Written Answers Nos. 184-203
186. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the significant reduction in spend by RTÉ for the independent production sector (details supplied) here; the steps he is taking to ensure that this spend is increased to 2007 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48661/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra188. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the reduction in spend from RTÉ to the Irish independent production sector (details supplied); the steps he is taking to ensure that this spend in the sector is increased back to 2007 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48761/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra192. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the reduction in spend from RTÉ to the Irish independent production sector (details supplied); the steps he is taking to ensure that this spend in the sector is increased back to 2007 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48769/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 186, 188 and 192 together.
I refer to the reply to Question No (48488/18) of 21 November 2018. The position is unchanged.
187. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a review will be instigated of policy on building new fossil fuel infrastructure, such as, a facility (details supplied) in the context of climate change; if a debate in Dáil Éireann will be facilitated on whether Ireland should allow fracked shale gas in the energy mix; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48743/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question Nos. 534 and 549 of 20 November 2018, the position is unchanged. In relation to a Dáil debate on the matter raised in the Question, this is a matter for the House to decide when ordering its business.
197. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of funding for an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48808/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraBallinskelligs Inshore Rescue are an organisation which is a declared resource to the Coast Guard.
They are a member of the Community Rescue Boats Ireland (CRBI), a nationwide group of independent voluntary rescue boats which are trained and administrated by Irish Water Safety.
Ballinskelligs Inshore Rescue receives a yearly grant as do all other CRBI members of approx. 5k from the Department. They also qualify for V.A.T. exemption under S.I. 249 of 2013.
Boat units which come under the direct control and management of the Coast Guard are stationed around the coast at the volunteer Coast Guard units. The capital and current costs of purchasing and maintaining the Coast Guard fleet are set out in the Voluntary Services and Training budgets.
The capital and current budgets do not take into account the financial needs of other organisations therefore the Coast Guard is not in a position to fund the cost of the equipment upgrade at Ballinskelligs Inshore Rescue.
198. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a driver test for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48653/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs driver testing is a matter for the Road Safety Authority, I have referred this question to the Authority for direct response. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply is not received within ten days.
199. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount expended by Irish Rail on private bus transfers when commuter train services were not fully available; the amount expended when DART services were not available in the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48723/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra200. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount expended by Irish Rail on Dublin Bus transfers when commuter train services were not fully available; the amount expended by Irish Rail on Dublin Bus transfers when DART train services were not fully available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48724/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.
The issues raised are operational matters for Iarnród Éireann and I have therefore forwarded your questions to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
201. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 290 of 24 October 2018, the scheduled arrival time and the actual arrival time of all evening train services serving Mullingar in the past two months in tabular form and not the percentage of on-time trains that was provided by the company; if the delays experienced compare to those experienced during the same period in 2016 and 2017; the effect of recent timetable changes to the train schedules and arrival times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48726/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.
The issue raised is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have therefore forwarded your question to the company for direct reply.
202. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for disruptions to the 109B bus services from Trim and Kilmessan (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48745/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with Bus Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
203. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for the development of a national training base for the IHU in view of the fact that Ireland is the only top grade hockey country in the world without such a facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48746/18]
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, including the development of the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus at Abbotstown.
As part of Sport Ireland's partnership strategy for the development of facilities by the main field sport National Governing Bodies of sport, an agreement is in place with Hockey Ireland for the development of hockey facilities at the Campus. I understand that Sport Ireland is currently engaging with Hockey Ireland in relation to requirements for its international teams.
The Board of Sport Ireland allocated additional high performance funding amounting to €500,000 to Hockey Ireland in August to support the delivery of its high performance programme including advancing the establishment of a base at the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus.
