 |
|
20 |
Cork |
Cobh |
Replacement |
Aug 06 |
|
21 |
Cork |
Youghal |
Replacement |
Sep 06 |
|
22 |
Dublin |
Jobstown |
Replacement |
Nov 06 |
|
23 |
Kerry |
Ballybunion |
Replacement |
Jun 07 |
|
24 |
Offaly |
Birr |
Refurbishment |
Jul 07 |
|
25 |
Donegal |
Letterkenny |
Replacement |
Jul 07 |
|
26 |
Limerick |
Askeaton (outdoor) |
Replacement |
Aug 07 |
|
27 |
Longford |
Longford |
Replacement |
Sept 07 |
|
28 |
Dublin |
St. Joseph's School for Deaf Boys |
Refurbishment |
Nov 07 |
|
29 |
Laois |
Portarlington |
Refurbishment |
Dec 07 |
|
30 |
Laois |
Portlaoise |
Replacement |
Dec 07 |
|
31 |
Dublin |
Clondalkin |
Replacement |
Jan 08 |
|
32 |
Tipperary |
Thurles |
Replacement |
Apr 08 |
|
33 |
Dublin |
St. Michael's House |
Replacement |
Apr 08 |
|
34 |
Kerry |
Killarney |
Replacement |
Jul 08 |
|
35 |
Wicklow |
Bray |
Replacement |
Sep 08 |
|
36 |
Dublin |
Ballyfermot |
Replacement |
Oct 08 |
|
37 |
Wicklow |
Greystones |
Replacement |
Oct 08 |
|
38 |
Offaly |
Tullamore (outdoor) |
Replacement |
Oct 08 |
|
39 |
Kilkenny |
Kilkenny City |
Replacement |
Dec 08 |
|
40 |
Kildare |
Athy |
Replacement |
Mar 09 |
|
41 |
Kildare |
Naas |
Replacement |
Mar 09 |
|
42 |
Dublin |
Dundrum |
Replacement |
Apr 09 |
|
43 |
Mayo |
Claremorris |
Replacement |
Sep 09 |
|
44 |
Tipperary |
Roscrea |
Replacement |
Sep 09 |
|
45 |
Wexford |
Ferrybank |
Refurbishment |
Jun 10 |
|
46 |
Dublin |
Loughlinstown |
Refurbishment |
May 13 |
|
47 |
Donegal |
Ballybofey Stranorlar |
Replacement |
Oct 13 |
|
48 |
Wexford |
New Ross |
Replacement |
Aug 13 |
|
49 |
Dublin |
De Paul, Navan Road |
Refurbishment |
Oct 15 |
|
50 |
Offaly |
Clara |
Refurbishment |
Nov 15 |
|
51 |
Cork |
Dunmanway |
Replacement |
May 17 |
485. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the action he has taken or plans to take with regard to engagement with youth and voluntary sports groups to encourage such bodies to reduce focus on the competitive aspects of sport at young ages and instead promote the participation of all young persons that who wish to become involved in sporting activities and have the opportunity to play games in their chosen sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27650/18]
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. This includes responsibility for the development of strategies for increasing participation in recreational sport at national and local level.
I have 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.
487. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aindrias Moynihan den Aire Iompair, Turasóireachta agus Spóirt an bhfuil oifigeach Gaeilge ceaptha dá Roinn; an post lánaimseartha atá ann nó an bhfuil dualgais bhreise ar an oifigeach Gaeilge; cén grád atá ag an oifigeach Gaeilge; an bhfuil sé nó sí ábalta a ghnó nó a gnó a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [27815/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá Oifigeach Gaeilge ceaptha do mo Roinn a dhéanann dualgais bhreise orthu siúd a bhaineann le ról Oifigeach na Gaeilge amháin. Feidhmíonn an tOifigeach Gaeilge ag grad an Ard-Oifigeach Fheidhmiúcháin agus déanann sí gnéithe dá gcuid oibre trí Ghaeilge. Ar mhaithe le seirbhís ardchaighdeáin a sholáthar do chustaiméirí, is gá, uaireanta, an custaiméir a chur ar aghaidh chuig rannán eile den Roinn.
488. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 494 of 29 May 2018 and 485 of 19 June 2018, if he will initiate a grant scheme for the provision of cattle underpasses in view of the fact health and safety for all parties affected is of paramount importance. [27838/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue of cattle underpasses arises primarily on more heavily trafficked national roads. As 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 operation of individual roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
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.
489. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if additional staff will be allocated to a driver test centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27841/18]
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.
490. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1218 of 21 March 2017, the status of funding for a swimming pool (details supplied) to address issues as a result of flood damage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27844/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials recently wrote to Limerick City and County Council stating that the Department is not in a position to provide funding for the works referred to at this time. As the Deputy may be aware, the pool in question received funding of €3,809,214 under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme with the final (retention) payment made in March 2009. As is the norm for grants under the Swimming Pool Programme, the original grant was conditional on the Council maintaining the facility.
In terms of any possible future funding, the recently published National Development Plan (NDP) contains a commitment to establish a new “Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund” (LSSIF) with at least €100m available over the coming years. It is intended that the Fund will primarily be targeted at larger new projects, including swimming pools, where the proposed Government contribution exceeds the amount currently available for individual projects under the Sports Capital Programme. The draft terms and conditions of the new scheme are expected to be finalised shortly and an announcement in relation to when applications will be accepted will be made once this work is complete. The fund will be initially focused on the National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Authorities. In due course, consideration may be given to applications for larger scale refurbishment work.
491. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the building of a stadium (details supplied); if all required information from the club has been received; when he expects to grant approval for the plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27855/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, officials from my Department have engaged with Finn Harps Football Club and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to try to progress this matter. To date my Department has provided €834,000 to the project. In relation to the next stage, the club has submitted all of the required information regarding the request for funding for the appointment of a design team. This matter remains under active consideration in my Department at present and a decision will issue to the club as soon as possible.
492. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration has been given to real time recorders of speed in cars that can be shared with insurance companies, which would result in a cost reduction. [27856/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of insurance cover and the price at which it is offered is a commercial matter for insurance companies, and I have no role in determining matters such as any discounts in the motor insurance industry resulting from the use of real time recorders of speed in vehicles, which ultimately are a matter for individual insurers and for the insurance industry.
I would point out, however, that the Cost of Insurance Working Group (CIWG), chaired by Minister Michael D'Arcy of the Department of Finance, in their Report on the Cost of Employer and Public Liability Insurance, published on 25 January 2018 included an Addendum to their earlier Motor Insurance Report on the use of telematics technology, including the real time recording of speed in vehicles. The Report’s Addendum notes the potential of such technology to record data such as a vehicle’s speed, braking, acceleration, swerving, etc., and to communicate in real time such data to the relevant insurance company. The report noted the view of the CIWG and of the Personal Injuries Commission regarding the potential of the technology to combat fraud and to enable insurance companies to better identify individual risk and price accordingly. It also noted that the technology is being pursued by a number of insurers in the Irish market at present.
The Addendum recommends that Insurance Ireland submit a report to the CIWG on the topic before September 2018.
493. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if personnel in his Department have been removed from their position, have been transferred to another role or had their employment terminated in the past four years due to breaches of departmental standards or professional misconduct or incompetence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27959/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the information being sought by the Deputy, I can confirm that my Department has not found it necessary to take such form of action in relation to any Departmental staff in the relevant period. In the event of any issues arising around the adherence of staff to the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour, such matters can be addressed by line managers by reference to a number of human resources policies including, for example, the Civil Service Disciplinary Code and Management of Underperformance policy. My Department provides all appropriate training supports to line managers on the implementation of such policies.
494. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the capital and current funds made available for walking and cycling investment in each of the past five years; the amount of funding he plans to make available in 2018, 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27966/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, investment in cycling infrastructure over the period in question was delivered under a number of different programmes and schemes, namely the Smarter Travel Programme, Sustainable Transport Measures Grants (STMG) Programme and the Regional Cities Programme.
Projects funded under the Smarter Travel Programme, funded directly by the Department, involved integrated initiatives across a number of aspects of active/smarter travel and incorporated measures such as investment in cycle lanes, bike parking, footpaths, traffic calming measures, shared streets and other interventions that encourage and support modal shift to walking and cycling.
In addition since 2010 my Department has also provided funding to the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the Sustainable Transport Measures Grants (STMG) Programme and the Regional Cities Programme to implement sustainable transport projects, including providing cycling infrastructure, in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and the regional cities of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.
Given the overarching scope of these programmes, it is not possible to isolate the specific funding allocation to cycling infrastructure over the preceding 5 years.
Looking forward, I was delighted to secure over €110m in capital funding which will be directly allocated to develop cycling and walking infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford over the period 2018-2021, which represents a threefold increase in funding on 2018 over the four year period. This programme will provide active travel routes to help alleviate congestion by providing viable alternatives and connectivity with existing public transport infrastructure. Allocation of funding and details of individual projects are managed by the National Transport Authority in conjunction with the relevant local authorities.
A further €135m capital funding is allocated over this same period for investment in Sustainable Urban Transport projects, and these will include projects that will provide either direct or indirect improvements for urban cycling. This programme builds on investment to date to deliver improvements in public and sustainable transport infrastructure in the regional cities and the Greater Dublin Area. It includes traffic management, bus priority and other smarter travel projects, which will allow transport infrastructure to function more effectively and will help relieve traffic congestion. Allocation of funding and details of individual projects are also managed by the National Transport Authority in conjunction with the relevant local authorities.
As the Deputy is aware, a further transformative initiative to support the modal shift to cycling will be delivered under the BusConnects programme, a plan to fundamentally transform Dublin's bus system. It is calculated to either build or improve over 200km of cycle tracks/lanes, alongside bus routes on the key radial routes into the city centre. This will provide safer cycling arrangements, largely segregated from other traffic along those corridors. This initiative is the foundation of the overall cycle network that has been planned for the Greater Dublin Area.
495. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the payments made from the green public transport fund. [27967/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Green Public Transport Fund was established by my Department in 2017 to support the uptake of low carbon, energy efficient technologies within the public transport sector. The fund will support the piloting and uptake of energy-efficient and alternatively fuelled technologies for PSO operators within the bus fleet and small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector, as well as bridging the price differential between such technologies and conventionally fuelled vehicles.
Under the new National Development Plan, we have committed that, from July 2019 onwards, we will no longer buy diesel-only buses for the urban public bus fleet. Work is underway on preparing for implementation of this. In tandem, an up-to-date and comprehensive set of vehicle trials is being planned to commence later this year to help further inform purchasing decisions for new buses over the coming years. The technologies likely to be tested include full electrification, diesel-electric hybrids, and compressed natural gas; it is expected that the vehicles will be tested in both the GDA and in a regional city. The trials are likely to consider CO2 emissions, air quality impacts, and contribution potential towards renewable energy targets as well as costs, vehicle availability, and operational/infrastructural requirements. It is envisaged that in 2018 the NTA will employ the Fund to support the alternative urban bus fleet trials.
Funding has also been targeted to support the transition of the national SPSV fleet to alternative technologies through the establishment of a new Electric Vehicle SPSV Grant Scheme. By the end of May 2018, €45,221 had been drawn down from the Green Public Transport Fund to support this scheme. In addition later in 2018, as outlined above, the fund will support public transport bus trials to be deployed by the NTA to assess the various green options.
496. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the detail of his Department’s involvement with the rollout of eCall (details supplied). [27968/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Communications, Climate Change and Environment (DCCAE) has responsibility for the Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS) In Ireland. eCall is an EU initiative with the purpose to bring rapid assistance to motorists involved in a collision anywhere in the European Union and is an equipment device which alerts emergency services in the event of a collision. This is mandatory from 31st March 2018 and is a requirement under the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Directive 2010. In addition the ECAS had to be upgraded to accept these type of emergency calls by October 2017.
As my Department leads in relation to ITS it has engaged with DCCAE on eCall and has facilitated DCCAE engagement in an EU Commission programme, I_HeERO, which provided significant funding to assist with the upgrade of the ECAS.
497. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has undertaken a review of the national cycle policy framework; and if so, if he will provide a copy of same. [27969/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, one of the primary objectives of creating a National Cycling Policy Framework was to create a strong cycling culture so that cycling is seen as the normal way to get about, particularly when commuting over shorter journeys.
I am conscious of the key contribution that cycling can play as part of an integrated Public Transport policy. Census 2016 recorded a significant rise in the numbers cycling to work. It was also pleasing to note in the same CSO survey walking or cycling was the preferred mode of transport used for 45% of all journeys under 2km. That growing trend will be catered for by providing a network of safe cycling facilities that will encourage increased numbers to adopt what is a convenient and healthy mode of transport. As traffic levels rise in urban areas, cycling will play an increasing role in alleviating congestion and contributing to economic success.
In the Greater Dublin Area there has been a significant modal shift. The Annual Canal Cordon Report recently published by Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority - which provides data on trends in mode share of vehicles and people crossing the Canal Cordon in Dublin between 7am and 10am - indicates this change. It shows that 70% of all inbound trips crossing the canal cordon were made by a sustainable mode which includes cycling, walking, taxi and other public transport. Over the last 11 years, the share for sustainable modes has grown by 9 percentage points, and since 2010 there has continually been year-on-year growth. The most recent figures show that the mode share for cars has dropped to under 30% for the first time; it is now 29.2%, compared to 40% as recently as 2010. It should also be remembered that this figure does not include the numbers using private bicycles, Dublin Bikes or other public bike schemes between the canals.
In order to continue to build on this momentum and to encourage further modal shift nationally, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have secured over €110m in capital funding which is directly allocated to develop cycling and walking infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford over the period 2018-2021. A further €135m capital funding is allocated over this same period for investment in Sustainable Urban Transport projects, and these will include projects that will provide either direct or indirect improvements for urban cycling. Investment of more than €750m on the Bus Connects Programme during the same period will deliver a transformative investment package that will finance new and expanded bus routes, greatly improve bus access, and also includes the commencement of construction of core bus routes that include segregated cycle lanes and pedestrian footpath all which will greatly assist in encouraging modal shift. My Department also spends over €2.5m per annum on behavioural change programmes including Green Schools, Cycle Right and Smarter Travel Workplace and Campus programmes aimed at encouraging a modal shift.
While significant progress has been made under a number of objectives contained in the National Cycle Policy Framework (NCPF) my Department has not yet undertaken a formal review of the policy framework or its implementation. However, the NCPF has been integrated into the Development Plans of the majority of local authorities so ensuring that the objectives and policies to support and promote cycling are taken account of in current and future planning. In addition, the National Transport Authority (NTA) published the GDA Cycle Network Plan covering the seven local authority areas in the Greater Dublin Area in 2013.
My Department has commenced a review of public transport policy “to ensure services are sustainable into the future and are meeting the needs of a modern economy”. Work on this policy review is at an early stage and is currently drawing together data and information from many sources. The review will cover all areas of public transport policy.
498. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has undertaken an annual review of the Smarter Travel policy as provided for in the document itself; and if so, if he will provide a copy of same. [27970/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe principles in the Smarter Travel policy are key drivers underpinning transport policy development within my Department and, as the Minister responsible for implementing these policies, I am fully committed to implementing cost effective actions that will contribute to the delivery of a sustainable and low carbon transport system for Ireland.
The Smarter Travel policy recognises that there is a significant challenge in changing travel behaviour, a challenge that is not exclusive to Ireland. Modal shift to sustainable transport modes and reducing our reliance on the car remain key policy objectives, and this is reflected in the wide range of infrastructure investment and behavioural change programmes administered and supported by my Department.
As the Deputy is aware, my Department has commenced a review of public transport policy “to ensure services are sustainable into the future and are meeting the needs of a modern economy”. Work on this policy review is at an early stage and is currently drawing together data and information from many sources. The review will cover all areas of public transport policy including smarter and active travel.
499. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the projects funded by the National Transport Authority's sustainable transport measures grant programme for the greater Dublin area in each of the relevant local authorities in 2017; the amount spent in each local authority on specifically walking or cycling projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27973/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, investment in the Greater Dublin Area on cycling and walking infrastructure in 2017 was delivered under the Sustainable Transport Measures Grants (STMG) Programme through the National Transport Authority (NTA).
Projects funded under the this scheme for the Greater Dublin Area delivered improvements in public and sustainable transport infrastructure, including traffic management, bus priority and other smarter travel projects, allowing the transport infrastructure to function more effectively and helping to relieve traffic congestion. These projects also involved integrated initiatives across a number of aspects of active/smarter travel and incorporated measures such as investment in cycle lanes, bike parking, footpaths, traffic calming measures, shared streets and other interventions that encourage and support modal shift to walking and cycling. All funding in the Greater Dublin Area for cycling and walking programmes in 2017 came from the STMG programme. Given the overarching scope of these programmes, it is not possible to isolate the specific expenditure on cycling and walking infrastructure in 2017.
In 2017, under the Sustainable Transport Measures Grants scheme, Dublin City Council received €3.7m, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council €1.3m, Fingal County Council €0.5m and South Dublin County Council received €1.7m.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) who work in conjunction with the various local authorites is responsible for the development and implementation of public transport and sustainable transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area and oversees all Sustainable Transport projects funded by this Department.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred your question to the NTA for a more detailed reply with regard to these particular projects. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
500. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided relating to the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27981/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and operation of individual roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
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.
