QUESTION
* To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the status of the extension of the DART to Balbriggan, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. - Darragh O'Brien T.D. For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 14 February, 2018. * To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the status of the DART interconnector and DART underground; and if he will make a statement on the matter. - Darragh O'Brien T.D. For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 14 February, 2018. REPLY As the Deputy is aware, the National Transport Authority's (NTA) "Transport Strategy for the GDA 2016-2035" proposes implementation of the overall DART Expansion Programme. The Government’s budgetary framework for capital investment, "Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021", funding was allocated to progress a number of key public transport projects in the NTA's strategy including the DART Expansion Programme. The DART Expansion Programme has a key role to play in delivering an efficient transport system. When fully implemented the enhancements to the heavy rail system provided for in the NTA's Transport Strategy, will create a full metropolitan area DART network for Dublin with all of the lines linked and connected. This integrated rail network will provide the core high capacity transit system for the region and will deliver a very substantial increase in peak-hour capacity on all lines from Drogheda, Maynooth, Celbridge/Hazelhatch and Greystones. The original cost of the overall DART Expansion Programme (including the DART Underground Tunnel element) was estimated at €4 billion, of which €3 billion was in respect of the tunnel as originally designed. The Government decided in September 2015 that the original proposal for the tunnel should be redesigned to provide a lower cost solution. The NTA has been working with Irish Rail on a revised proposal. In the meantime and enabled by significant investment to upgrade signalling and turn-back facilities in the critical city centre area, work was undertaken to upgrade and re-open the Phoenix Park Tunnel in late 2016. This was identified by the NTA as an opportunity in the short term, at modest cost, to bring commuters from the west and south west to the city centre and beyond, and to enable enhanced integration of public transport services for the passenger. Following the Mid-Term Review of Capital priorities, Budget 2018 increased the multi-annual capital investment funding envelopes for the coming four-year period, including providing an enhanced capital envelope of €2.7 billion for Ireland's public transport investment between 2018 and 2021. This enhanced capital envelope includes funding in the order of €230 million for mainline rail and DART capacity enhancement and will allow acceleration of the initial stages of the overall DART Expansion Programme, focussing particularly at this stage on providing additional fleet to enhance capacity, and extending the electrified DART system. Specifically, it will allow substantial progress on electrification of the Northern rail line as far as Balbriggan - now expected to be delivered in 2022 - and commencing work on the Maynooth line. Planning for longer term investment will form part of the National Development Plan which is the Government's overall 10-year investment plan which we will be launching later this week alongside the new National Planning Framework for the period to 2040. QUESTION
* To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport when public consultation will begin for the new metro north; and if he will make a statement on the matter. - Brendan Ryan T.D. For ORAL answer on Thursday, 15 February, 2018. * To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the status of the metro north project; and the expenditure to date on same. - Clare Daly T.D. For ORAL answer on Thursday, 15 February, 2018. * To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the status of the delivery of metro north; and if he will make a statement on the matter. - Darragh O'Brien T.D. For ORAL answer on Thursday, 15 February, 2018. REPLY The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsiblity for the development and implementation of public transport and sustainable transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) including new Metro North. Funding of over €700 million has been allocated under the Government’s present Capital Plan 2016-2021 for planning, design and beginning construction of new Metro North, with construction work planned to commence in 2021 and passenger services expected in 2027. The NTA, in collaboration with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), has been undertaking an option analysis and selection study of possible metro alignments and station locations. It is my understanding that the NTA and TII expect that this process will be completed shortly, after which a public consultation process will be undertaken on the Emerging Preferred Route (EPR). Arising from this work a final route and station location will be established. It is also expected that Preliminary Design will commence early this year. The 10 year capital plan which will published shortly will provide a funding commitment to complete this significant addition to public transport. To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the status of the construction of a second parallel runway at Dublin airport; his engagement with stakeholders in this regard; his plans to establish a competent authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY In accordance with the National Aviation Policy, the Government fully supports the building of a second runway at Dublin Airport and the development of the Airport as a hub airport with the necessary capacity to connect key existing and emerging global markets. The daa - which has statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop Dublin Airport - was granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanála in 2007 for a second runway. An extension of the duration of the planning permission was granted last year, for a further five years (to expire in August 2022). Preliminary works under the first phase of construction, including preparation of the site, realignment and building of new roads, fencing and landscaping were completed in late 2017. The procurement process for the main construction works on the runway itself is now underway and is expected to be completed by Q3 2018 with construction to commence thereafter. All pre-construction conditions attached to the 2007 planning permission were completed to the satisfaction of Fingal County Council prior to the commencement of preliminary works. This included the putting in place of a voluntary purchase scheme for dwellings, together with a property insulation scheme for homes and schools. The daa has also undertaken a range of other measures to communicate with all stakeholders, e.g. written communication, newsletters, public meetings, information sessions and one to one meetings where requested. I have also personally met with a number of residents' groups to hear their views and concerns and ensured that these concerns were passed on to daa. EU Regulation (598/2014) concerning Noise Related Operating Restrictions at EU Airports entered into effect on 13 June, 2016. The Regulation requires the appointment of a State body – independent of the airport company – to regulate airport noise at Dublin Airport in accordance with prescribed procedures for assessing and, where appropriate, ensuring the adoption of measures to mitigate noise impacts. To ensure full compliance with this Regulation, I, with the support of Government, intend to appoint Fingal County Council as the Competent Authority. The necessary statutory arrangements are a priority objective for my Department in 2018. I also intend to appoint An Bord Pleanála as the Appeals Body for purposes of the Regulation. It is my view that provisions of the Regulation – (including the appointment of an independent regulator, a detailed and technical assessment of airport noise, the application of international best practice noise management measures, a provision for public consultation and an independent appeals process) – represent a huge improvement on current arrangements and that full implementation is in the broad national interest and in the best interests of residents and Dublin Airport. To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the expenditure on metro north since 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. REPLY As the Deputy is aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) including the development of a metro scheme. I am advised by the NTA that the expenditure on Metro North from 2005 up to the end of January 2018 is approximately €170 million. As the Deputy may be aware, following consideration of the Fingal/North Dublin Transport Study and the recommendations of the National Transport Authority (NTA) arising from this study, the Government decided in 2015 that an optimised metro rail link as set out in the study is the long term public transport solution on the Airport/Swords corridor. In addition, the Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to proceed with the metro scheme. The recently published Project Ireland 2040 now proposes to take forward a Metro Link scheme to run from Swords, via Dublin Airport to Dublin’s south city centre (operating in tunnel under the city centre) and onwards to Sandyford using the existing Luas Green Line to ensure that growth along this corridor can be accommodated. This will provide Dublin with a high capacity, high-frequency cross-city rail corridor serving critical destinations such as Swords, Dublin Airport, Dublin City University, Ballymun, the Mater Hospital and existing destinations along the Luas Green Line to Sandyford. Metro Link will provide faster reliable journey times to and from these key destinations while offering interchange with other rail, DART Expansion, light rail and bus services. The next steps are that the details of the Metro Link scheme (Swords to Sandyford) will put out to public consultation in the coming weeks, with construction expected to commence in 2021 with a view to delivering the project by 2027. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the countries or states within countries with which Ireland has a reciprocal exchange of driving licences agreements, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. REPLY This information is already in the public domain and may be found on the website of the National Driver Licensing Service. Besides all of our fellow EU Member States, the countries with which we have bilateral agreements on exchange are - Australia Gibraltar Guernsey Isle Of Man Japan Jersey South Africa South Korea Switzerland New Zealand Taiwan Ontario Province of Canada Manitoba Province of Canada Newfoundland & Labrador Province of Canada British Columbia Province of Canada To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new site for a school (details supplied) as announced in November 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) Gaeilscoil Ros Eo, Rush, Co Dublin
REPLY As the Deputy is aware, a project to provide permanent accommodation for the school in question is included on my Department's Capital Programme. Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in the relevant local authority in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the acquisition of a suitable site for this school. Discussions with relevant parties regarding the potential acquisition of a preferred site option are currently in progress with a view to advancing matters as expeditiously as possible. I can assure the Deputy that my Department is in communication with the school patron and representatives to keep them appraised of progress and they will be informed of the proposed location as soon as it is possible to do so. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the next phase of the school building for a school (details supplied) will commence; the status of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) Lusk Community College, Lusk, Co. Dublin REPLY I am pleased to inform the Deputy that construction of the second phase of the school building project in question commenced in January 2018 and subject to no issues arising the project should take approximately 18 months to complete, progress on a new school building project for St. Joseph's Secondary School, Rush, Co Dublin.8/3/2018
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding progress on a new school building project for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) St. Joseph's Secondary School, Rush, Co Dublin.
REPLY As the Deputy is aware the building project for the school in question is included on my Department's capital programme. A new school site is required to accommodate this project and officials in my Department have been in contact with the school patron and trustees in relation to the site acquisition. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new site for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) Hedgestown National School, Balbriggan REPLY The lands at Hedgestown National school, as referred to by the Deputy, were purchased by the St Laurence O'Toole Diocesan Trust, on behalf of the Board of Management. An initial site adjacent to the school, was procured from Fingal County Council and transferred ownership on 1st June 2017. The second site was purchased from a private vendor and ownership transferred on 18th October 2017. My Department received copies of the deeds of transfer in November 2017. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a permanent site for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) Malahide/Portmarnock Educate Together National School REPLY As the Deputy is aware, the project to provide permanent accommodation for the school in question is included on my Department's Capital Programme. Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in the relevant local authority in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable site for this school and the process is ongoing. My Department is in contact with the school patron to appraise them of progress in this regard. |
PQs
All Parlamientary Questions I make and their answers can be viewed in this section Archives
January 2020
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