Wednesday, 29 Jun 2016

Written Answers Nos. 199-209

Road Safety Strategy

Questions (199)

Joe Carey

Question:

199. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18600/16]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

While the Road Traffic Act 2004 sets default speed limits for national roads (both within and outside built up areas), local authorities, in this case Clare County Council, may, in consultation with the Garda Commissioner and with the consent of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), make bye-laws to set Special Speed Limits for such roads in their administrative areas.

Under section 9 of the Act, local authorities have the necessary statutory powers to provide for Special Speed Limits outside of schools if they deem such limits to be appropriate and necessary. A Special Speed Limit may also include a periodic speed limit which can be designed to apply and operate at specified periods, for example when children are arriving at, or leaving a school during term time.

To assist local authorities in the application of Special Speed Limits, my Department's Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland, published in March 2015, provides detailed guidance on the application of Special Speed Limits outside of schools and is available to all local authorities. These Guidelines reiterate that the making of Special Speed Limit bye-laws is a matter for the Elected Members of local authorities, subject to following Department Guidelines and to the consent of TII in the case of national roads.

Road Signage

Questions (200)

Robert Troy

Question:

200. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the policy of Transport Infrastructure Ireland for granting permission to erect signs on motorways that provide information on facilities available in towns bypassed, that is, brown signs; and why permission is granted in some cases for towns to put up these information signs but not in other cases. [18636/16]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual national roads, including issues relating to signage, are matters for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

Noting this, I have referred the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.

Road Improvement Schemes

Questions (201)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

201. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to set out the status of works and the expected finish date of the Coonagh to Knockalisheen road scheme, which was approved an allocation of €1.4 million in May 2014 and was expected to proceed to construction by the end of 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18652/16]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads within its area 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.

As regards the proposed Coonagh to Knockalisheen Road Scheme I understand that Limerick County Council intends to submit to the Department, in the near future, contract documents for the advance earthworks contract and certain other works. When these documents are received my officials will continue to liaise with officials from the Council in relation to the project, including in respect of the timescale for the implementation of this advance contract.

State Bodies Data

Questions (202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

202. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied that Sport Ireland acted in accordance with its legal advice when it withheld the existence of an additional 24 documents from the Information Commissioner during the processing of a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18667/16]

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

203. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline his views on whether it was proper for documents (details supplied) to be withheld from the Information Commissioner by Sport Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18668/16]

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

204. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied that the handling of a file (details supplied) by Sport Ireland was in the best interest of the taxpayer and lawful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18670/16]

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

205. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to set down the amount of taxpayers' money spent on correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18672/16]

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

206. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to set out the status regarding the procurement of legal advice (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18673/16]

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

207. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline his views regarding indemnity, refund or compensation sought by Sport Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18675/16]

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

208. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline his views on the conduct of Sport Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18676/16]

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

209. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline his views on a matter (details supplied) in relation to full confidence in the Judiciary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18677/16]

Written answers

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 202 to 209, inclusive, together.

I refer the Deputy to the replies given by my predecessor to various previous questions on this matter, most recently on 6 April 2016. As the Deputy has already been informed, the processing of the Freedom of Information request and the decision of the Information Commissioner mentioned by the Deputy are a matter for Sport Ireland. I have no role in the process.

As this is a matter for Sport Ireland, I have referred the Deputy's questions to Sport Ireland for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.