Thursday, 5 Jul 2018

Written Answers Nos. 312-326

Appointments to State Boards

Ceisteanna (312, 313)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

312. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the timeframe for filling the vacancies on the board of Fáilte Ireland. [29731/18]

Robert Troy

Ceist:

313. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the chairman of Fáilte Ireland has being consulted regarding the filling of vacancies on its board. [29732/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 312 and 313 together.

Under the National Tourism Development Act 2003, the Board of Fáilte Ireland shall consist of a Chairperson and twelve ordinary members, who are appointed by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

There are currently seven vacancies on the Board of Fáilte Ireland. Following a recent advertising campaign and shortlisting process run by the Public Appointment Service, and a further interview process, offers have issued the successful candidates and I expect to confirm these appointments shortly.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) produced 'Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards' in 2014 which strengthened the role of Chairpersons of State Boards in the appointments process. Also, DPER's 'Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies' produced in 2016 sets out the roles of the Chairpersons of State Bodies in the State Board appointments process.

All the requirements regarding the role of the Chairperson of Fáilte Ireland, as set out in both of these documents, were adhered to in the current appointments process.

Tourism Policy

Ceisteanna (314)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

314. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the new Fáilte Ireland vision for Irish tourism strategic plan will be launched. [29733/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

The production of a Statement of Strategy is matter for the Board of Fáilte Ireland.

I have accordingly referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply to the Deputy on the timeline for publication of their strategy. Please contact my private office if you have not received a reply within ten working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.

State Bodies

Ceisteanna (315)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

315. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the review of Fáilte Ireland will commence as called for in a document (details supplied). [29734/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Government departments are responsible for overseeing the corporate governance of state bodies and appropriate policies, procedures and practices facilitate high standards of corporate governance are achieved. Fáilte Ireland is within the aegis of my department and my officials oversee governance arrangements in that state body. Many stakeholders have views on the state body with whom they interact and the stakeholders impacted by the tourism agencies often provide input and feedback to my department. Such input is welcomed and considered.

The Government's tourism policy is set out in “People, Place and Policy – Growing Tourism to 2025”. Work is currently underway in drafting the next Tourism Action Plan for the period 2018-2020 to deliver on this policy.

As part of this, workshops involving key industry stakeholders, including ITIC, are being held over the summer months to elicit their views and finalise the actions that will be included in the next tourism action plan. It is planned to publish this document in the autumn. I should point out that currently I have no plans to initiate a review of either of the Tourism agencies.

Tourism Industry

Ceisteanna (316)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

316. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if CERT will be re-established. [29737/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

In line with provision for other sectors, education and training for the hospitality sector is primarily funded and delivered through the higher and further education and training bodies, namely, SOLAS, the Institutes of Technology and the Education and Training Boards, with some complementary training and business supports provided by Fáilte Ireland.

In this context, a Hospitality Oversight Group, was set up in 2016 to oversee skills development and promotion in the Hospitality sector, following a recommendation contained in the report “Assessment of Future Skills Requirements in the Hospitality Industry in Ireland, 2015 - 2020”. The group convened for a period of two years and concluded in June 2018. It comprised representatives of key stakeholders from industry and education and provided a forum for practical action and collaboration to address the skills needs of the hospitality sector.

It recognised that the successful development of skills for the Hospitality and Tourism sector requires an on-going coordinated and collaborative approach by industry, education, training providers, and other relevant stakeholders. These key stakeholders will now initiate a new plan that builds on the work of the Hospitality Oversight Group and address future skills requirements and growth of the hospitality sector.

Accordingly, there are no plans at present to re-establish CERT.

Tourism Project Funding

Ceisteanna (317, 318, 319)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

317. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the tourism projects that have applied for Fáilte Ireland tourism capital investment grant aid in 2016 and 2017. [29743/18]

Robert Troy

Ceist:

318. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the tourism projects that have been approved for Fáilte Ireland tourism capital investment grant aid in 2016 and 2017. [29744/18]

Robert Troy

Ceist:

319. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the tourism projects that have been refused Fáilte Ireland tourism capital investment grant aid in 2016 and 2017. [29745/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 317 to 319, inclusive, together.

My Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy. While the Department provides funding to Fáilte Ireland for investment in tourism, it has no role in the administration of the agency's capital grants schemes. These are operational matters for the board and management of Fáilte Ireland.

Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's questions to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply to the Deputy. Please contact my private office if you have not received a reply within ten working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.

Road Projects

Ceisteanna (320)

Declan Breathnach

Ceist:

320. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the proposed northern cross route (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this route is vital in order to redirect heavy goods vehicles out of Drogheda town centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29798/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in Co. Louth is the statutory responsibility of Louth County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority. My Department has no grant application on hand in relation to the proposed Drogheda Northern Cross Port Access road.

Given the cutbacks in State funding for regional and local roads since the financial crisis, it has been necessary to curtail the grant programme for major new regional and local road schemes and for major realignment schemes in order to protect the funding available for the maintenance of the existing network. The bulk of the funding allocated under the Capital Plan is, therefore, earmarked for the maintenance and renewal of the road network with some limited investment in the new projects.

The Drogheda Port Access Northern Cross Route is not provided for in the Capital Plan.

Bus Services

Ceisteanna (321)

John Brassil

Ceist:

321. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the possibility of a bus stop (details supplied) on the Tralee Road, Killorglin, will be investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29817/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

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) has responsibility for the development and implementation of public transport infrastructure including the provision of bus shelters.

The capital funding allocated under my Vote this year to the NTA will enable them to undertake substantial investment in public transport infrastructure. This includes over €80 million for the NTA's various bus programmes including €3 million for roadside infrastructure which includes bus stops, poles, turning areas, interchange locations and bus shelters.

As the Deputy may be aware, and as I am advised, the Authority has developed a prioritisation framework to determine appropriate numbers and locations for the installation of bus shelters in metropolitan areas and in towns and rural areas. The NTA's prioritisation framework sets out the following criteria:

A. One bus shelter in each direction at the busiest stop in all towns that have a population size exceeding 1,000 people;

B. A bus shelter at the two busiest bus stops in each direction in towns that have a population size exceeding 3,000 people;

C. A bus shelter at the three busiest bus stops in each direction in towns that have a population size exceeding 10,000 people; and

D. In locations other than A, B and C where such stops are served by 10 or more PSO services per day.

In light of the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for a more detailed reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

Taxi Regulations

Ceisteanna (322)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

322. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the shortages that exist in the taxi industry; and the steps he is taking to address the matter. [29818/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

As the Deputy will be aware, the regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. I understand that the NTA has been taking some actions, including changes in their approach to Driver Entry Test to encourage growth and address the issue of the number of drivers available in the SPSV industry. I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.

Motor Insurance Costs

Ceisteanna (323, 327)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

323. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that taxi drivers, in particular new entrants, are being declined insurance or are receiving unaffordable quotations; and the steps he is taking to address the matter. [29819/18]

John Curran

Ceist:

327. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures he will take to ensure that new taxi entrants can obtain vehicle insurance at a reasonable price; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29834/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 323 and 327 together.

The increases in premium costs of motor insurance in recent years have been a cause for concern for all drivers, including the owners of Small Public Service Vehicles (SPSVs). However, recent CSO figures show this trend as having been reversed with overall motor premiums for the year 2018 as being lower in comparison to those for the previous two years, with a fall of over 19% between July 2016 and May 2018.

As you may know, the pricing of insurance products is a commercial matter for insurance companies, based on an assessment of the risks that they are willing to accept. This position is reinforced by the EU framework for insurance which expressly prohibits Member States from adopting rules which require insurance companies to obtain prior approval of the pricing or terms and conditions of insurance products.

The Department of Finance Cost of Insurance Working Group Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance was published in January 2017. Based on recommendations from this report, the Advisory Committee on SPSVs met with Insurance Ireland on 22 May 2017 to discuss motor insurance costs relating to the taxi industry and a report on same was presented to me on 21 June. I have forwarded that report to the Minister of State at the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael D'Arcy, TD who is the chair of the Cost of Insurance Working Group. The Advisory Committee on SPSVs and Insurance Ireland have agreed that there should be ongoing engagement between them and it is my hope that this cooperation and engagement will help to address the concerns of taxi drivers regarding motor insurance issues including the cost of same.

Insurance Ireland operates a free insurance information service for those who have queries, complaints or difficulties in obtaining insurance. All calls regarding refusal to quote, or quotations that are so excessive as to be in effect a refusal, should be directed to Insurance Ireland by phone at [phone], by email at [e-mail] or by post at 5 Harbourmaster Place, IFSC, Dublin 1, D01 E7E8 - quoting the Declined Cases Agreement.

Taxi Regulations

Ceisteanna (324)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

324. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the taxi driver licensing process will be amended so that Garda vetting can commence as soon as a person applies to the NTA to become a taxi driver in advance of the person taking the taxi driver admission test. [29820/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. Also, under this Act, An Garda Síochána (AGS) is responsible for the granting of SPSV driver licences, which includes the administration of the associated Garda vetting process.

While decisions regarding the detail as to how these procedures are administered by the NTA and An Garda Síochána respectively are clearly not for me or for my Department, I am aware that my Department has had discussions with taxi industry representatives in relation to a number of matters, including the phasing as to when the Garda vetting process commences for SPSV applicants. Following that engagement, my Department has given a commitment, within the context of the Department's regular liaison with the NTA, to discuss this issue with the NTA as the Taxi Regulator.

Taxi Data

Ceisteanna (325, 326)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

325. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons who have applied for the SPSV knowledge test; the number who have successfully passed the test; and the number who have obtained a new taxi licence in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [29821/18]

Robert Troy

Ceist:

326. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of operational taxi drivers in each of the years 2005 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [29822/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 325 and 326 together.

The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the administration of the SPSV Driver Entry Test and the licensing of taxis, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.

I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.