Written Answers Nos. 2160-2180
2160. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received communications from various members of the business community in Cork city and county regarding the lack of a direct flight from Cork to Brussels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32582/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2161. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received communications from various members of the business community in Cork city and county regarding the poor connections from Cork Airport to Germany; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32583/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2162. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received communications from various members of the business community in Cork city and county regarding the lack of a direct flight from Cork to Italy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32584/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2163. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received communications from various members of the business community in Cork city and county regarding the lack of a direct flight from Cork to Switzerland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32585/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2160 to 2163, inclusive, together.
I did receive an email recently from a member of the business community in Cork in relation to a lack of direct flights from Cork to Brussels, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.
Cork Airport announced its summer schedule for 2018 in March, which includes almost two million seats to over 40 destinations, including a number of new destinations. Cork Airport's website details all direct destinations from the airport, both year round and seasonal services. In the cases of Germany, Italy and Switzerland the website lists a number of seasonal routes that are operating to those countries at present.
There has been a 3.5% growth in passenger numbers at Cork for the first half of this year, which follows 3.5% growth last year and over 7% in the previous year.
National aviation policy facilitates and encourages increased connectivity and routes at all of our airports. However, the decision to operate any particular service is ultimately a commercial decision for the airlines.
2164. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to utilise Cork Airport for extra flights in view of the fact that Dublin Airport is near capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32586/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2165. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has recently reviewed the possible independence of Cork Airport from the DAA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32587/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2164 and 2165 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the daa is the body charged with statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop Dublin and Cork Airports. In these circumstances, any plans to utilise Cork Airport for extra flights is a matter for daa and Cork Airport management, and is not a matter in which I have a direct role.
It is also important to note that decisions in relation to specific routes and services are an operational matter at the discretion of airlines. While aviation policy facilitates and encourages increased connectivity and routes at all of our airports, the decision to operate any particular service, and between which pair of airports, is ultimately a commercial decision for airline companies.
Current policy in relation to the future of Cork Airport was decided by Government in May, 2012 in the context of the decision that year to separate Shannon Airport from the daa. At that time, the Government decided that the existing ownership of Cork Airport by daa would be maintained for the present. Since that decision, daa has put in place arrangements for the airport to be run as a stand-alone business unit within the Company.
Thanks to the efforts of management and staff to deliver new routes and services, there has been a 3.5% growth in passenger numbers at Cork for the first half of this year which follows 3.5% growth last year and over 7% in the previous year.
It is also Government policy that, should it make financial sense in the future for Cork Airport and the daa, separation could take place and the necessary legislative mechanism was established in the State Airports Act 2004 (as amended). This is reflected in the National Aviation Policy published in August 2015 which also provides that the position of Cork Airport will be reviewed again in 2019 in the context of the overall review of the ownership and operational structure of all State airports.
2166. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has contracted the legal services of a company (details supplied) at any point over each of the past six years; if so, the costs involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32649/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no records of payments to the company referred to by the Deputy on our financial system for the period requested.
Information on expenditure on external services is available on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/expenditure-external-services.
The information is updated twice yearly. The first six months of 2018 will be published later in the year.
2167. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 797 of 10 July 2018, the number of private vehicles that are ten years of age and older that have passed the national car test in the past three years; the number of private vehicles that are ten years of age and older that have failed the national car test in the past three years and required a full retest or visual retest; the number that failed outright; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32832/18]
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.
2168. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress made to date on a road (details supplied) in County Donegal since he met with a deputation on this matter recently; his plans to fund the project as part of budget 2018; his further plans to earmark funding for this project in budget 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32861/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2169. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress made to date on the Tír Chonail Street Bridge in Donegal town; if the allocation made in budget 2018 will be spent within the yearly timeframe; the funding he plans to ring-fence for this project in budget 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32862/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2170. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress made to date on the Fintra Bridge project on the R263 in County Donegal since he met with a deputation on this matter recently; his plans to fund this project as part of budget 2018; his further plans to earmark funding this project in budget 2019; the timeframe for the complete delivery of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32863/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2168 to 2170, inclusive, together.
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, 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.
Before the financial crisis, local authorities could apply on a regular basis for grants for Specific (schemes costing less than €5m) and Strategic Improvement Grants (schemes costing more than €5m) for the strengthening, widening or realignment of regional and local roads. However, the extent of the cutbacks in grant funding during the crisis meant this grant scheme had to be curtailed from 2013 because expenditure on maintenance/renewal was falling well short of what was required to adequately maintain the regional and local road network.
The current Capital Plan does provide for the gradual build-up in funding for the road network but it will take some years yet to reach the level required even for the basic maintenance and renewal of the network. For this reason, there continues to be very limited scope for funding new or additional projects under the Specific and Strategic Grant Programmes.
Any projects proposed by local authorities for consideration under these Grant Programmes are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis. All projects put forward by local authorities for consideration must comply with the requirements of the Public Spending Code and the Department's Capital Appraisal Framework (CAF) and it is important for local authorities to prioritise projects within their overall area of responsibility with these requirements in mind. To date, Donegal County Council has not submitted a proposal to my Department regarding the R232 Pettigo to Laghey.
My Department is providing grant funding this year for the Tír Chonail bridge and Fintra bridge projects. An allocation of €600,000 has been provided to Donegal County Council in 2018 for Tír Chonail bridge and approval has been granted to Donegal County Council by the Department to award the contract for works on the bridge.
As regards Fintra bridge, an allocation of €150,000 has been provided in 2018 for preparatory work associated with the project, including project appraisal.
As regards the timeframe to deliver the projects, the implementation of individual projects within grant programmes is the responsibility of the relevant local authority. Grant funding for these projects in 2019 will be considered in liaison with Donegal County Council as part of the decision making process for next year's grant allocations.
2171. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to reintroduce a specific funding programme for improvements to be carried out to the regional road network; his further plans to implement a funding programme similar to the specific road grants or formerly known as the EU co-finance scheme in order to improve the regional road network on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32926/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant County or City Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for each Council.
Before the financial crisis, local authorities could apply on a regular basis for grants for Specific and Strategic Improvement Grants to improve roads. However, the extent of the cutbacks in grant funding during the recession meant these grant schemes had to be curtailed after 2013 because expenditure on maintenance/renewal was falling well short of what was required to adequately maintain the regional and local road network.
The Capital Plan does provide for the gradual build up in funding for the road network but it will take some years yet to reach the level required for the adequate maintenance and renewal of the network. For this reason there is limited scope at present for funding projects under the Specific or Strategic Grant Programme.
In light of the requirements in the Public Spending Code and my Department's Capital Appraisal Framework any projects proposed by local authorities for consideration under the Specific or Strategic Grant Programmes are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis and it is envisaged that this will continue to be the position.
2172. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress of the planned new Barna to Screebe road in County Galway; when it will commence and be completed; the funding that will be provided for the work; when it will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32954/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant County or City Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for each Council.
Before the financial crisis, local authorities could apply on a regular basis for grants for Specific and Strategic Improvement Grants to improve roads. However, the extent of the cutbacks in grant funding during the recession meant these grant schemes had to be curtailed after 2013 because expenditure on maintenance/renewal was falling well short of what was required to adequately maintain the regional and local road network.
The Capital Plan does provide for the gradual build up in funding for the road network but it will take some years yet to reach the level required for the adequate maintenance and renewal of the network. For this reason there is limited scope at present for funding projects under the Specific or Strategic Grant Programme.
Any projects proposed by local authorities for consideration under the Specific or Strategic Grant Programmes are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis and must comply with the requirements of the Public Spending Code and my Department's Capital Appraisal Framework. In this context an allocation of €25,000 has been provided to Galway County Council this year in relation to the R336 Barna to Screebe road.
2173. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the pass and failure rates for the public service vehicle, PSV, licence area knowledge test in each taxi area of the country for each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32955/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the licensing and testing of drivers within this sector, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.
The Authority is best placed to provide the data sought by the Deputy. Accordingly, 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.
2174. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of active taxi and hackney licences in each taxi area of the country; the number of those that are wheelchair accessible; the grant assistance available to drivers who buy a wheelchair accessible vehicle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32956/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, which includes taxis, wheelchair accessible taxis (WAVs) and hackneys, 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.
2175. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of inspections that have been carried out to ensure that taxis and hackneys are complying with the law; the number of offences or breaches that were detected; the details of same; the number of prosecutions that have been taken against those in breach of the law; the number that have had their licences revoked by each taxi area within the country in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32957/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, which includes taxis and hackneys, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.
Accordingly, 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.
2176. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the grant incentives provided for the uptake of electric vehicles in the small public service vehicle sector and discounted tolling charges for electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32966/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the Low Emissions Vehicle Taskforce, which is co-chaired by my Department and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, is considering the measures and options available to Government to accelerate the deployment of low emission vehicles in Ireland.
As part of its programme of work, Working Group 1 of the Taskforce, which is chaired by my Department, is considering potential leadership initiatives and incentivisation opportunities, as a means of further stimulating electric vehicle (EV) uptake. Based on the interim recommendations of the Taskforce, I was pleased to secure funding in Budget 2018 to introduce a new toll incentive regime for EVs, as well as an EV grant scheme specifically for the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector.
The electric SPSV grant scheme opened to applicants in February this year, and provides purchase reliefs of up to €7,000 for eligible EVs. I have allocated €500,000 from my Department’s “Green Public Transport Fund” in support of the initiative. The grant scheme is administered by the National Transport Authority.
I was also pleased to launch a new tolling incentive regime for EVs earlier this month. This scheme, which is administered by Transport Infrastructure Ireland on behalf of my Department, will bring additional savings to EV drivers by enabling a 50% toll discount for battery electric vehicles and a 25% toll discount for plug-in hybrid vehicles - higher levels of discount are also available across certain toll roads during off-peak journeys.
These incentives are part of a wider suite of measures in place to secure a low carbon transport future, a summary of which is outlined as follows.
|
Incentives |
- |
|
VRT Relief |
Continuation of VRT relief in Budget 2018 - Up to €5,000 for new EVs until end 2021 Up to €2,500 for new PHEVs until end 2018 |
|
SEAI Grant Scheme |
Continuation of SEAI Purchase Grant - Up to €5,000 towards purchase of a new EV or PHEV |
|
Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) |
EVs and charging infrastructure are qualifying equipment under the ACA scheme |
|
Charging Supports |
A new grant of up to €600 is available to support installation of home charger points for buyers of new and second-hand EVs |
|
SPSV Grant Scheme |
A new purchase grant (up to €7000) is available to stimulate take-up of EVs in the taxi/hackney/limousine sector |
|
0% Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) |
A new BIK 0% rate to incentivise EVs without mileage conditions for at least three years was introduced |
|
Public Body Procurement |
National Procurement Service is to introduce a new public procurement framework contract for EVs in 2018 to allow public bodies to buy EVs with reduced administrative burden |
|
Public Engagement Programme |
National awareness campaign/ Driver experience roadshow/ Public sector and commercial fleet trials/ and Support for EV use in car sharing trials to be launched in 2018 |
|
Toll Incentive Regime |
Reduced tolling regime for EVs, launched July 2018 |
2177. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the €1,343,304 external expenditure costs paid to a company (details supplied) for an evaluation of sustainable transport areas in 2017; the reason no report was published on this service consultancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32967/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2012, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport funded 3 Smarter Travel Areas (STAs); Limerick City (Castletroy and City Centre), Dungarvan and Westport. This STA programme ran for 5 years, finishing at the end of 2016.
The programme was the first of its kind undertaken in Ireland, with the aim of piloting a comprehensive range of sustainable and active travel measures and to measure their performance so that high quality evidence would be available to inform future planning, policy and investment decisions by the Department and local authorities in the area of active travel (walking and cycling). As such, monitoring and evaluation work on the programme has been ongoing since its inception in 2012 and throughout its lifetime. The external expenditure to which the Deputy refers is a cumulative total that has been paid by the Department over the five-year evaluation period rather than exclusively in 2017.
An interim evaluation report from this project was published on the DTTAS website in 2016 and is available at http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/policy-review-and-analysis. A final evaluation report has been prepared and has been submitted to the Department. It is currently being reviewed by Departmental officials and I expect it to be published in Quarter 3 2018.
2178. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the €225,156 external expenditure costs paid to a company (details supplied) for national vehicle driver file Eircodes implementation in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32968/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe expenditure of €225,156 refers to a contract relating to the necessary infrastructure and software adjustments to the NVDF (National Vehicle and Driver File) IT systems for the integration of eircodes.
The NVDF system contains details of all 2.6 million registered vehicles and 2.8 million registered drivers in Ireland. Given that the NVDF system processes approximately 10,000 address updates daily and the fact that NVDF data is shared on a statutory basis with other government bodies, the implementation of the Eircode within the NVDF facilitated both greater address data quality for the Department and wide public participation in the National Postcode system. The NVDF Eircode Implementation project covered all core applications, public-facing systems, 3rd party interfaces and key activities such as printing . The changes enable the capture and output of the Eircode against the system's address data-set and the input of an Eircode in NVDF applications results in the retrieval of the corresponding address from the data-set provided by the Eircode group which assists the customer in providing a more detailed address.
The NVDF application suite covers front and back-office activities in all motor tax office outlets relating to the issue of motor tax discs and all associated stock and financial reconciliations, all change of ownership notifications to the NVDF and Online platform which contains the motor tax system which accounts for some 74% of all motor tax transactions and change of vehicle ownership for motor dealers.
2179. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he gave permission for munitions or explosives to be taken through Shannon Airport on an aircraft (details supplied) which landed at the airport on 11 and 12 July 2018. [33080/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2180. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the attention of the Shannon Airport authorities and fire personnel at the airport was drawn to munitions or explosives on board an aircraft (details supplied) which landed there on 11 and 12 July 2018 while it was parked very close to civilian passenger aircraft at the main terminal building at the airport; and the special precautions taken to minimise the danger to civilians at the airport on 11 and 12 July 2018. [33081/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2179 and 2180 together.
Shannon Airport Authority has confirmed that a National Airlines cargo plane with flight number CMB545 landed on the 12 July at 09:35 and departed at 11:40 the same day. While landed, the aircraft was positioned on a cargo aircraft parking stand.
There were no passengers aboard, Shannon Airport was not advised of any dangerous goods being present and the airline did not apply to my Department for a munitions of war exemption.
Under the 1944 International Air Services Transit Agreement, civil aircraft transiting or carrying out non-traffic stops within the 133 state parties to the Agreement do not normally require any additional authorisations or exemptions.
Both Ireland and the United States are party to this Agreement.
