Written Answers Nos. 613-629
613. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the statistical performance of the M18 Ennis-Crusheen-Gort motorway in terms of accidents, both fatal and non-fatal, and road closures against the overall motorway network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2724/15]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
The assessment of individual national routes, including the M18 is a matter in the first instance for the NRA in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
614. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there will be a new round of funding for cycleways under the national cycle network funding scheme; if so, when the funding will come on stream in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2731/15]
View answerAt present, there will be no funding calls in 2015 for the further development of the National Cycle Network.
All funding under both the National Cycle Network Funding Programme 2014-2016 and the Government Stimulus Package for the development of greenways is now fully committed.
However, it is possible, given the popularity and success of greenways already delivered, that funding may become available from other sources over the coming years. The EU Structural Funds Programme 2014-2020 is currently being finalised and there may be significant opportunities for cycle infrastructure development under INTERREG and the Rural Development Programmes. I understand that a number of local authorities have positioned themselves to benefit from such opportunities and I would encourage all local authorities and community groups to progress work on any potential Greenways in their locality should such funding come available.
615. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding provided for a road project (details supplied) in County Kerry in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2763/15]
View answerThe grant provided to Kerry County Council in 2014 in relation to the Kenmare Relief Road was €857,067. This brings the total amount of State grant assistance for the project to €2,678,812 in the period 2010 to 2014.
616. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied that a major public consultation on the future of public transport on the north side of Dublin, the North Dublin Transport Study, was held over the Christmas and new year period without direct contact with the residents affected, their residents associations or public representatives; if he will ensure that the deadline for submissions is extended and that such key parties are directly invited to make a submission. [2790/15]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the GDA. Under this remit the NTA last year commissioned the Fingal/North Dublin Transport Study to examine all existing proposals (heavy rail, metro, Luas extensions) as well as other options for a rail-based transport solution to meet the needs of the Swords/Dublin Airport to City Centre corridor in the long term.
Together with the NTA I announced the results of the first stage of the process at a press conference on 8th December last and launched the consultation process. This was widely reported. A short-list of six project options for further design development and more detailed evaluation were proposed. Details of the twenty five options, and the six short-listed options have been published and are available on the NTA’s website http://www.nationaltransport.ie/consultations/public-consultation-on-the-north-dublin-transport-study/.
The non-statutory public consultation process commenced on 8 December 2014 and concluded on 19 January 2015. An advertisement was placed by the NTA in the Irish Independent on the 16th December inviting members of the public to review the material available on the NTA’s website in relation to the study and the 6 short-listed options and to submit views and opinions by 19th January.
I issued a further press release last Friday reminding interested parties of the public of the consultation deadline.
While I do not intend to ask the NTA to extend the deadline, I understand they will accept submissions for a further two weeks. Further consultation opportunities will take place as the work progresses on the preferred option over the year, either as a stand-alone consultation or as part of a wider draft Greater Dublin Area Strategy which the NTA proposes to also progress this year.
617. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of US troops that passed through Shannon Airport in 2014, including the monthly breakdown; the number of requests his Department received in 2014 from civilian aircraft to land at Shannon Airport or pass through Irish airspace while carrying munitions; the number of permits issued for both; the numbers of requests that were rejected; the reasons for rejecting the requests for which permits were not granted; and if he will provide the breakdown of the countries from which the requests were made and the permits were granted. [2791/15]
View answerShannon Airport Authority has informed my Department that the number of US troops that passed through Shannon Airport in 2014 was 55,405. The monthly breakdown is as follows:
|
Monthly Breakdown |
Monthly Breakdown |
|
January - 5609 |
July - 7016 |
|
February - 3678 |
August - 5078 |
|
March - 3332 |
September - 4476 |
|
April - 5260 |
October - 7076 |
|
May - 3506 |
November - 5027 |
|
June - 2881 |
December - 2466 |
Exemptions for the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft are issued by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order, 1973, as amended. The majority of exemptions issued in recent years are in respect of the unloaded personal weapons of troops travelling on civil aircraft that are refuelling at Irish airports. In common with most other jurisdictions and in accordance with the Chicago Convention, civil aircraft making technical stops (such as a refuelling stop) at Irish airports do not require authorisation.
My Department received 606 applications for such exemptions in 2014. Most of these relate to foreign civil aircraft landing in Ireland or passing through Irish airspace. However, a small number relate to Irish registered aircraft operating in Ireland or overseas. Of these 606, 584 permits were issued, three were withdrawn and 19 were refused. The refusals were on the basis of the advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Requests came from airlines from the USA, Poland, Ireland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Russia, Netherlands and Spain. The vast majority of the requests came the USA.
619. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if old rail track at a location (details supplied) in County Kildare will be removed to facilitate an organisation in attracting tourists and sporting groups to the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2831/15]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
620. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a public transport network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2848/15]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for the independent Transport Regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA). The responsibility for the licensing of public bus passenger services was transferred under Statutory Instrument No. 566 of 2010 from my Department to the NTA with effect from 1st December 2010.
The NTA published, in November 2010, new Guidelines for the licensing of public bus services which set out the basis for a reformed licensing system for commercial bus passenger services in the State. The Guidelines identify commercial bus passenger services as a key part of public transport services in the State. These Guidelines are available on the NTA’s website and include details of the objectives and factors taken into account in considering an application for a licence. As the NTA has indicated, these are commercial services and it is open to the operator of such services to withdraw or curtail services.
The NTA is also responsible for those public transport services which comprise the Public Service Obligation (PSO) network. While PSO funding in 2015 has been maintained at the same level as in 2014, I understand that the NTA has indicated that funding would not be available in respect of the services referred to by the Deputy. However, I understand the NTA will consider services to the towns now bypassed by the M9 in the context of tendering for the provision of services funded by the Rural Transport Programme (RTP).
I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA and asked it to respond to the Deputy when it has completed its consideration of inclusion of the areas referred to in the tendering for RTP.
621. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the work in which she is involved with regard to research of culture memory or mnemohistory concerning the roll-out of the commemorations in the next few years. [2221/15]
View answerThe Decade of Centenaries has presented challenges and opportunities for individuals, organisations, academic institutions and communities to reflect on their approach to remembering lives, activities and events which occurred in the past 100 years. These approaches can include objective historical descriptions, as well as the broader, collective memory of community.
Depending on their level of interest, such remembrances are dealt with in different ways and levels. Through the limited resources available, efforts are being made to provide as wide a range of memory retrieval and preservation as possible,
In this context, I refer to the advice of the Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations which proposed that the historical approach to the Decade of Commemorations should be marked by a return to primary sources, and that resources be primarily targeted towards making these sources as widely available as possible. To that end, the Military Service Pensions Archive project has been funded as one of the major capital projects associated with the Commemorative programme.
My Department has also supported developments at the National Archives of Ireland and at academic institutions, including the Royal Irish Academy ‘Judging’ biography series, with its focus on primary sources, and the Maynooth University ‘Letters of 1916’ project. This latter is involved in digitising hundreds of contemporary letters related to the 1916 Rising and using these as a tool to stimulate discussion, particularly with groups not hitherto engaged in history.
Similarly, the National Library of Ireland’s participation in World War One Europeana collection days have presented an opportunity for individuals and families to share both historical artefacts and associated lore publicly for the first time.
In January 2014, the Abbey Theatre held a major symposium on ‘The Theatre of Memory’ at which President Michael D Higgins addressed the topic of ‘Myth Making and Ethical Remembering’. In this address, available online, President Higgins addressed how historical events are approached in different ways according to the prevailing attitudes of the time. This year’s symposium addresses ‘Theatre of War’ in the same vein. Events of this nature, originated by the National Cultural Institutions under the aegis of my Department, are an important contribution to the commemoration programme
Notwithstanding the agreed focus on primary sources, I am aware of the importance of cultural memory and lore in relation to the commemorative period and my Department has supported several projects, including the ‘1916 Oral History Project’ wherein over one hundred of the closest surviving relatives of 1916 veterans were interviewed and their family accounts of the events of that period were collected and catalogued. My Department is currently supporting the preparation of a book “To Speak of Easter Week” based on this research.
622. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding that is available to prospective new community music clubs-groups under the music capital grants scheme. [2258/15]
View answerMy Department is currently considering capital grant allocations for 2015 and decisions will be announced in due course. €200,000 was paid to Music Network in respect of the music capital grants scheme in 2014. Details are available on the Music Network website at the link below: http://www.musicnetwork.ie/news/details/sound_investment_in_instruments_as_178500_awarded_through_music_capita/.
623. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 679 and 680 of 16 December 2014, the number of meetings between the Minister-Minister of State and MAC for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013; if her special advisers attend MAC meetings on her behalf; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2455/15]
View answerMy Department's Secretary General, three Assistant Secretaries, Director of Irish, Head of Finance and Head of HR/Corporate Governance comprise the membership of my Department's Management Advisory Committee (MAC). The MAC is chaired by the Secretary General and meets regularly, as required.
My Department was established on 2 June 2011 and I am advised that its MAC met with the then Minister and Minister of State 4 times that year, 8 times during 2012 and 7 times in 2013. I understand that the Minister was accompanied by a special advisor at the majority of those meetings.
It has not been the practice in my Department for special advisors to attend MAC meetings in the absence of the Minister.
624. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount spent by her Department on special advisers for each of the past four years; the way this compares to the four years from 2007 to 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2500/15]
View answerMy Department was established on 2nd June 2011. The information requested by the Deputy in respect of expenditure on pay, travel and subsistence costs of special advisors from July 2011 to December 2014 is set out in the table.
As previously advised to the House, all special advisors appointed by both my predecessor, Mr. Jimmy Deenihan, T.D., and myself have been paid in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Guidelines on the Staffing of Ministers' Offices. No requests for exceptional payments above those norms have been made to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
It should also be noted that the salary of one of Minister Deenihan's advisors over the period July 2011 to July 2014 was abated as he was in receipt of a public service pension.
|
- |
2011* |
2012 |
2013 |
2014** |
|
Salary |
€89,309 |
€140,650 |
€134,161 |
€162,372 |
|
Travel & Subsistence |
- |
€601 |
€1,985 |
€2,586 |
|
Total |
€89,309 |
€141,251 |
€136,146 |
€164,958 |
*1st July - 31st December
**Includes costs arising from reallocation of Ministerial responsibilities in 2014.
625. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount spent by her Department on ministerial drivers and associated travel expenses for each of the past four years; the way this compares to similar expenditure for the four years from 2007 to 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2516/15]
View answerMy Department was established on 2nd June 2011. The information requested by the Deputy in respect of expenditure on pay, travel and subsistence costs of Ministerial drivers from July 2011 to December 2014 is set out in the following table. All ministerial drivers are paid in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Guidelines on the Staffing of Ministers' Offices.
|
- |
2011* |
2012 |
2013 |
2014** |
|
Salary |
€72,533 |
€147,328 |
€145,485 |
€156,950 |
|
Travel & Subsistence |
€22,771 |
€38,566 |
€38,361 |
€30,860 |
|
Total |
€95,304 |
€185,894 |
€183,846 |
€187,810 |
*1st July – 31st December
**Includes costs arising from reallocation of Ministerial responsibilities in 2014.
626. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if, after recent meetings with the Caherlistrange-Kilcoona community council, and having seen first hand the site in County Galway, she will facilitate the purchase of the lands, eight acres approximately, on behalf of the Irish people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2733/15]
View answerFollowing a recent visit to the site referred to, the matter is being followed up by my Department.
627. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will report on the discussions between her Department and an arts facility (details supplied) in County Galway; if additional financial support is being considered; and her plans to visit the facility to see the progress being made. [2735/15]
View answerA number of meetings have taken place recently between the project promoter, officials of my Department and other funders of the project. There are a number of legal and technical issues which are being examined by my Department which is also in consultation with the project's other public funding stakeholders.
I have no immediate plans to visit the facility.
628. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the timeline for the application process for the European Capital of Culture bid for 2020, for which several cities, including Galway, are planning submissions. [2736/15]
View answerOn 17 December 2014 I launched an open competition for the selection of an Irish city as European Capital of Culture 2020. Under the programme, two cities are designated a Capital of Culture each year. In 2020, Ireland will share the designation with Croatia.
Interested cities have until 17 October this year to make an application. A short-list will then be drawn up by the International Panel, and the short-listed cities will have a further nine months in which to develop and refine their applications. The winning city will be named in mid to late 2016, leaving at least three years to prepare for the year of designation in 2020. The European Union provides funding of €1.5 million for the winning city by way of the Melina Mercouri prize.
The competition is being organised by my Department. Decisions on the short listing and selection of the European Capital of Culture will be made by an International Panel of ten experts appointed by the European Institutions.
An information meeting for interested cites, presented by an official of the European Commission, was held in Dublin on 12 January 2015.
Full details of the application process are available on my Department's website.
629. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding funding in respect of an organisation (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2830/15]
View answerI am informed by Waterways Ireland that it has supported the event referred to by the Deputy since its inception through the Waterways Ireland Sponsorship Programme, event promotion, marketing and operational support. I have also been advised that Waterways Ireland is unaware of any request from the organisers to provide new facilities on Waterways Ireland property for the event and that there are already a number of existing facilities in the area. While enquiries have been made to Waterways Ireland about a certain facility, I understand that it is not located within or close to Waterways Ireland's area of responsibility.
