Written Answers Nos. 163-187
163. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the role that the forestry industry contributes to climate change alleviation here; if he will encourage an expansion of this contribution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20540/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOur forests provide eco-system services, support the environment and biodiversity as well as contributing to climate change alleviation and supporting Ireland to meet our environmental responsibilities. On top of this, forestry also provides important resources for the bioenergy supply chain and the wider bio-economy, as well as timber products, which can act as a less carbon-intensive substitute for other materials in construction and related sectors. Forestry provides verifiable removal and storage of CO2 from the atmosphere, which will help Ireland to meet our climate objectives. Approximately 11% of our land area is under forestry which, through ongoing sustainable forest management, has the potential to provide carbon mitigation of up to 2,100kiltonnes of CO2 each year up to 2030.
Forestry planting across the country has, however, more than halved since 2000. The Programme for Government commits to the development of a new strategy to expand afforestation, particularly "Close to Nature" forestry and agro-forestry, which will be led by Minister of State Hackett in the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine. This work will also interlink with and inform our wider development of a land use plan for Ireland, similarly outlined in the Programme for Government.
164. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide a schedule of advisers, special advisers and seconded civil servants currently working in his Department appointed and or recruited and or in an acting capacity; the roles and responsibilities attributed to each; and the salary scale for the role in tabular form. [20614/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The appointment of Special Advisers is subject to section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil, which incorporate the principles of section 11 of the PMSA Act, are currently awaiting Government approval.
The appointment of individual Special Advisers is a matter for each Government Minister subject to the terms set out in the aforementioned guidelines, although the appointments are also subject to formal Government approval. At this stage, no Special Advisers have been formally appointed to my Department by the Government.
However, the Deputy may wish to note that I have assigned 3 Special Adviser ‘s which will be formally appointed by the Government once the Guidelines have been approved.
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform must be notified of the rate of salary to be paid in all cases for Special Advisers. These rates will then be published on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
No civil service secondees have been assigned as part of my advisory team.
165. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the payments for services or goods by his Department to a company (details supplied) since 2015. [20771/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has made one payment to the company referred to in the Question since 2015 as shown in the table below.
|
Date |
Description |
Value (Ex VAT) |
|
03/02/2017 |
Event catering |
€481.60 |
166. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated cost of introducing a deposit return scheme here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20823/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI will shortly be publishing an ambitious new Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy which will include a range of specific measures to reform and strengthen how we manage our waste with particular emphasis on single use plastics and packaging. The Action Plan will set out a clear roadmap for the introduction of a producer-funded Deposit and Return Scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles and aluminium cans, in line with the commitment set out in the Programme for Government. As a first step in this process I will initiate a public consultation on design options for a DRS in the Autumn. Alongside this, I will be publishing a report commissioned by my Department on the introduction of a DRS. This report includes costs estimates for producers that are broadly similar to the €76m to €116m identified by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment in its consideration of the introduction of a DRS in 2018.
167. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the capital projects his Department will fund in 2020 and 2021; the budget for each in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20824/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraCapital expenditure in my Department comprises, in the main, of grant funding for sustainable energy programmes administered by the SEAI. There is some additional capital funding to Local Authorities under the landfill remediation scheme as well as operational capital funding for the Department and the agencies under its remit. Within the Department, capital projects are delivered primarily in the Communications and Natural Resources programme areas, and in this regard, the information for 2020 requested by the Deputy is shown in the table below.
|
Project |
Budget € (000’s) |
|
National Postcode System (Eircodes) |
1,500 |
|
Tellus, National Airborne Geophysical & Ground Geochemical Mapping Programme |
3,000 |
|
INFOMAR, National Marine Mapping Programme |
4,000 |
|
National Broadband Plan* |
146,296 |
*including a capital carryover from 2019 of €27.3m.
Detailed programme allocations for 2021 will be agreed as part of the annual Estimates process and published in the Revised Estimates Volume, subsequent to each Budget Day.
168. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reports he has commissioned in 2019 and 2020; the titles of the reports completed but unpublished in 2019 and 2020; the cost of each report in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20825/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department administers a very diverse, complex and technical brief across a range of strategic sectors. The technical, commercial, legal complexity and evolving nature of sectors with which the Department deals requires access from time to time to external professional expertise to assist in discharging its functions. In procuring these specialised services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and that these services contribute to project delivery and informed, robust and evidence based policy making. The bulk of the studies commissioned are technical and specialist in nature and were necessary to address specific issues as they arose and enable the Department to discharge its responsibilities in the areas concerned.
Details of external reports commissioned by my Department in each of the years concerned are set out in the attached table.
|
Consultancy Company Name |
Title of Report |
Date or expected date of publication |
Cost of Report |
|
Ricardo Energy & Environment Ltd |
Microgeneration Support Options Analysis |
30/09/2020 |
€77,661 |
|
MKO, Environmental Consultants |
Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) Screening & Report; Appropriate Assessment (AA) Screening exercise and Report |
Expected publication during Q3 2020, following submission of National Energy & Climate Plan (NECP) to the European Commission. |
€9,102 |
|
AECOM Ireland |
Social, environmental and economic analysis of the effects of the Galmoy and Lisheen Mines on their respective local communities |
Published 27/05/2020 |
€ 98,000 |
|
Wardell Armstrong LLP |
Provision of Expert Services for Mine Inspection, Environmental Advice and Compliance with terms of State Mining Leases/Licence |
Reports produced annually are not published as they are commercially sensitive. |
€ 13,000 annually |
|
CDM Smith Ireland |
Environmental Monitoring at former mining areas of Silvermines, Co. Tipperary and Avoca, Co. Wicklow (4 reports per year) |
2019 reports awaiting publication |
€ 40,000 annually |
|
Individual Contractor |
Strategic Review of Structures and Staffing of the Exploration and Mining Division |
Internal document unpublished |
€ 4,800 |
|
Wardell Armstrong LLP |
An Independent Review of the Works Completed by SRK Following a Crownhole Occurrence Adjacent to the L4900 at Drumgoosat. |
Published July 2019 |
€ 11,457 |
|
Wardell Armstrong LLP |
Independent Review of the Stability Report on the Drumgoosat Underground Mine Workings Below and Adjacent to the R179 Carrickmacross to Kingscourt Road, Co. Monaghan. |
Unpublished – in draft |
€ 12,500 |
|
CSA Global |
Technical Review: Tellus Geochemistry Programme Geological Survey Ireland |
August 2019 |
€ 48,989 |
|
Tobins Consulting Engineers |
National Litter Pollution Monitoring Scheme Report 2019 |
August 2020 |
€47,109 |
|
Tobins Consulting Engineers |
National Litter Pollution Monitoring Scheme Report 2020 |
Q2 2021 |
€47,109 |
|
Grant Thornton |
Digital Hub Development Agency Review Report |
Autumn 2020 |
€71,832 |
|
Norcontel |
Review of new enet MANs products |
Not for publication |
€4,305 |
|
Eunomia Research and Consulting Limited |
National Study in ‘Improving the capture rate of single use beverage containers in Ireland’ |
September 2020 |
€30,752 |
|
RPS Consulting Engineers Limited |
Review of Year 1 of operation of Compliance Scheme for tyres |
November 2019 |
€30,608 |
|
EnvEcon AP Limited |
Consultancy to support work of the Technical Research and Modelling (TRAM) Group. Work focused on climate and air quality modelling; in addition work during 2020 will include support to the Department in implementing elements of EU Directive 2019/904 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment (the Single Use Plastics Directive), and in respect of proposals announced in 2019 for the introduction of levies on disposable coffee cups. The work is being undertaken as part of a 4 year publicly procured multiannual contract November 2018-2022; |
Certain reports and outputs provided to TRAM will be published when work is completed but other reports may not be published due to commercial sensitivity. |
€470,537 for 2020; costs are fixed as part a multiannual contract; |
|
University College Cork (MaREI Institute) |
Consultancy to support work of the Technical Research and Modelling (TRAM) Group. Work focused on energy systems and climate modelling; The work is being undertaken as part of a 4 year publicly procured multiannual contract December 2018-2022; |
Certain reports and outputs provided to TRAM will be published when work is completed but other reports may not be published due to commercial sensitivity. |
€587,955 for 2020 |
|
University College Dublin (Energy Institute) |
Consultancy to support work of the Technical Research and Modelling (TRAM) Group. Work focused on electricity systems modelling; The work is being undertaken as part of a 4 year publicly procured multiannual contract February 2019-2023; |
Certain reports and outputs provided to TRAM will be published when work is completed but other reports may not be published due to commercial sensitivity. |
€341,264 for 2020; costs are fixed as part of a multiannual contract; |
|
Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) |
Consultancy to support work of the Technical Research and Modelling (TRAM) Group. Research Programme on Climate, Energy and the Economy 2020-2022; Work being undertaken includes Work will include further development of the ESRI’s I3E economic model; research relating to new EU emissions targets; development of carbon budgets and implementation of certain actions under the Climate Action Plan 2019. |
Certain reports and outputs provided to TRAM will be published when work is completed but other reports may not be published due to commercial sensitivity |
€200,000 for 2020; costs are fixed as part of a multiannual contract; |
|
McKinsey and Company Inc. Ireland |
Contract followed a public procurement process and is to provide: (i) a Marginal Abatement Cost Curves to identify least cost 2050 decarbonisation pathways for Ireland, including net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050;(ii) a Marginal Abatement Cost Curve to identify the abatement potential of circular economy (including bio-economy) activities; and assistance in the development of a pilot aggregated retrofitting model for Ireland. The contract spans late 2019 to late 2020. |
MACCS will be included in Ireland’s Long Term Strategy to Reduce Greenhouse Gases and in the Climate Action Plan 2020; Information relating to assistance given to the retrofitting taskforce will be published as part of the work of the Retrofitting Taskforce and may be subject to commercial sensitivity. |
€861,000 - costs are fixed as part of a one year contract; |
|
McKinsey and Company Inc. Ireland |
Contract to provide a Marginal Abatement Cost Curve for Ireland which supported the development of the Climate Action Plan 2019. Contract lasted from January to June 2019. |
MACC was included in Climate Action Plan 2019 published in July 2019 |
€392,000 - costs were fixed as part of a short-term contract; |
|
E4MSA SRL Turin Italy |
Contract to provide Marginal Abatement Cost Curve for non ETS CO2 emissions 2021-2030. Contract lasted from December 2018 to April 2019. |
Not published as it is commercially sensitive. |
€30,750 - costs were fixed as part of a short term contract; |
169. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Cobh, County Cork, has an Internet signal of between 3 Mbps and 1 Mbps signal; and when broadband will be fully rolled out in the area. [20833/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Question refers to an area located within the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led Intervention, the contract for which was signed in November last with National Broadband Ireland (NBI). The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 150Mbps from the outset. By the end of next year, NBI plans to pass in the region of 115,000 premises, with 70,000 - 100,000 passed each year thereafter until rollout is completed. All counties will see premises passed in the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State will have access to high speed broadband within the next four years. The Government is committed to delivering high speed broadband to every home, farm, business and school in Ireland and my Department continues to engage with NBI to explore the feasibility of accelerating aspects of this rollout to establish the possibility of bringing forward premises which are currently scheduled in years 6 and 7 of the current plan to an earlier date. Design work is complete or ongoing in target townlands across 17 counties and steady progress is being made with circa 55,000 premises surveyed to date. This survey work is feeding into detailed designs for each deployment area and laying fibre should commence shortly with the first fibre to the home connections expected around December this year. I understand that NBI hope to start survey work in Cobh shortly. Further information on deployment activities associated with the rollout can be found using an eircode search on the NBI website http://www.nbi.ie .
To support remote working and connected communities, approximately 300 Broadband Connections Points (BCPs) were identified by Local Authorities to be connected to high speed broadband this year. This will assist communities to quickly get free public access to high speed broadband in advance of the main deployment under the National Broadband Plan (NBP). The planned BCP locations, including schools, library hubs, local sports facilities and other public places are available to view on the High Speed Broadband Map on the Department’s website www.broadband.gov.ie . The BCP delivery project is well underway and connectivity is being provided to each of the sites by National Broadband Ireland (NBI). Subsequent to this, the sites, other than schools, are being Wi-Fi enabled by Vodafone under a contract with the Department of Rural and Community Development. This work also involves the local authorities and site owners determining the services that will be provided for end-users at each site. For the 75 schools that are also part of this project, enabling these schools with Wi-Fi is being led by the Department of Education subsequent to NBI providing the connectivity to the schools.Bringing connectivity to remote rural locations is central to promoting regional development and BCPs represent an important delivery in the early stages of the National Broadband Plan.
170. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when broadband will be rolled out fully in Guileen, Whitegate, County Cork. [20834/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Question refers to an area located within the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led Intervention, the contract for which was signed in November last with National Broadband Ireland (NBI). The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 150Mbps from the outset. By the end of next year, NBI plans to pass in the region of 115,000 premises, with 70,000 - 100,000 passed each year thereafter until rollout is completed. All counties will see premises passed in the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State will have access to high speed broadband within the next four years. The Government is committed to delivering high speed broadband to every home, farm, business and school in Ireland and my Department continues to engage with NBI to explore the feasibility of accelerating aspects of this rollout to establish the possibility of bringing forward premises which are currently scheduled in years 6 and 7 of the current plan to an earlier date. Further information on deployment activities associated with the rollout can be found on the NBI website http://www.nbi.ie . To support remote working and connected communities, approximately 300 Broadband Connections Points (BCPs) were identified by Local Authorities to be connected to high speed broadband this year. This will assist communities to quickly get free public access to high speed broadband in advance of the main deployment under the National Broadband Plan (NBP). The planned BCP locations, including schools, library hubs, local sports facilities and other public places are available to view on the High Speed Broadband Map on the Department’s website www.broadband.gov.ie. The BCP delivery project is well underway and connectivity is being provided to each of the sites by National Broadband Ireland (NBI). Subsequent to this, the sites, other than schools, are being Wi-Fi enabled by Vodafone under a contract with the Department of Rural and Community Development. This work also involves the local authorities and site owners determining the services that will be provided for end-users at each site. For the 75 schools that are also part of this project, enabling these schools with Wi-Fi is being led by the Department of Education subsequent to NBI providing the connectivity to the schools.Bringing connectivity to remote rural locations is central to promoting regional development and BCPs represent an important delivery in the early stages of the National Broadband Plan.
171. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if consideration will be given to the issues outlined in correspondence by Monaghan County Council (details supplied) regarding the proposed north-south interconnector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20907/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe North South Interconnector is critical to improving the efficient operation of the Single Electricity Market and increasing security of electricity supply across the island of Ireland. It will also help us to move towards 70% renewable electricity, a commitment made in the Programme for Government Our Shared Future. A resilient and well connected energy infrastructure is vital for Ireland’s economic well-being and the ability to respond to the future needs of energy consumers. I am aware that there are concerns in relation to the construction of the interconnector as an overhead line. The option of undergrounding the line has been assessed on several occasions over the years. Most recently, my Department published an independent study in October 2018 on undergrounding the interconnector which found that an overhead line remained the most appropriate option for the proposed interconnector. The study report is available on my Department's website.
This study was the latest in a series of studies that reached the same conclusion and I do not intend to order a further review of the project.
174. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the work of the midlands regional transition team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20973/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra179. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the work of the midlands regional transition team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20978/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 179 together.
As stated in the Just Transition Commissioner's Interim report, a transition team was established by Offaly County Council to address the challenges and opportunities presented by the acceleration of Bord na Mona's 'Brown to Green' decarbonisation strategy. The team was expanded to incorporate other impacted local authority areas to become the Midlands Regional Transition Team (MRTT). Its aims are to pursue funding opportunities and actions to mitigate the impact of BnM job losses, and to position the region to develop alternative forms of employment, attract investment and maximise existing opportunities. The Commissioner's report made a number of recommendations regarding the structure of the MRTT given the new disposition around Irish and European funding.
The MRTT led Stage 1 in the Just Transition Fund and registered over 150 applications. The MRTT secretariat has engaged closely with the START Team (EU Secretariat for Coal Regions) and has worked with them to develop a Midlands Regional Profile and is finalising an Employment and Skills paper. START and MRTT are jointly assessing and synthesising the inventory of submitted projects under the MRTT - START Stage 1 engagement process, and will prepare an 'action plan' for the Midlands. The MRTT secretariat is currently assisting my Department in evaluating applications submitted to the Just Transition Fund.
175. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the new citizens’ engagement model mentioned in chapter 15 of the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20974/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra180. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on the new citizens’ engagement model as mentioned in chapter 15 of the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20979/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 180 together.
Action 159 of the Climate Action Plan 2019 required the building of a new localised citizen engagement model through the National Dialogue on Climate Action (NDCA). The new Citizen engagement model consists of a number of strands addressing various segments in Irish Society with a focus on youth. Young people are being approached through the "National Climate Change Action & Awareness Programme (NCCAAP), supported by my Department and being delivered virtually due to Covid-19 restrictions. In addition, the NDCA supported the Graduate.ie 2nd level schools competition. From October, young people will also be in a position to choose a new Junior Certificate short course which is being developed collaboratively by the SEAI, the NCCA and my Department.
Homeowners and property managers are already addressed through existing SEAI Climate Change resources and a new video resource has recently been published to provide a clear link between carbon and BER ratings. My Department is collaborating with Creative Ireland to involve the Arts and creative community in the messaging and with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on the development of a Climate Action Youth Council (currently delayed due to Covid-19 restrictions).
A policy paper which draws together these various initiatives, as well as work by the EPA and engagement activities undertaken by Local Authorities and the Climate Action Regional Offices, is in preparation in my Department.
176. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans for job creation and redeployment of Bord na Móna workers in the midlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20975/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra181. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans for job creation and redeployment of Bord na Móna workers in the midlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20980/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 181 together.
The first progress report of the Just Transition Commissioner, Mr Kieran Mulvey was published on 22 May. The report reflects a comprehensive engagement with relevant stakeholders in the region, setting out the analysis of the challenges facing the Midlands region, and for Bord na Móna workers and their families and communities, arising from an accelerated exit from peat harvesting. The report contains important recommendations. The Government is already acting on a number of these and is committed to preparing an implementation plan to address the remainder. The recommendations and supporting actions will support job creation efforts and create new opportunities for Bord na Móna workers in the midlands;
The Programme for Government commits to publishing a Just Transition Plan, to frame the work of a permanent Commission for Just Transition. The plan will identify and prepare for the challenges that will arise in a number of sectors and regions, recognising that there will be a variety of different transitions.
A number of actions to implement the recommendations in the Commissioner's report are already underway and will impact on job creation. This includes €20 million for a new energy efficiency retrofitting scheme in the Midlands, €5 million for peatland rehabilitation outside of the Bord na Móna estate, and €6 million for a dedicated new just transition fund with ESB agreeing to contribute an additional €5 million to this fund. The call for proposals for the Just Transition Fund closed on Friday 17 July, and will make available up to €11m in 2020 to support job creation and retraining measures in the region. €15m was also committed in the July Stimulus to support a major programme of bog restoration on Bord Na Mona bogs in the Midlands.
182. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department has carried out advertising campaigns to promote policies or programmes being implemented by same; if so, if he will provide the details of the campaign or relevant programme; the cost of advertising in publications, broadcast advertising, outdoor advertising; the cost of consultancy or production costs in each of the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21023/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Departmental remit includes complex policy areas, oversight of regulation and service provision across key strategic services such as energy and public service broadcasting, as well as regulation of sectors such as mining and hydrocarbon exploration. Given the technical complexity, economic significance and community interest in these areas, there is a requirement to disseminate information and to address specific issues as they arise. My Department therefore necessarily incurs some expenditure on a number of advertising campaigns to promote its policies / programmes from time to time. In procuring these services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and the keeping of expenditure to the minimum necessary.
The information requested is outlined in tabular format below:
|
Campaign / Relevant Programme |
Advertising in publications / Broadcast Advertising / Outdoor Advertising /Consultancy or production costs |
Cost in 2019 |
Cost to date in 2020 |
|
Ocean Energy Week “DCCAE sponsored content to raise citizen awareness of offshore wind energy and outlining the various planning, environmental and policy considerations around developing offshore wind capability” |
Advertising in Irish Examiner |
Nil |
€6,500 |
|
Community Environment Action Fund/ Local Agenda 21 |
Press advertisements |
€5,847 |
Nil |
|
Digital Skills for Citizen Scheme |
Advertising in Senior Times Magazine |
€1,107 |
Nil |
|
Anti Dumping Initiative |
Advertising Infographic |
€861 |
€1,193 |
|
Waste Awareness & Education Campaign |
Radio Advertising |
€102,671 |
Nil |
|
Waste Awareness & Education Campaign |
Consultancy |
€1,900 |
Nil |
|
Waste Awareness & Education Campaign |
Cinema Advertising |
€35,686 |
Nil |
|
Enactment of Inland Fisheries Secondary Legislation |
Press Advertising |
€17,720 |
€6,274 |
|
Geoscience Ireland |
Advertising in publications |
€3,835 |
€2,835 |
|
INFOMAR |
Advertising in publications |
€10,600 |
€7,600 |
|
Tellus |
Public Information Notices |
€24,692 |
Nil |
|
Climate Action Plan 2019 ‘Town Hall’ meetings |
Newspaper Advertising |
€9,123 |
Nil |
|
National Dialogue Regional Gathering in Q4 2018 |
Newspaper Advertising |
€1,557 |
Nil |
183. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of local authorities that have been mandated to assess their road networks to reallocate space for pedestrians and cyclists to date as promised in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19569/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra184. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the local authorities which have been mandated to assess their road networks to reallocate space for pedestrians and cyclists to date as promised in the rogramme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19570/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 184 together.
The package of measures included in the July Jobs Stimulus Plan as well as helping to stimulate a jobs-led recovery and build economic confidence are also designed in the transport sector to support improved pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.
In this context the Plan includes the provision of €115 million for active travel, public transport and renewal of transport infrastructure. This allocation includes €82 million for measures to improve accessibility, pedestrian infrastructure and support for urban and rural cyclists, together with €10 million for the adaptation of the regional and local road network to climate change. The Stimulus will allow local authorities to access funding through either the National Transport Authority or my Department's Regional and Local Roads Division. Applications have already been sought from local authorities. This initiative is in addition to over €7 million of funding which has already been allocated by the NTA to 12 local authorities (the cities of Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick and the counties of Cork, Wicklow, DunLaoghaire/Rathdown, Kilkenny, Clare, Louth, Kerry and Sligo).
Under the Roads Act 1993-2015, local authorities, in conjunction with Transport Infrastructure Ireland in the case of national roads, are the statutory road authorities in their areas of responsibility and I will be looking to work with stakeholders to further follow through on the measures outlined in the Programme for Government.
185. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the local authorities which have begun works to segregate cyclists and pedestrians from motorists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19571/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Deputy is enquiring which local authorities have accessed the financial and technical supports announced by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in response to the COVID-19 Emergency, rather than the much broader programme of active travel infrastructure improvements generally that occurs every year.
In recent months the NTA has been engaging with local authorities to provide support in delivering required infrastructure improvements such as providing additional transport capacity and also facilitating social distancing in urban areas.
The NTA wrote to all 31 local authorities to offer its financial and technical support and this support is being funded through my Department's sustainable mobility investment programme. The approach taken was to engage with all local authorities to see what their requirements were and to grant aid in full various temporary intervention proposals, subject to those proposals being agreed with the NTA in advance of implementation.
In relation to the number of local authorities that have accessed the NTA’s programme I have referred your question to the NTA for a more detailed reply in relation to the matters raised. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
Separately, the Deputy will also be aware that under the July Stimulus an additional €82million has been announced to support pedestrians and cyclists in urban and rural Ireland in the coming months. The Stimulus programme will further support local authorities across the country as they respond to the needs of local communities and businesses in the months ahead. Funding under the Stimulus programme must be expended by year end.
186. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the local authorities which have begun works to improve signage for roads incorporating motorists and cyclists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19572/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll signs erected on public roads must be provided in accordance with the Traffic Signs Manual (TSM). The Manual constitutes a Ministerial Direction to road authorities under section 95(16) of the Road Traffic Act 1961, in relation to the provision of traffic signs. This direction is given to road authorities for the purpose of the provision and use of traffic signs, other than regulatory signs.
While the Manual does provide directions on the correct use of traffic signs, it is the responsibility of local authorities, for regional and local roads, and in conjunction with TII for national roads to install and maintain these signs.
A new cycle sign has been included in the recently updated Traffic Signs Manual. It is a warning sign which advises motorists of the need to leave adequate space when overtaking cyclists. Provision was made earlier this year in the regional and local grant allocations for expenditure on the deployment of the cycling “safe passing” signs this year.
A total of €446,500 was allocated to 19 local authorities on 18th June 2020 for the roll out of the “safe passing” signs this year. This will allow the local authorities, which requested funding, to deploy all the signs proposed in their submissions.
187. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the proposed construction of a new runway at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19573/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraConstruction work on the new North Runway at Dublin Airport resumed on 18 May as per Phase 1 of the Government Roadmap for Re-Opening Society and Business. Works on the site had been suspended at the end of March in line with Government COVID-19 guidelines.
The programme of works remains on budget and largely on target and and the runway is expected to be completed in 2021.
