Written Answers Nos. 61-80
61. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question 41 of 30 November 2023, the status of the feasibility study for light rail in Galway, which is being undertaken as part of the development of the Galway Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4381/24]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA), in conjunction with Galway City Council and Galway County Council, are currently updating and further developing the Galway Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (GMATS). The new Transport Strategy, which replaces the existing strategy adopted in 2016, will provide a long-term strategic planning framework for the delivery of transport and integrated development of transport infrastructure and services in the Galway Metropolitan Area.
Part of the development of the new GMATS requires mode specific analysis being undertaken, which includes a light rail feasibility study. This study is now at an advanced stage and near completion. In parallel, work is also nearing completion in the assessment of other transport modes, which will feed into the development of future transport options, and ultimately draft proposals for an integrated transport plan for the Galway Metropolitan Area.
The NTA now anticipates that the public consultation on the draft GMATS will commence in Quarter 2 of 2024. The overall transport strategy is expected to be finalised later this year, following review and consideration of the public consultation responses. This public consultation process will give stakeholders, including local groups, the opportunity to share their views on the draft GMATS and the results of the feasibility study of light rail in Galway.
Given the NTA's role in the review of the strategy, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for the latest available information in relation to when the NTA expects the feasibility study on light rail in Galway to be complete and when the public consultation on the draft GMATS is expected to begin. Please contact my office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
62. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Transport the total funding for local and regional roads in County Mayo; the breakdown of the details of the investment programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4592/24]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads 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 Councils' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority.
As regards the funding provided to Mayo County Council for the maintenance and upkeep of regional and local roads, details of the regional and local road grant allocations, and payments to local authorities are outlined in the regional and local road allocations and payments booklets which are available in the Oireachtas Library.
The tables included in the allocations and payments booklets outline expenditure by type of grant programme. For the Deputy's information an explanation of the purpose of the main Regional and Local Road Grant Programmes is set out below:
Restoration Maintenance (RM): The purpose of the RM grant is to protect the structural integrity of the road by way of surface dressing through the sealing of the road surface. The purpose of restoration maintenance is to maintain the asset before it requires improvement.
Restoration Improvement Grant (RI): The RI grant programme is the main road strengthening programme and caters for surface restoration, pavement overlay works, complete road rehabilitation works and for drainage works where required.
Discretionary Grant (DG): Councils have discretion in spending these grants for improvement and maintenance works subject to selecting from a list of eligible works. However Councils are requested to prioritise projects which involve strengthening works, remedying road defects, winter maintenance and drainage works.
Bridge Rehabilitation (BR): This programme allows local authorities to apply for monies to undertake bridge rehabilitation works.
Safety Improvement Works (BS): This programme allows local authorities to apply for monies to undertake safety improvement works.
Community Involvement Scheme (CIS): Facilitates community involvement in the repair and improvement of roads.
Drainage Programme (DR): The purpose of this grant is to promote network resilience.
Former National Roads (FN): The purpose of this grant is to provide assistance to local authorities specifically for the maintenance of former national roads.
Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience (CCAR): The purpose of this grant is to provide assistance to local authorities for road adaptation/resilience works which have become necessary due to the effects of climate change.
Specific Grant and Strategic Grants: The Department no longer seeks annual applications from local authorities in respect of the Specific and Strategic grant programmes. Instead it considers projects on a case by case basis taking into account the availability of funding and the outcome of project appraisals.
Grant allocations for 2024 will be notified to local authorities in the coming weeks.
63. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Transport what steps are taken to ensure local intra-city bus services are reliable; the checks made to ensure they conform to timetable; what remedial actions are taken to ensure a punctual and reliable service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4384/24]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
The performance of all public transport operators is monitored by the NTA as part of the contractual arrangements in place between it and the operators. These contractual arrangements allow for not just the monitoring of performance by the NTA and the publication by it of annual performance reports, but importantly, the contracts also allow for the imposition of penalties where performance does not meet the required standard, issues of poor reliability and punctuality performance can result in financial penalties for the operator.
In light of the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's request to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
64. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport if he will review the criteria for awarding taxi plates. [4597/24]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector, including SPSV licensing, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 and 2016. I have no role in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV industry.
The Deputy may be aware that the transfer of licences for SPSVs is prohibited under section 14(1) of the Taxi Regulation Act, 2013. All SPSV vehicle licences are unique to the person to whom the licence has been issued and cannot be transferred or sold to another person.
There is no cap on either vehicle or driver licence numbers in Ireland. The NTA is currently accepting licence applications for wheelchair accessible taxis, wheelchair accessible hackneys, limousines, and local area hackneys. I am informed that a vehicle is licensed to operate anywhere in the country.
SPSV Regulations permit a vehicle licence owner to rent out or lease the insured and licensed taxi, hackney or limousine to another person. The vehicle licence owner providing the rental package must be the registered owner of the vehicle (or be entitled to use it as an SPSV for a minimum period of 12 months), have the vehicle licensed in their name, and must provide the insurance on the vehicle. That is normally included in the rental fee to the licenced driver. This licence holder is the only party the NTA may engage with in respect of SPSV licensing activity. The NTA must be notified of the rental by the SPSV licence holder and must be provided with details of the period of the arrangement, the renter’s SPSV driver licence number and the vehicle registration number. A record of the vehicle licence associated with the rental agreement must also be maintained by the SPSV licence holder. As of January 18th 2024, 99 licence holders hold 10 or more licences, out of a total of 15,385 licence holders with active licences.
65. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport to outline how he intends to address the impact of the shortage of drivers on the delivery of bus services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4626/24]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport such as driver recruitment.
I understand that many operators in the transport sector have experienced difficulties in recruiting new drivers. These issues are found across all types of operators both public and private. The National Transport Authority (NTA) have been working with operators to try and mitigate the impacts including running recruitment campaigns.
The NTA is in regular contact with bus operators, who are making every attempt to recruit more drivers so that all services can run as scheduled. Several operators have undertaken extensive driver recruitment campaigns in recent months with staff levels beginning to improve gradually, and additional drivers expected to become available once their required training and tests are complete and licences are issued by the Road Safety Authority (RSA). The NTA has engaged with the RSA to expedite the testing and licence issue process for new bus drivers. In addition the Authority has undertaken a national advertising campaign to attract bus drivers to the industry.
Further, my Department engaged with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) in Q4 2022 in relation to work permits for bus drivers from non-EU and non-EEA Countries and the possible inclusion of bus drivers on the critical skills list due to the current driver shortages being experienced across the system. My Department engaged with all PSO operators, including Bus Éireann, and representatives from the commercial bus sector as part of this process.
As a result of this engagement, in December 2022 the Minister for DETE announced that changes had been made to the permit system to help ease the recruitment challenges being faced in the transport sector with the establishment of a quota of 1,500 employment permits for bus and coach drivers. These changes came into effect on the 16th of December 2022.
66. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the work plan for 2024 by his Department, in conjunction with other agencies, to improve road safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4580/24]
View answerThe Government’s Road Safety Strategy 2021–2030 has the target of reducing road deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030 and achieving Vision Zero by 2050.
The second annual review of the Road Safety Strategy took place in recent weeks, where road safety partners and agencies reviewed progress in the context of reversing the alarming trends in road fatalities. In addition to closing out Phase 1 of the strategy in 2024, I have prioritised certain actions for the coming year, including development of a national strategy for camera-based enforcement, addressing the multiple learner permit issue and extending and expanding road user education.
Following the publication of the Speed Limit Review last September, work has commenced on implementation of the recommendations with road safety partners, including Local Authorities. My officials are working on guidelines and legislation to give effect to these recommendations as soon as possible.
As part of implementing the Speed Limit Review, the Road Traffic Bill 2024 is expected to be enacted before the end of March. This a concise and focused piece of legislation introducing safer default speed limits on national secondary roads, rural roads and in built up areas, mandatory drug testing at the scene of serious traffic collisions and reforming the penalty points system so motorists receive multiple sets of penalty points where multiple offences are committed.
Options are also being considered for a campaign to encourage fleet owners to install alcohol interlock devices in their vehicles. Furthermore, and in response to the rising trend in fatalities through 2023, last October my Department conveyed sanction for the Road Safety Authority to spend additional funds on increased public awareness campaigns.
Road safety is a foremost priority for me. Everyone is entitled to use our roads and, importantly, to be safe on our roads.
67. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied that his Department and the bodies under its aegis are aware and in compliance with article 4(3) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4541/24]
View answerMy Department is aware of the obligations on Member States under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Our commitment is specifically referenced in the Department's Statement of Strategy 2023-2025.
The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Inclusion and Youth and the Minister of State for Disabilities have overarching responsibility for the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCPRD). I understand that the successor strategy to the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2022 is being finalised by that Department at the moment. My Department will comply with all guidance in relation to that strategy as well as the implementation of the UNCRPD in Ireland.
My Department engages with stakeholders in relation to responsibilities towards disabled people and persons with disabilities under the UNCRPD and in line with our Public Sector Duty.
As part of the Deputy’s question relates to bodies under the aegis of my Department, I have referred this question to the relevant agencies for direct reply.
If the Deputy does not receive a response within ten working days please contact my Private Office.
69. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport to provide further details on the increase in frequency and capacity for the red line Luas promised by the National Transport Authority, including when it will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4413/24]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally, and for decisions in relation to these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
The issues raised by the Deputy are operational matters for the NTA and Transdev. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct response. Please advise my private office if you do not receive replies within ten working days.
70. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the plan to resolve issues with bus services in Cork city. [4601/24]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
In light of the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's request to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
71. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline the mechanisms available to a resident in north Louth (details supplied) whose home has sustained over €50,000 worth of damage following three serious RTAs on the road in the past 12 months, including one fatal RTA, when Louth County Council is not minded to install a crash barrier or other traffic mitigation measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4579/24]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads 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 local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants, where applicable. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority.
The Department of Transport provides specific funding for safety improvement projects; applications for funding under this Scheme are invited on an annual basis for consideration for funding in the subsequent year. Councils are made aware of this and are asked to submit applications in order of priority. As Louth County Council is responsible for maintaining and improving its regional and local roads, it is the Council's responsibility to determine its priorities and work programme while taking account of the funding provided from grant allocations and from the Council's own resources.
Applications for Safety Improvement Schemes received from local authorities are currently being assessed taking into account competing projects and the available budget. Grant allocations for 2024 will be notified to local authorities in the coming weeks.
72. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on his Department’s efforts to facilitate the DART+ Coastal North; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4003/24]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including the DART+ Programme and its constituent projects, which includes DART+ Coastal North.
It was noted by Government in its approval of the Preliminary Business Case for the overall DART+ Programme in December 2021 that the various specific DART+ projects would require separate approvals in line with the Public Spending Code, as they are progressed. This includes the DART+ Coastal North project.
The first non-statutory consultation on DART+ Coastal North was held in Quarter 1 2022, with the second held in Quarter 2 2023. In line with the Infrastructure Guidelines, which have recently replaced the Public Spending Code, the Department of Transport has received the Preliminary Business Case for DART+ Coastal North and will shortly be submitting it to Government for approval.
Following Government approval a Railway Order application will be submitted to An Bord Pleanála for the DART+ Coastal North project. This is anticipated to occur in the second quarter of this year.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply on the specific issues raised. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
73. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the N17 road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4593/24]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you on the status of this project.
I can confirm that €400,000 has been allocated for the N17 Knock to Collooney scheme in 2023. As with all national roads projects in the NDP, the delivery programme for the project will be kept under review for 2024 and considered in terms of the overall funding envelope available to TII. The allocations for national roads for 2024 are expected to be announced in the near future.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct update as to the status of this project. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
74. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline the most recent progress on the implementation of the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4565/24]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
Within this policy framework, the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS) 2040 has been developed by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in collaboration with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Cork City Council and Cork County Council. A key principle for CMATS is to reduce dependency on the private car within the Cork commuter area, while increasing the appeal of sustainable transport options, such as Cork Area Commuter Rail and BusConnects Cork.
The Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme represents the largest investment in the rail network in Cork undertaken by the State. The programme comprises several separate but interrelated projects, the aim of which are to provide infrastructural improvements, a high frequency north-east connection through the city, full electrification, or alternative fuelling, of the suburban rail network, a multi-modal integrated transport hub for the city provided at Kent Station, along with new stations at prime regeneration sites and Park & Ride interchange points.
Work is already underway on this overall programme, with a Strategic Assessment Report, the first formal decision point under the Public Spending Code which was then in place, submitted by the NTA as the approving authority. This was approved by the Department of Transport in April 2023.
Phase 1 of the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme was included in Ireland’s National Recovery & Resilience Plan, as submitted to the European Commission in 2021. All works associated with Phase 1 will be completed by end-2026 as required by the European Commission. This will see a €185 million investment, €164m of which are EU funds, in Cork’s rail infrastructure, which will facilitate the longer-term electrification of the network, enabled by the construction of a new ‘through’ platform at Kent Station to create an integrated suburban network, re-signalling of the network, and double-tracking from Glounthaune to Midleton.
Following planning approval for the construction of this ‘through’ platform at Kent Station from Cork City Council in 2022, the construction contract was awarded in early 2023. Enabling works commenced on site in 2023 with construction expected to be completed this year.
A four-week non-statutory public consultation on the preferred option for double-tracking the current single line between Glounthaune and Midleton concluded in August 2022. The feedback received fed into the Railway Order application, which was submitted by Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) to An Bord Pleanála in November 2022. An Bord Pleanála granted a Railway Order to CIÉ for this work in October 2023. Procurement preparations have started following this approval and a contract award is expected later this year, prior to construction commencing.
In addition to the Kent Station and double-tracking works above, Iarnród Éireann awarded a contract to Alstom for a major signalling upgrade project on the Cork commuter rail network in June 2023. This signalling upgrade is required to increase the number of trains which can operate between Cork and Cobh, Midleton and Mallow.
BusConnects Cork is a transformative programme of investment in the existing bus system, providing better bus services to more people. The BusConnects Cork programme brings together all areas of bus investment identified in CMATS including enhanced and new bus infrastructure, investment in fleet and service enhancements such as higher frequency and new routes serving a wider catchment.
In conjunction with the NTA, Cork City Council, Cork County Council and Bus Éireann, specialist designers have carried out a review of the current bus services. This assisted the development of a new network of bus services for the Cork Metropolitan Area. Planning for the implementation of the new bus network has commenced and it is expected that the new network will be fully operational by the end of 2024. The draft network aims to provide an increase of over fifty percent in bus services across the city. It should provide a better overall network that will allow more people improved access to more places in faster times, whilst fully integrating with rail.
Another key component of the BusConnects Cork programme is the introduction of bus priority measures, generally bus lanes, on key bus corridors serving the city. Removing bus movements from general traffic congestion enables a greater degree of punctuality, reliability, and faster journeys. It is intended that these priority measures will facilitate both reliable and faster bus journeys thus providing increased confidence to users.
Public consultation in relation to 12 Sustainable Transport Corridors proposed by the NTA, which set out bus and cycle infrastructure along those key corridors, ran until October 2022 with close to 3,000 submissions received. Incorporating this feedback, the NTA reviewed and revised the scheme design, after which a further round of public consultation on the 11 Preferred Route Options was launched on 30th March and ran until 25th May 2023. The NTA received approximately 4,400 submissions as part of the second round of public consultation.
A third round of non-statutory public consultation on the 11 Sustainable Transport Corridors commenced in early November and ran until the 18th December.
The Cork Light Rail project seeks to provide a high capacity, high quality east west public transport corridor connecting Ballincollig in the west to Mahon Point in the east via the city centre as identified in CMATS.
An engineering design team has been appointed to undertake an alignment options study and identify the optimum alignment for the proposed light rail line. A public consultation on the emerging preferred route had been due to launch in June 2023 but, on foot of concerns from Cork City Council, this has been postponed to allow further consideration to the feasibility of different route alignments through Cork city centre.
Noting the NTA's role in relation to these issues, I have referred the Deputy's question to NTA for a more detailed response where appropriate. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
75. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport what action his Department is taking to progress the North Ring Road in Cork city; what level of funding will be allocated for 2024 in view of the large volume of traffic which is now forced to travel through Mayfield including traffic heading for the port facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4615/24]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you on the status of this project.
I can confirm that €100,000 has been allocated for the Cork City Northern Transport Project (formerly the Northern Ring Road) in 2023. As with all national roads projects in the NDP, the delivery programme for the project will be kept under review for 2024 and considered in terms of the overall funding envelope available to TII. The allocations for national roads for 2024 are expected to be announced in the near future.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply updating you as to the status of this project. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
77. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport his plans to develop Local Link services in counties Roscommon and Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4469/24]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. The NTA also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including TFI Local Link services and the rollout of services under the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities for TFI Local Link services in Counties Roscommon and Galway, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
78. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport if ongoing capacity issues with the No. 424 bus following the implementation of the new timetable have been brought to his attention; and if his Department is working with the National Transport Authority to address these issues. [4581/24]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
In light of the Authority's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's query to both the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
