Written Answers Nos. 441-460
441. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for the inability to renew a learner permit in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28662/18]
View answerThe operation of the National Driver Licensing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and I have no power to intervene in operational matters. I have therefore referred the Question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
442. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his departmental officials have had meetings with or made representations to relevant EU officials and bodies regarding an early review of Ireland's TEN-T infrastructure in view of the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28701/18]
View answerMy officials have met and are liaising with the European Commission in relation to the TEN-T network in the context of Brexit and have raised Ireland’s concerns about the implications for connectivity and trade should the UK no longer be part of the TEN-T network.
Last month I also met with Professor Peter Balazs, the EU Coordinator for the North Sea Mediterranean Corridor, and Mr Brian Simpson, the EU Coordinator for Motorways of the Sea, at which I again raised our concerns about the impact of Brexit on Ireland’s connectivity and peripherality.
Earlier this month, the European Commission published its proposal for a new Regulation for the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), the funding instrument for TEN-T, to come into effect from 1 January 2021. At the request of my Department, the Annex to the draft proposal provides for an extension of the Core Belfast – Dublin - Cork TEN-T Corridor to include the port of Shannon Foynes and also, on cross-border sections of the comprehensive network, to include sections of the cross-border Dublin – Strabane – Letterkenny comprehensive road.
My Department is also committed to making a more detailed submission to the European Commission in respect of the TEN-T network, taking account of the implications of Brexit, the current National Development Plan and National Planning Framework.
443. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if additional funding for ports to upgrade their physical infrastructure to cope with the impacts of Brexit will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28702/18]
View answerPorts operate as independent commercial companies and fund their own capital development programmes.
Exchequer funding is not provided to ports for infrastructural development under National Ports policy.
Ports are examining the potential implications of Brexit and are currently working with the key state agencies, Revenue, Customs and Agriculture, to prepare for the potential implications of Brexit. In addition, shipping companies (which are market driven) are making provision for larger vessels with extra capacity on direct routes to Europe.
The UK’s exit from the EU in 2019 highlights the importance of high quality international maritime connectivity and the importance of continuing investment to further improve the quality of port facilities.
Dublin, Cork and Shannon Foynes are currently undertaking major capital infrastructure programmes. These programmes will enhance national and international connectivity, and provide for future increases in trade and national port capacity requirements by facilitating more vessels, larger sized vessels and increased tonnage and throughput.
Strengthening access routes to Ireland’s ports through investment to upgrade and enhance the road transport network is, and remains, a Government priority. Examples of such investments include the ongoing development of the M11, to improve connectivity to Rosslare in the southeast; the planned N28 Cork to Ringaskiddy Road, to improve access to the Port of Cork; and the N21/N69 Limerick to Adare to Foynes Road, to improve access to Shannon Foynes Port.
As the Deputy is aware under Project 2040 some €4.8 billion will be invested by our State airports and ports, and separately, €6.6 billion will be invested in national roads.
444. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of operators in the haulage sector; and the number of these operators that have AEO status. [28703/18]
View answerThere are currently 3,885 licensed road haulage operators, 2,450 of whom hold a Community licence allowing them to operate in and between EU Member States. Revenue is the organisation responsible for authorising AEO status and I am informed by Revenue that of the 146 economic operators in Ireland who currently hold AEO status, 64 are engaged in freight forwarding, transport and related businesses.
445. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if officials from his Department have met with or made representations to the relevant EU and UK officials to ensure that the United Kingdom recognises the legal requirements such as the AEO qualification for Irish hauliers transiting through the UK following its decision to leave the EU. [28705/18]
View answerMy Department has been in ongoing contact with the European Commission in relation to the implications for Ireland arising from Brexit and in preparations for various potential scenarios. The negotiations on the future relationship between the EU and the UK are being led by the Task Force under Michel Barnier and are not being conducted on a bilateral basis between Ireland and the UK. The matter raised by the Deputy, mutual recognition for legal requirements such as AEO qualifications, will no doubt form part of the EU/UK negotiations on the future relationship. I have no function, as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for AEO qualifications. These are a matter for my colleague the Minister for Finance and the Revenue Commissioners.
446. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if support or funding is being provided to Irish exporters and hauliers seeking to acquire AEO status. [28706/18]
View answerRevenue is the organisation responsible for authorising AEO status and I am informed by them that no fee is charged for processing AEO applications. Any further aid to firms would, of course, be contrary to the principles of the European Union single market, which prohibit State aids except in the most limited of circumstances. Meanwhile, my Department continues to support the interests of the Irish road transport industry as a whole and has regular and ongoing contact with representative groups from the sector.
447. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the national ports policy states that competition between ports here should be a key policy goal in view of the fact that certain ports have selective access to financing under the TEN-T programme whereas others do not. [28707/18]
View answerAs an island nation it is imperative that we have strong competitive ports to trade globally. Our commercial ports, however, differ greatly in size, capability and future potential. The long-term international trend in ports and shipping is toward increased consolidation of resources in order to achieve optimum efficiencies of scale. Therefore the core objective of National Ports Policy (NPP) is to facilitate a competitive and effective market for maritime transport services. National Ports Policy introduces a clear categorisation of the ports based on tonnage and the clear potential to provide future port capacity.
It is already evident that larger vessels requiring greater depths are becoming the norm, necessitating greater investment in ports. There is no Exchequer funding available for infrastructural development but the Ports of National Significance (Tier 1) are required to lead the response to future national port capacity requirements, as the development of large scale port infrastructure requires significant organizational, operational and financial resources. There is also a role in this regard for the Ports of National Significance (Tier 2) to develop additional capacity to aid competitive conditions, within the unitised sectors in particular.
National Ports Policy provides that the Ports of Regional Significance retain important roles as facilitators of their regional economies and, in some instances, as centres of marine-related amenity and tourism activities.
Similarly at a European level the planning, development and operation of trans-European transport networks (TEN-T) contribute to the attainment of major EU objectives, including contributing to further economic growth and competitiveness in a global perspective as set out in the Europe 2020 Strategy and the Commission White Paper entitled "Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system" ("the White Paper"). TEN-T aims to develop a Europe-wide network of roads, railway lines, inland waterways, maritime shipping routes, ports, airports and rail-road terminals in a resource-efficient and sustainable way.
The Tier 1 and Tier 2 Ports of National Significance are currently included on the TEN-T network, as they meet the necessary criteria under Regulation (EU) 1315/2013. The criteria to qualify for inclusion as a TEN-T Port are outlined in Article 20(2) of EU Regulation No. 1315/2013. These criteria were set at a European level.
448. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the process to transfer ownership and management of tier 3 ports to the local authority concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28708/18]
View answerNational Ports Policy, published in March 2013, provides that the five designated Ports of Regional Significance, Drogheda, Dún Laoghaire, Galway, New Ross and Wicklow, will be transferred to more appropriate local authority-led governance structures. These five ports retain important roles as facilitators of their regional economies and, in some instances, as centres of marine-related amenity and tourism activities. However, the scale and nature of these activities are not such as to warrant continued central Government involvement.
The Harbours Act 2015 provides the necessary legislative framework to allow for the transfer of the Ports of Regional Significance to local authority control. The local authorities concerned have commenced a due diligence process with the ports due to be transferred.
Two ports have already transferred to local authority control. The first of these was Wicklow Port Company which was transferred directly under the control of Wicklow County Council on 30 August 2016. On that date, the company was dissolved and its assets, liabilities and employees were transferred into the Council. The transfer of Drogheda Port Company to Louth County Council took place on 2 October 2017 and involved a transfer of shareholding retaining the limited company structure.
Work on the transfers of the three remaining ports is progressing well. My Department continues to liaise with the local authorities and ports with regard to the transfer process and the model of transfer.
449. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether it is appropriate and effective for the CIÉ group to manage Rosslare Europort. [28709/18]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that Rosslare Europort is unique among the State-owned ports as it is not a stand-alone commercial company operating under the Harbours Acts, but is instead operated as a division of Iarnród Éireann.
The status of the port, and whether its current status potentially inhibits its development, was most recently considered in a strategic review, commissioned by my Department, and carried out by Indecon Economic Consultants.
That report concluded that the creation of an independent port authority would be extremely difficult, given the Port's complex legal structure. Instead, it was recommended that the port remain in public ownership and that the possibilities for increased private sector involvement be investigated.
In order to assist Iarnród Éireann's overall consideration of how best to move forward, the company then engaged consultants to assess market interest. The assessment was largely positive in terms of the potential for increased private sector investment in the port; however, it did identify possible implementation issues due to the complicated legislative basis of the port.
Following that assessment, my Department sought and received detailed advice from the Office of the Attorney General on the matter. That advice identified a number of legal issues with any such proposal and those issues remain under consideration by my Department.
Iarnród Éireann, which operates Rosslare Europort, is itself a subsidiary of CIÉ. Iarnród Éireann manages the port as one of its divisions. Rosslare Europort operates profitably and generated revenue of €10.6 million in 2017.
The Deputy may also be interested to know that Iarnród Éireann has advised that it has completed a commercial review of Rosslare Europort and will now prepare a business plan, to include consideration of the implications of Brexit for the port.
In addition, the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO), in conjunction with my Department, has been undertaking a study into the use of the UK landbridge by Irish importers and exporters.
The purpose of this research is to establish the volume of traffic using the UK landbridge at present, the likely consequences that Brexit will have on landbridge usage and the various alternative options that may be viable.
This piece of research is being finalised, is expected to be completed shortly and should inform the potential for the future utilisation of all ports, including Rosslare Europort.
Finally, I would add that I recently visited Rosslare Europort at the invitation of Minister of State Paul Kehoe and was briefed by the Europort’s management on the port’s commercial position.
This was a particularly valuable opportunity for me as Minister to witness the central role that Rosslare Europort plays within the economy of Wexford, and indeed the wider south-east, and to see at first hand its potential in terms of future development as a vital part of our country’s trading infrastructure. I am satisfied that Rosslare Europort, as a division of Iarnród Éireann, is effectively managing operations at the port and looking to the potential of the port to develop further and take advantage of any new opportunities.
450. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to advance the Atlantic economic corridor project in terms of upgrading the roads, rail and ports infrastructure along the corridor. [28710/18]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, both the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the National Development Plan (NDP) recognise the importance of the Atlantic Economic Corridor.
Under NPF, enhanced regional accessibility is listed as a National Strategic Outcome and supported within the NDP by investments planned in our national roads and inter-urban rail network. In addition the Corridor will also benefit from investments planned under other National Strategic Outcomes such as 'Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities' and 'High-Quality International Connectivity'.
A number of these investments fall within the remit of my Department and its agencies as detailed below -
Roads
The Atlantic Corridor roads project is based on National roads. The planning, design and implementation of individual national road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Noting this, I have referred this aspect of the Deputy’s question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
Rail
Building on the recommendations in the recent Public Investment Management Assessment study and the findings set out in the Rail Review 2016, a continuing key priority for investment in transport under the NDP is to protect the quality of and the investment already made in the existing national rail system, by funding projects that support and maintain safety and service levels in railway operations.
It is also a core priority under the NPF to enhance and upgrade accessibility between urban centres of population and their regions, in parallel with the initiation of compact growth of urban centres. Similarly, a major objective under the NDP, is to make substantial progress in linking our regions and urban areas not just to Dublin but to each other. The NDP also recognises that over the period of the Plan it will be very important to examine the role inter-urban rail network can play in enhancing regional connectivity.
As the Deputy is aware both the ‘Programme for a Partnership Government’ and the NDP commit to an independent review of the costings for a proposal to extend the existing Western Rail Corridor beyond Athenry in County Galway. In this regard my Department is currently at an advanced stage in developing an approach for progressing such a review in line with these commitments, and I expect to be in a position shortly to decide on the approach to be taken. I am cognisant of the need for stakeholder consultation as part of the process and can assure the Deputy that this will be an integral part of the review's arrangements.
Ports
Shannon Foynes Port Company’s Infrastructure Development Programme as outlined in their Master Plan Vision 2041 is well underway. Shannon Foynes Port Company will be investing €27m in the development. The development will be funded through the Company’s own resources, loan financing and EU grant funding.
451. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the annual expenditure on commercial archaeology services in his Department by provider in each of the years 2013 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28754/18]
View answerInformation relating to all expenditure by my Department on external services is available on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/expenditure-external-services.
The information is updated twice yearly. The first six months of 2018 will be published later in the year.
452. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether the designated hours for cycle lanes across Dublin should be extended; the action he will take in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28768/18]
View answer453. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether cycle lanes should be dedicated exclusively to cyclists on Sundays in view of the fact that cycle lanes have designated hours from Monday to Saturday across Dublin city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28769/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 452 and 453 together.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport 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, including the designated hours for cycle lanes.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the development and implementation of public transport and sustainable transport infrastructure in Ireland. Once the cycle lane has been completed, the maintenance of cycle lanes and the responsibility for designated cycle lane hours is a matter entirely for the Local Authority.
454. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on measures to ban the policies of airlines in which staff earn commission for the sale of alcohol on commercial flights; his further views on whether the incentivising of the sale of alcohol on such a basis could create safety concerns for passengers and staff on commercial flights; if he will engage with his counterparts at EU level to bring forward proposals to address the use of such practices by commercial airlines in European airspace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28771/18]
View answerThere are stringent EU rules and regulations governing aviation safety, which in Ireland are administered by the Irish Aviation Authority. These rules - which have only very recently been subject to a comprehensive review involving the EU Commission, Member States and the European Parliament - do not include restrictions on the sale of alcohol to passengers, and there are no current plans to do so.
Commercial airlines must apply for a licence for each aircraft to sell alcohol on-board. Such licences are issued by the Revenue Commissioners under the provisions of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1943. It is a matter for commercial airlines to deal with any issues that arise on flights relating to the consumption of alcohol.
The remuneration packages of airline staff and the configuration of these packages is an employment matter, and not an aviation safety matter.
455. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions he plans to take to ensure DART drivers remain safe while working; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28773/18]
View answer456. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures he will take to provide additional security to DART services to protect drivers and passengers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28774/18]
View answer457. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions he will take to accommodate travellers on DART services should services be curtailed due to safety issues on services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28775/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 455 to 457, inclusive, together.
As the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, 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.
I am concerned, however, to ensure that the necessary arrangements are in place to ensure the safety and security of passengers and staff travelling and working on our rail network.
There were 45.5 million passenger journeys in 2017 on Iarnród Éireann, the vast majority of which occurred without incident.
However, I have been advised by the company that the number of recorded anti-social incidents has risen in the last number of years. In 2016, 492 incidents were recorded, of which 12 were assaults on staff. In 2017, 705 incidents were recorded, of which 15 were assaults on staff. To date this year, 305 incidents have been recorded, of which 5 were assaults on staff.
The safety and security of passengers and staff including arrangements to deal with anti-social behaviour on the DART is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in conjunction with, as appropriate, An Garda Síochána. Iarnród Éireann has advised that it liaises on a minimum quarterly basis with An Garda Síochána in major districts to address trends and issues on an area basis. In addition, this allows for proactive planning for events and known recurring issues.
Security patrols by the company have increased by 21.8% since 2016 and Iarnród Éireann has advised that it has enhanced general security cover and provides for enhanced security patrols for major events.
Furthermore, in view of concerns raised by trades unions regarding security on certain routes in Dublin, Iarnród Éireann has committed to a number of immediate and short-term measures to maintain a safe travelling environment for customers and staff and to ensure service continuity. Any curtailment of DART services would be a matter for the company in conjunction with the National Transport Authority.
I would also like to advise that my Department has written to the CEO of Iarnród Éireann and the Chairman of the Railway Safety Advisory Council to seek their views on the adequacy of the current arrangements for combatting anti-social behaviour on our rail network. I have also asked my Department to engage with the CEO’s of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann to seek their views on the adequacy of the current arrangements for combatting anti-social behaviour on our buses. When I have received and considered their responses, I intend to engage with my colleague, the Minister for Justice, and An Garda Síochána about ensuring the safety of all passengers and staff on our public transport systems.
458. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the expected waiting times and number of those waiting for a practical driver test by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28822/18]
View answer459. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the expected waiting times and number of those waiting for a practical driver test in County Leitrim at the Carrick-on-Shannon test centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28823/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 458 and 459 together.
The current average wait times for all test centres is available on the Road Safety Authority website at www.rsa.ie. This information is updated weekly. The Authority can provide the number of applicants waiting, and I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
460. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 208 of 1 May 2018, if he will provide the methodology of his Department's report, The Cost of Congestion - An Analysis in the Greater Dublin Area; if criteria of pollution and accident rates were factored into the criteria that were analysed; his plans to commission similar reports for Galway, Cork and Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28847/18]
View answerIn 2017 my Department published the The Costs of Congestion - An Analysis of the Greater Dublin Area. The methodology for how these costs were estimated is described in detail in Appendix B of that report, which is available on my Department's website. For ease of reference, I include a link here:
http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/publications/english/cost-congestion-appendix-b-methodology.
The report focuses specifically on the direct impact, in terms of the monetary cost of increased travel time, on road users in the GDA. It does not, therefore, estimate the impacts of congestion on pollution or collision rates. However, as referenced in the report, the cost of congestion study carried out by New Zealand Transport Authority estimated that the value of time impact accounted for 92.5% of the total cost, which included emissions and environmental costs, vehicle operating costs and indirect costs such as schedule delay costs.
Using this rule of thumb, the 2013 costs of congestion would rise from €358m to €387m, and the 2033 costs would rise from €2.08bn to €2.25bn. It is worth noting that this would still not account for collision rates.
There isn't definitive evidence on the impact of congestion on collision rates. On the one hand, increased traffic can lead to increased numbers of incidents. but, conversely, congestion reduces speeds which can reduce the likelihood and severity of collisions.
In 2015 my Department published the Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport, which identified addressing urban congestion as one of three key priorities for future investment. The cost of congestion report is a valuable piece of evidence on the extent of the problem in one city region, and it is planned to extend this analysis to Ireland's other cities, in collaboration with the National Transport Authority and its regional modelling system.
