Written Answers Nos. 175-194
175. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the upgrade of the Kildare line will result in extending DART services to Hazelhatch or opening Kishogue train station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18605/20]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, 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 the DART+ Programme (until recently known as DART Expansion) which includes the development of the Kildare Line.
DART+ is a multi-billion euro programme to upgrade rail services in the Greater Dublin Area and will effectively double the capacity of the network as compared to today. The programme will see DART level services and infrastructure extended to Drogheda on the Northern Line, Maynooth and M3 Parkway on the Maynooth/Dunboyne Line and Hazelhatch on the Kildare Line.
The issue of opening Kishogue station is separate to the broader DART+ programme.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
176. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to correspondence issued by this Deputy on 29 June 2020 regarding the decision made by Dublin Bus to cancel provision of school transport services to a school (details supplied), the reason for the decision; if he has raised the matter with Dublin Bus; if he has raised the issue with the Minister for Education and Skills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18613/20]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
The School Transport Scheme comes under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills. Bus services outside of that scheme are part of the overall public transport sector. Day-to-day management and operational aspects of public transport are the responsibility of the individual operators, in this case Dublin Bus, in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA). I have not raised this issue with Dublin Bus or the Minister for Education and Skills.
Accordingly, I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to Dublin Bus for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
177. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider reform of the monitoring and policing of bus and cycle lanes, in line with recommendations of the National Transport Agency; if there are plans under consideration to enact legislative change in this area including adopting a camera based automated monitoring and enforcement model for the policing of bus and cycle lanes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18649/20]
View answerThe success of bus and bicycle priority measures is an essential component in people moving from cars to more sustainable modes of transport, thereby reducing emissions and congestion. It is therefore necessary to ensure that we have the best possible system for enforcement of the rules on both bus corridors and cycle tracks, particularly in the context of BusConnects.
Officials in my Department are currently engaging with the National Transport Authority and other stakeholders to see how this can best be achieved.
178. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has engaged with Sport Ireland and or the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding the appointment of the Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to a position within an organisation (details supplied); if so, the nature of the engagements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18650/20]
View answerThe appointment of independent directors to the board of the association mentioned by the Deputy is a matter for the association itself.
A Nominations Committee was formed by the association to appoint independent directors to its board in line with one of the key recommendations of the Governance Review Group report. Sport Ireland was invited by the association to nominate two independent persons to this committee and a recruitment company was appointed by the association to assist with the selection of independent directors.
Neither the Minister for Media, Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and the Gaeltacht Catherine Martin TD, the Minister of State with responsibility for Sport and the Gaeltacht Jack Chambers TD nor their officials had any role in the appointment of the Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform by the association as one of its independent directors nor did they engage with Sport Ireland or the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding the appointment.
179. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has reviewed the memorandum of understanding between her Department and an association (details supplied) in respect of organisational reform and restructuring in order to secure State funding; if he or his predecessor received contact and or correspondence requesting that the memorandum of understanding be amended or reviewed; the nature of the amendments requested and the persons that made them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18651/20]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that during a meeting with Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport officials in June, the President of the association requested that the commitments in the MOU be reviewed. There was a specific request for a review of the commitment relating to the appointment of six independent directors to the board of the association.
Following consultation with the then Ministers, the Department provided a clear and unambiguous response to the association that the relevant rule changes committed to by the association are required to be implemented by the timelines agreed and stated in the MOU. The Department also informed the association that the process to recruit the additional independent directors must be initiated immediately after the date of rule change, and successfully concluded within 16 weeks of that date.
The Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht Catherine Martin and the Minister of State with responsibility for Sport Jack Chambers met with the Board of the association mentioned by the Deputy on 27 July to confirm that they would not reopen for discussion any part of the MOU agreed by the previous Government. This followed a letter by Minister Martin and then Minister of State Dara Calleary confirming that the conditions for governance reform were essential to rebuild public trust and to enable the disbursement of the funding package set out in the MOU. The Ministers affirmed that no funding would be disbursed by the Department or Sport Ireland to the association until progress was made on key outstanding issues in the memorandum of understanding. The Ministers called on the Board to show leadership to deliver the necessary changes at an extraordinary general meeting convened as early as possible. The Ministers also confirmed their support for Sport Ireland to liaise with the association and verify implementation of the governance and financial control requirements as agreed in January.
180. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 251 of 14 July 2020, the reason it has been necessary to resume driver test centres on a gradual basis; the reason all centres could not have been re-opened in view of the essential nature of the service; when driver tests and driver theory tests will resume in Clonmel, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18656/20]
View answerOn Monday 29 June, driving tests resumed on a gradual basis for trucks, buses and motorcycles.
Driving tests for cars, vans, and minibuses resumed on a gradual basis from 16 July with essential workers and those who had appointments cancelled due to Covid 19 being prioritised in the first instance. The phased resumption plan being put in place is to protect both the public and staff and will also enable the RSA to review practices and adapt any mitigating measures. It takes account of the layouts of different centres, which require differing levels of adaptation to meet the public health requirements, as well as the need to have sufficiently trained and available staff in each centre. It is planned that all driver test centres will be reopen by £ August. Driver theory tests have resumed in Clonmel but contact should be made directly with the centre to confirm local opening hours.
The safety of the public is of paramount importance at this time and my Department will be guided by NPHET and national experts.
181. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties being encountered by those with driver licences due to expire, to obtain an appointment to renew their licence due to the number of persons trying to obtain appointments as a result of the extension to their licences up to July 2020; the measures in place to ensure that persons that cannot obtain an appointment in a timely manner will have their licence extended in view of the fact they cannot drive while waiting for an appointment in cases where the appointment date is later than the expiry date; if the matter will receive urgent attention to ensure that those with expired or expiring licenses are given priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18657/20]
View answerA person renewing a driving licence or learner permit, that is under 70 years of age and does not have a truck or bus category on their licence, may be able to apply online. An applicant must be the holder of a Public Services Card (PSC) and a verified MyGovID account to make an application online. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is continuing work to expand the online facility to accommodate all driving licence and learner permit application types.
As you can appreciate Covid 19 has had a profound effect on the delivery of services. The National Driving Licence Service (NDLS) is operating at around 60% of its pre-Covid capacity to ensure that it complies with occupational and public health requirements. In the normal way this would lead to longer waiting times-however a number of measures are being considered to deliver extra capacity.
The NDLS offices are unable to facilitate walk-ins due to social distancing requirements and in the interests of protecting staff and customers. Therefore, all appointments must be booked in advance. This has led to an increase in demand for appointments.
The Road Safety Authority is currently working with their providers to see how they can increase capacity while adhering to the return to work safely protocol. Options under consideration include extended opening hours, overtime and protective segregation barriers between booths. Some applicants may be able to apply online or by post.
Any queries in relation to driving licences or urgent cases can be addressed to the NDLS Customer Srvice at 0761087880 or by emailing info@ndls.ie
182. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason no additional resources have been put in place to reduce the back log of persons waiting for driver tests in County Longford. [18685/20]
View answerThis is an operational matter for the Road Safety Authority.
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.
183. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of driver tests carried out at the Longford test centre in each of the years 2017 to 2019, in tabular form. [18687/20]
View answerThe operation of the Driver Testing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and the information requested is held by them.
I have 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.’
184. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding in place to support sporting organisations in implementing Covid-19 safety regulations. [18705/20]
View answer185. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the supports in place for sporting organisations in which their running costs remain the same but have lost income as a result of reduced fundraising opportunities and loss of script, membership and affiliation fees. [18706/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 185 together.
A funding package of up to €70 million was announced on Friday 19th June to support the sport sector, which has been significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The funding package will be administered by Sport Ireland, which is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport.
This funding package includes;
- Funding of up to €40m for the three main field sports organisations – the FAI, the GAA and the IRFU.
- a Resilience Fund of up to €10m to support the National Governing Bodies of Sport,
- a Sports Club Resilience Fund of up to €15m to support clubs, and
- a Sports Restart and Renewal Fund of up to €5m.
The funding will be administered by Sport Ireland and will be invested through new grant schemes with Sport Ireland’s recognised funding partners, i.e. National Governing Bodies of Sport, Local Sports Partnerships and other funded sporting organisations.
Sport Ireland issued application forms for assistance under the grant schemes direct to funded bodies on Monday 27 July and will host a meeting with funded bodies on Tuesday 28 July to outline the process.
In addition, as part of the Jobs Stimulus announced by the Government last week, under the revised Restart Grant Scheme, rateable sports, leisure and fitness facilities will be eligible for a grant payment of €4,000. Further details of this scheme will be published in the coming days.
In addition, my colleague Minister Martin has announced a special fund of €2.5million to support the reopening of publicly accessible swimming pools, in recognition of the particular challenges pool operators in reopening to the public. This funding will be administered by Sport Ireland and full details of the grant scheme will be announced shortly.
186. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a person (details supplied) will be facilitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18708/20]
View answerThe operation of the Driver Testing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority.
I have therefore referred the Question to the Authority for direct reply to this individual’s case. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
187. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to carry out a nationwide review of the full potential of rail services on Iarnród Éireann rail lines with a particular emphasis in the review on the potential reduction of emissions by the full utilisation of the lines and the diversion of commuters and intercity passengers from more carbon intensive forms of transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18752/20]
View answerThe Deputy rightly differentiates between commuter rail services and intercity rail services and his differentiation is reflected in the manner in which the issue is currently being considered.
In terms of commuter rail services, each of the cities has, or will soon have, metropolitan area transport strategies. This move toward evidence-based, plan-led strategic infrastructure development is in line with international best practice and allows for better integration of transport planning and land-use planning. Development of these transport strategies allows for full consideration of the potential for rail services in each metropolitan area and currently both the Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area and the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy have extensive proposals for rail infrastructure improvements, while the Galway Transport Strategy calls for an increased frequency of rail services. I understand a draft Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy will be published in August for public consultation while work has commenced on a Waterford Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy.
In relation to intercity services, I can inform the Deputy that my Department is about to launch a significant procurement process in relation to a review of high-/higher-speed rail along the Belfast-Dublin-Cork/Limerick line, including how that line would interact with the broader network. This will be the most significant Departmental-led review of the intercity network since the Strategic Rail Review on 2003 and I very much look forward to is commencement in due course.
188. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of driver theory tests scheduled, passed and failed by category and by quarter in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [18833/20]
View answerThe operation of the Driver Theory Testing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and the information requested is held by them.
I have 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.’
189. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is a system by which a person that has amassed driver lessons or training hours in another country within the EU or France can have that time transferred to essential driver training hours here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18852/20]
View answerThe Essential Driver Training (EDT) sessions (the mandatory lessons required before an individual can sit a driving test in Ireland) are specified in Irish legislation and are a national rather than an EU matter. There is no reciprocity with other countries for driving lessons undertaken abroad, which reflects the unique characteristics of the road traffic laws in Ireland and indeed every country. Therefore, driving lessons carried out in another country will not fulfil the mandatory requirements necessary to sit an Irish driving test.
190. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider adjusting the motor tax system to allow customers pay quarterly online at the same rate as an annual payment in view of the impact of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18861/20]
View answerMotor tax is payable on an annual, half-yearly or quarterly basis. The rates applicable to the half-yearly and quarterly options are 55.5% and 28.25% of the annual charge, respectively. These relativities have remained generally consistent since the 1960's.
The loss of income that would arise from changing these arrangements would have a negative impact on the total collected via motor tax and would have to be borne elsewhere in the motor tax system or through the taxation system generally. The loss to the Exchequer arising from the elimination of the additional charge for these options has been estimated at just under €45.7m, based on the volume of transactions in 2019.
Each half-yearly or quarterly renewal of motor tax requires the same administrative procedures as the annual renewal process. Accordingly, aside from the loss in receipts, any consideration of re-balancing of the charges for non-annual discs must take account of the fact that overheads, both direct and indirect, would increase exponentially if the change were to result in increased volumes of transactions.
There are no plans currently to amend motor tax legislation to provide for pro-rata rates for half-yearly and quarterly motor tax.
191. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider allowing persons over 70 years of age to automatically extend the validity of their driver licence for a further year using the online portal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18862/20]
View answerThe extension of the validity of driving licences can only be done through the introduction of legislation. The online driving licence system can only be used to renew a licence, not to extend the validity of the licence.
At present, the online system is only available to people under 70 years of age and those that do not have a truck or bus category on their licence, as the system does not allow for the uploading of supporting documentation that is required for other applicants.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is continuing work to expand the online facility to accommodate all driving licence and learner permit application types, in a manner that does not undermine the existing legal framework or the effective operations of the stakeholders involved. The Authority is currently examining an initiative to allow those over 70 years of age (who do not have an identified or specified illness) to apply remotely.
192. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if legislation will be introduced to allow for camera-based enforcement of traffic laws including the laws for bus and cycle lanes, red lights, and speeding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18896/20]
View answerI am happy to inform the Deputy that such a legal framework is in fact already in place.
Section 81 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 provides for the use of cameras, if so required, by the Gardaí to assist in the detection of certain traffic offences under the Road Traffic Acts. The offences specified include those made under Section 35 of the Road Traffic Act 1994 which is the basis for the current Traffic and Parking Regulations covering, among other things, the offences mentioned by the Deputy.
With regard to bus and cycle lane enforcement, my Department maintains that the success of such priority measures is an essential component in people moving from cars to more sustainable modes of transport, thereby reducing emissions and congestion. It is therefore necessary to ensure that we have the best possible system for enforcement of the rules on both bus and cycle lanes, particularly in the context of BusConnects. Officials in my Department are currently engaging with the National Transport Authority and other stakeholders to see how this can best be achieved, taking account of the robust existing provisions and without undermining their effectiveness.
194. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will intervene with the management of a company (details supplied) requesting that it fully cooperate with employees endeavouring to claim social welfare benefits in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18904/20]
View answerMy Department has maintained regular contact with key aviation stakeholders, including Aer Lingus, since the start of the COVID-19 crisis. The aviation industry is one of the most affected by the global pandemic. All airlines have seen severe depletion of revenue and are facing various degrees of financial challenge.
The Government has brought forward a series of measures to support all businesses impacted by COVID-19. These include the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme, the Pandemic Unemployment Benefit, and the ISIF Pandemic Stabilisation and Recovery Fund for medium and large enterprises.
I understand that Aer Lingus is engaging with their employeees and representative bodies regarding the urgent requirement to reduce costs across its business, given the dramatic decline in demand for travel in the immediate term and the uncertainly regarding future travel demand.
Industrial relations are a matter for the airline and its employees and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has no role in relation to such matters. The industrial relations machinery of the State would be availabe to assist all parties to reach agreement, should the need arise.
