Wednesday, 26 Jun 2019

Written Answers Nos. 235-248

Regional Airports

Ceisteanna (235)

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

235. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation by airport of funding allocated to local airports in 2017, 2018 and 2019. [27076/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The following table sets out the total amount of current and capital Exchequer funding by airport under the Regional Airports Programme in 2017 and 2018:

Exchequer funding under Regional Airports Programme (€)

	2017	2018
Donegal Airport	667,874	896,042
Ireland West Airport Knock	3,199,355	4,176,105
Kerry Airport	1,657,991	2,385,694
Waterford Airport	0	750,000

In relation to 2019, the Capital allocations to regional airports were announced earlier this month and are provided to three of the regional airports as follows

Donegal - €884,912

IWAK - €5,761,738

Kerry - €2,208,911

In addition to the above, the four regional airports will receive support for operational expenses in 2019. The available budget this year is approximately €4m. Airports will be invited to make claims in this regard but the breakdown of provision by airport will not be available until payments have been made (typically in December of each year).

Ports Development

Ceisteanna (236)

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

236. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation for ports by port for 2017, 2018 and 2019. [27077/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

In line with National Ports Policy, State port companies receive no Exchequer funding.

Sports Capital Programme Expenditure

Ceisteanna (237)

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

237. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation for the sports capital grant in 2017, 2018 and 2019; and the estimated cost of increasing the 2019 allocation by 10%. [27078/19]

Freagraí scríofa

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

Details of all allocations under the Sports Capital Programme (SCP) since 1998 and all payments since 2007 are available on my Department's website http://www.dttas.ie/sport/english/sports-capital-programme.

Due to the nature of the SCP, it can take some grantees a number of years to draw down the grants allocated to them. Accordingly, the amount required in the relevant subhead to cover drawdowns under the programme does not equate to the allocations made in that particular year. The amounts allocated in new grants and the amounts available in the sub-head (including carryover) for 2017, 2018 and 2019 are set out in the table below.

In relation to the most recent (2018) round of the SCP, sanction has been received for allocations totalling €40m. The assessment of these applications is ongoing. The cost of increasing this sanctioned allocation amount by 10% would be €4m. In relation to the funding available in the relevant sub-head in 2019, the cost of increasing this by 10% would be €4.5m

Year	Amount allocated in new grants	Total Amount available in sub-head (including carry-over)
2017	€67.3m	€47.5m
2018	€5.0m	€49.0m
2019 (to date)	€16.9m	€45.1m

Sport Ireland Funding

Ceisteanna (238)

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

238. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation for Sport Ireland in 2018 and 2019. [27079/19]

Freagraí scríofa

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

The allocation for Sport Ireland is set out under my Department's Vote in the annual Revised Estimates.

For 2019, a total amount of €62.2m has been allocated to Sport Ireland, of which €57.3m is for current expenditure and €4.9m is for capital expenditure.

The total amount provided for Sport Ireland in 2018 was €75.9m. Of this amount, €55m was provided for current expenditure, which includes an additional €1.5m allocated for high performance sport in August 2018. The amount provided for capital expenditure in 2018 was €20.9m.

The capital expenditure allocations included €18m and €2m in 2018 and 2019 respectively for the development of Phase 2 of the National Indoor Arena at the Sport Ireland Campus.

Sport Ireland also disburses funding for sport measures from the Dormant Accounts Fund. €5m was allocated to Sport Ireland in Dormant Account Funding for 2018 and again in 2019.

Public Transport Fares

Ceisteanna (239, 240, 241)

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

239. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of reducing fares on Bus Éireann by 10%. [27080/19]

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

240. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of reducing fares on Dublin Bus by 10%. [27081/19]

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

241. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of reducing fares on Iarnród Éireann by 10%. [27082/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 to 241, inclusive, together.

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 the statutory responsibility for the regulation of fares in relation to public passenger transport services. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy’s questions to the NTA for reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

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

Public Transport Fares

Ceisteanna (242)

Pat Buckley

Ceist:

242. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the rationale for limiting of child fares on bus and rail services to under 16s (details supplied); and his plans to develop greater access to free and lower fare public transport services. [27092/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have overall responsibility for policy and funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for public transport fares and I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive responses within ten working days.

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

Road Improvement Schemes

Ceisteanna (243, 246)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

243. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided for the development of a road (details supplied) in view of its strategic importance to the Wild Atlantic Way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27160/19]

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

246. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided to the development of a road (details supplied) in view of its strategic importance to the Wild Atlantic Way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27173/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 246 together.

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads (RLR) in Donegal is the statutory responsibility of Donegal County 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 also a matter for the local authority. Donegal County Council has been allocated grant funding of €29,613,720 in 2019 under my Department's Regional and Local Road Grant Programme.

Before the financial crisis, local authorities could apply on a regular basis for grants for Specific or Strategic Improvement Grants for the strengthening, widening or realignment of regional and local roads. However, the extent of the cutbacks in grant funding during the crisis 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.

Project Ireland 2040 does provide for the gradual build up in funding for the road network but it will take time. 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 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 my Department's Capital Appraisal Framework and it is important for local authorities to prioritise projects within their overall area of responsibility with these requirements in mind. In this context no funding application has been received by the Department in relation to the Portsalon to Fanad Head Road.

It is important to reiterate that the role of Exchequer grants for regional and local roads is to supplement local authorities in their spending in this area and it is open to Donegal County Council to fund work on this road from its own resources. It is also open to the Council to undertake rehabilitation works on this road under it's Restoration Improvement Grant programme.

Cycling Policy

Ceisteanna (244)

John Curran

Ceist:

244. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to encourage more persons to consider cycling to and from work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27164/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I very much welcome the increased numbers of people choosing to make cycling part of their daily commute. Cycling and walking, have an important role to play in easing congestion, improving public health and enhancing the liveability of our towns and cities.

As the Deputy is probably aware between Census 2006 and Census 2016 there has been a 56% increase in the numbers cycling to work with significant increases recorded in a number of our major urban centres. These increases have been recorded against the policy backdrop provided by both Smarter Travel – A Sustainable Transport Future and the National Cycle Policy Framework, both of which were published in 2009 with a horizon out to 2020.

Of course, the Deputy will recognise that, notwithstanding the undoubted progress achieved since 2009, the Budgetary parameters during the initial years of both policies meant that the resources available to support implementation were constrained due to the economic and financial crisis and its aftermath. The Deputy will welcome, as I do, the fact that this Government is now in a position to make significant and increasing funding available to support active travel infrastructure, education and behavioural change programmes.

I particularly welcome the fact that we now have the funding available to support the implementation of the various cycle network plans in our major cities that have been developed in the last few years. In more rural areas, we have of course published the new Greenways Strategy and last week Minister of State Griffin and I announced details of the €40 million that is being made available to support greenways development in 9 different counties across the country.

In the coming weeks, and in line with a Programme for a Partnership Government commitment, I will seek the public's views on public transport and active travel policy. This review will allow all stakeholders to reflect on what has been achieved, what remains to be done and how our policy frameworks can support the realisation of a more sustainable transport system, including through increasing the numbers of cyclists.

I look forward to engaging with the Deputy during this process and hearing his views in relation to the promotion of active travel as a mode of transport.

Road Improvement Schemes

Ceisteanna (245)

John Curran

Ceist:

245. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he has taken regarding the need for a grade-segregated intersection at the junction of R148 Lucan Road and Kennelsfort Road (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27167/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads (RLR) 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 the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants, where applicable. The initial selection and prioritisation of works is also a matter for the local authority.

Arising from the arrangements in place in relation to Local Property Tax receipts the four Dublin Councils became self funding for regional and local roads under the main road grant categories from 2015.

As regards major strategic regional and local road improvement schemes, the main focus at present is implementation of the 12 schemes provided for in Project Ireland 2040. These schemes include the upgrade of the Adamstown and Nangor roads and my Department is providing grant assistance for that strategic scheme.

Before the financial crisis, local authorities could apply on a regular basis for grants for Strategic Improvement Grants for the strengthening, widening or realignment of regional and local 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.

Project Ireland 2040 does provide for the gradual build up in funding for the road network but it will take time. For this reason there is limited scope at present for funding projects under the Strategic Grant Programme.

Any future projects proposed by local authorities for consideration under this Grant Programme 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 my Department's Capital Appraisal Framework and it is important for local authorities to prioritise projects within their overall area of responsibility with these requirements in mind. All proposed projects are assessed taking competing projects and the overall capital budget into account.

It is important to reiterate that the role of Exchequer grants for regional and local roads is to supplement local authorities in their spending in this area and it is open to South Dublin County Council to fund work on this junction from its own resources.

Question No. 246 answered with Question No. 243.

Child Detention Centres

Ceisteanna (247)

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

247. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children placed in Oberstown Children Detention Campus for periods of less than one year, two to three years, and four years or more in tabular form; the number of children classed as committed and on remand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27112/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I am advised by Oberstown Children Detention Campus that there were 37 children detained in Oberstown on June 24th, 2019. There were 16 children on remand, while 21 children were serving a period of detention. The breakdown, as requested, is as follows:

Period in Oberstown	0-1 years	1-2 years	2-3 years	4 years or more
Number on Remand	15	1	Nil	Nil
Number on Committal	18	3	Nil	Nil

Child Detention Centres

Ceisteanna (248)

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

248. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the children placed in Oberstown Children Detention Campus are segregated depending on if they are committed or on remand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27113/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Section 88(8) of the Children Act 2001, provides that children remanded in custody, shall as far as practicable and where it is in the interests of the child, be kept separate from and not be allowed to associate with children in respect of whom a period of detention has been imposed.

I am advised by Oberstown Children Detention Campus that children on remand are generally in separate accommodation to children in detention. However, where it is identified that it is in the best interest of a particular child who is subject to a remand order to be in a longer term detention unit, he/she will be placed there.