Written Answers Nos. 1096-1116
1096. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the transfer of a UK driver licence to an Irish licence will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13407/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department issued a letter to this person on 21 March 2019 setting out the legal position with respect to the application for the exchange of their current licence to an Irish (EU) driving licence.
1098. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of drivers disqualified in court in 2016, 2017 and 2018 in circumstances in which the Road Safety Authority was unable to match the driver with the disqualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13462/19]
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.
1101. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the working groups currently established in his Department; the focus of their work; the membership composition of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13574/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated by my officials and will be forwarded to the Deputy within 10 working days.
1102. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of subscribers to the regional bike scheme in Galway, Cork and Limerick, respectively, at the end of 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13592/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra1103. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the contract for the regional bike scheme in Galway, Cork and Limerick has been renewed; if so, when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13593/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra1104. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the criteria used for the award or renewal of the regional bike scheme contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13594/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra1105. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the regional bike scheme contract which comes to an end in April 2019 will go to tender prior to renewal of the contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13595/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra1106. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the key performance indicators in relation to the regional bike schemes for Galway, Cork and Limerick; the extent to which each indicator has been met; the key performance indicators in relation to maintenance of bikes and docking stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13596/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra1107. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost of the relocation of the Galway regional bike scheme docking station from one location on Fr. Burke Road to an alternative location on Fr. Burke Road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13597/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra1108. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost of the partial construction of a regional bike scheme docking station at City Library, St. Augustine Street, Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13598/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1102 to 1108, inclusive, together.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to cycle and public transport infrastructure. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport, including the management of public bike schemes.
Noting the National Transport Authority's statutory responsibilities in relation to cycling and cycling infrastructure, I have referred your question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
1109. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason pedestrian crossings for schools (details supplied) are being held up by TII. [13605/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TII also arrange payments to local authorities for various projects relating to the national roads programme.
Noting the above position, I have referred the question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
1110. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is mandatory for ATV and scrambler motorbikes that are used on public roads to be registered with the national vehicle and driver file; and if they must display a registration plate. [13643/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraScrambler motorbikes, quadbikes and other small similar vehicles, are mechanically propelled vehicles, which means that they are vehicles intended or adapted for propulsion by mechanical power. As such, irrespective of engine capacity, under Road Traffic legislation, the user of a scrambler motorbike, a quad bike or similar vehicle in a public place must have insurance, road tax and a driving licence, and must also wear a helmet, with penalties under the road traffic laws (including fixed charge notices, penalty points, fines and possible seizure of the vehicle) for not being in compliance with these requirements. A registration plate is also mandatory.
For the purposes of the Road Traffic Acts, a “public place” means any public road, and any street, road or other place to which the public have access with vehicles whether as of right or by permission and whether subject to or free of charge.
1111. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if ATV and scrambler motorbikes that are used on public roads must be taxed; and the tax category to which such vehicles belong. [13644/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraScrambler motorbikes, quadbikes and other small similar vehicles, are mechanically propelled vehicles, which means that they are vehicles intended or adapted for propulsion by mechanical power. As such, irrespective of engine capacity, under Road Traffic legislation, the user of a scrambler motorbike, a quad bike or similar vehicle, in a public place must have insurance, road tax and a driving licence, and must also wear a helmet, with penalties under the road traffic laws (including fixed charge notices, penalty points, fines and possible seizure of the vehicle) for not being in compliance with these requirements.
The category of taxation which such vehicles fall into is a matter for Revenue Commissioners.
1112. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if responsibility for the application and assessment of all sports capital grants will be allocated to a fully independent body in the interest of transparency and efficiency and to build the best national sports infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13663/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sports Capital Programme (SCP) as operated by my Department provides funding to voluntary, sporting and community organisations for the provision of sports and recreational facilities. Over 11,500 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to close to €1 billion. The programme has transformed the sporting landscape of Ireland with improvements in the quality and quantity of sporting facilities in virtually every village, town and city in the country.
The most recent fully completed round of the programme was the 2017 round. Under this 2017 round a record 2,320 application were submitted and €62m was allocated to 1,837 individual projects. The exact amount allocated to each project was based on a formula which combined the assessment score obtained, the amount of funding sought and the total amount of funding available for that county on a per-capita basis. The full scoring system and assessment manual was published on the Department’s website prior to any assessments commencing. Ministers were presented with a list of applications and a proposed monetary allocation for each valid application and no subsequent changes to these amounts were made. Further details of the allocation process are available in the Review of the 2017 Sports Capital Programme which is published on the Department's website at: http://www.dttas.ie/sites/default/files/publications/sport/english/sports-capital-programme-2017-review/review-2017-sports-capital-programme.pdf.
Work is now underway on the assessment of applications under the 2018 round of the SCP and again the full scoring system and assessment manual was published on the Department's website before the detailed assessment work commenced.
In relation to future funding of larger sports projects, the National Sports Policy was published on 25th July 2018 and provided for a Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) with at least €100 million available over the coming years. The fund was launched in November 2018 and is open to applications until 17th April 2019. Full details of the new Fund are available on the Department's website. The fund will initially focus on the requirements and development plans of National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Authorities and they will be required to prioritise their projects and certify that their proposals accord with their development strategies and plans. As with the SCP, it is envisaged that the full scoring system will be published prior to any assessment working commencing.
The SCP and the LSSIF are managed in a transparent and open manner as set out above. While the programmes will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, I have no plans to move responsibility for sports capital grants.
1114. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the technology used in the new tests with regard to the new drug driving legislation tests for traces of CBD or just THC. [13710/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a matter for the Medical Bureau of Road Safety I have referred the Deputy's question to the Bureau for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
1115. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Road Safety Authority is considering closing or moving the driver test centre at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13716/19]
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.
1116. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the low frequency of peak-hour trams serving Broombridge on the Luas green line; and his plans to increase the frequency. [13723/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Transdev 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.
