Written Answers Nos. 49-66
49. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if the provision of electricity connection for a business (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30248/20]
View answerESB is a commercial State company and service provision is a matter for the management of the Company. This is, therefore, an operational matter and not one in which the Minister has a statutory function.
However, I have asked ESB to contact the Deputy directly in relation to the matter.
50. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport the specifications a greenway project must fulfil to receive funding; his views that the current one-size-fits-all approach to greenways is the most appropriate approach, particularly for environmentally important areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29691/20]
View answer57. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport the amount of funding available for greenway projects; if all available funding has been allocated; to provide a list of all greenway projects that have received funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29692/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 57 together.
As the Deputy is aware, the Strategy for the Future Development of Regional and National Greenways was published in 2018 and sets out the current overarching framework for the development of greenways.
Building on that framework the Programme for Government commits toward better integrating greenways with local communities to expand beyond a leisure and tourism focus and also become important pieces of local active travel infrastructure where feasible. This has the potential to support modal shift ambitions and improve air quality and public health in local communities across the country.
The Strategy sets out the high-level principles that prospective greenways are required to demonstrate while individual funding calls may set further specific requirements as may be determined from time to time. I would not classify the approach as “one-size-fits-all” and think there is appropriate flexibility provided by the existing framework, but I am happy to hear any specific suggestions the Deputy may have in that regard. Clearly any proposed greenway development in environmentally sensitive areas must comply with all necessary requirements.
Since the publication of the Strategy in 2018, €40m was allocated to nine construction-ready projects, while in 2020 a further €4.5m from the Carbon Tax Fund was allocated to support 26 pre-construction phase projects, and all details of relevant projects supported are available on my Department's website.
In Budget 2021 I am providing further future allocations available to support the greenways programme as part of Government’s broader €1.8bn commitment to support walking and cycling over the lifetime of the Government.
The Deputy may wish to be aware that urban greenways in the five cities are supported through a separate funding programme administered by the National Transport Authority.
51. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the number of meetings that have taken place since 1 August 2020 with the Dublin Airport Authority on the provision of an airport testing regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29775/20]
View answerI had an informal discussion with Dalton Philips, CEO of daa on 7 October, which included consideration of international travel.
My colleague Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton met with daa on the 23 September, which included a presentation on the daa proposal for airport testing.
Further to these, there have been numerous meetings between officials of this Department, daa and the Health Authorities and there is ongoing regular contact between all relevant parties on this issue.
52. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Transport his plans to address illegal parking of cars on pavements and cycle lanes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29568/20]
View answerParking on a footpath and parking in a designated cycle lane are both illegal under the current Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking Regulations), as amended, and carry a fixed charge of €40, rising to €60 if not paid within 28 days.
Section 41 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 grants powers to the Minister for Transport to make regulations prescribing different amounts for fixed charge notice offences. The Department keeps these charges under constant review and can intervene to impose increases where it is deemed appropriate.
Most recently, for example, in March 2018 my predecessor, Mr. Shane Ross T.D., increased the fixed charge for the offence of parking in a disabled bay from €80 to €150 in response to evidence presented by An Garda Síochána and by disability representative groups of a sharp rise in non-compliance.
While my Department is open to the possibility of introducing similar increases for other parking offences, such changes will require engagement both with An Garda Síochána and with the local authorities so as to ensure fairness and proportionality and to take into account issues of implementation and enforcement.
53. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport his view on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29572/20]
View answerIrish aviation is under unprecedented pressure because of the international travel restrictions introduced as part of our national public health strategy. There is no question about that, and it has resulted in job losses and extreme hardship across the sector on workers and on previously thriving businesses. In recognition of this, the Government has introduced a range of financial measures to help alleviate the worst of this hardship - through wage supports, commercial rates waivers, tax deferrals, and various grants and liquidity schemes - and the Budget will seek to do more. However, unquestionably what the industry needs is the opportunity to start trading properly again and to begin on the road to recovery. That is what Government wants too.
The international travel restrictions have been in place for much longer that we would have hoped for earlier in the year, but for so long as they are deemed an essential part of the overall effort to contain the spread of the virus then the negative impact on Irish aviation is unavoidable. The Aviation Taskforce has set out clearly what the industry needs to recover, and whilst not all of this is possible at this stage, what can be done has been done: wage subsidy has been extended to April next year; liquidity supports have been made available through the ISIF Pandemic Stability Fund; safe air travel protocols have been finalised and published; and emergency funding has been allocated in support of Shannon Airport.
In addition, every effort is being made to agree European travel standards and to develop a national framework that will allow us to adopt and apply those standards as best as possible. The Government is committed to this, but it is also the case that introducing a workable and effective testing regime to support greater levels of international air travel is challenging.
International and regional air connectivity is highly valued by the Government. It is the backbone of our economic model. Protecting it remains high on the Government agenda.
54. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport the funding allocated for LocalLink, by county, for each year since 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29647/20]
View answerAs Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. It is the National Transport Authority (NTA) which 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 management of the Rural Transport Programme which now operates under the Local Link brand.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities in this matter, 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.
55. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport if a driver test will be expedited in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29661/20]
View answerThe scheduling of candidates’ driving tests is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and as Minister, I have no power to intervene in individual cases.
My Department is remaining in close contact with the RSA as they deal with the increased demand for their driver testing service since operations resumed following its temporary closure due to the COVID emergency. In addition to this, due to the social distancing requirements, normal daily capacity is considerably reduced. This means that customers will experience longer waiting times than was the case before the service was suspended. The public’s patience and understanding in this regard is requested.
It is my understanding that those who had appointments cancelled due to Covid 19 are being prioritised in the first instance. Priority then will be given in order of application date. While there is some capacity for urgent test slots, the Road Safety Authority (RSA)'s capacity to make these available in all cases will be limited. Therefore, initially those who are frontline healthcare workers will be deemed eligible for an urgent test slot. This approach for prioritising customers will be kept under review as the RSA moves through the service resumption.
56. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport if a driver test will be expedited in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29662/20]
View answerThe scheduling of candidates’ driving tests is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and as Minister, I have no power to intervene in individual cases.
My Department is remaining in close contact with the RSA as they deal with the increased demand for their driver testing service since operations resumed following its temporary closure due to the COVID emergency. In addition to this, due to the social distancing requirements, normal daily capacity is considerably reduced. This means that customers will experience longer waiting times than was the case before the service was suspended. The public’s patience and understanding in this regard is requested.
It is my understanding that those who had appointments cancelled due to Covid 19 are being prioritised in the first instance. Priority then will be given in order of application date. While there is some capacity for urgent test slots, the Road Safety Authority (RSA)'s capacity to make these available in all cases will be limited. Therefore, initially those who are frontline healthcare workers will be deemed eligible for an urgent test slot. This approach for prioritising customers will be kept under review as the RSA moves through the service resumption.
58. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the status of the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill; when he expects the Bill to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29749/20]
View answerThe Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill is currently in drafting. It has been included in the Government's list for priority legislation, and I would hope to see it published in Quarter 1 of 2021, if not a little earlier.
59. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport if he will address a case (details supplied) regarding a vintage car; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29752/20]
View answerMy Department through the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) maintains a record of the ‘registered owners’ of motor vehicles in this State. Section 60 of the Finance Act 1993 provides the legal framework for the records on the national file, including the type and information on records. Responsibility under this section for the records is shared between this Department and each licensing authority (motor tax office).
Where a vehicle has been recorded as scrapped on the NVDF, the relevant vehicle record on the system is generally ‘locked down’ so that no further transactions such as changes of vehicle ownership or renewal of motor tax can be recorded. The status of a scrapped notice on the NVDF can be only reverted to ‘active’ by a Motor Tax Office on receipt of a comprehensive vehicle examination report by a qualified vehicle engineer/assessor. These requirements are put in place to support road safety; in effect to ensure vehicles are roadworthy.
The records on the NVDF show that the vehicle registration in question was recorded as scrapped on the system by Offaly Motor Tax Office on 19 May 19 2005. As per the procedure outlined above, the vehicle record was ‘locked down’ on that date. Where your constituent subsequently queried the matter, either with my Department or the motor tax office in question, they would have been advised of the procedure in how to have the scrapped status removed.
Notwithstanding the above, my officials have engaged further with Offaly Motor Tax Office on the matter, and you may wish to have your constituent contact Offaly Motor Tax Office on the matter to discuss some alternative options. The records also note that the NCT on the vehicle expired on August 18 2004. A valid NCT certificate is required for the vehicle to be used on the public road.
60. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport if he will request the National Transport Authority to provide extra buses and other forms of public transport in view of the way the reduced capacity is impacting on school and college students, along with employees going to and from work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29786/20]
View answerThe continued operation of the public transport sector is important and, from a very early stage in the Covid-19 crisis, public transport was designated by Government as among the essential services that could continue throughout the emergency. Guided by public health advice, measures have been introduced across the system to enable the continued operation of services during the pandemic, including enhanced cleaning regimes and appropriate social distancing measures across the network.
With the commencement of Phase 3 of the Government's Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business on 29 June 2020, changes to the existing public transport social distancing restrictions were agreed, allowing a move from 2-metre social distancing to utilising 50% of the passenger-carrying capacity of bus and rail fleet. Alongside this change, new Regulations were introduced making mandatory the wearing of face coverings on public transport, with some limited exceptions. This has helped to underpin public transport services provided by both public and commercial licensed operators during these unprecedented times, with a view to safeguarding public transport capacity.
There is continued strong messaging that public transport capacity remains restricted and therefore should only be used for essential travel, with only those who have to travel at peak times doing so and encouraging staggered retail and office opening hours. People are being encouraged to walk or cycle where practical, and organisations are encouraged to continue to facilitate working from home.
The Government is also spending considerable additional Exchequer funds on the public transport sector in order to support the continued operation of necessary services, despite the reduced demand and the restricted capacity owing to the Covid-19 situation. The Exchequer is now funding the PSO (public service obligation) regime far in excess of the allocation that had been provided under Budget 2020. In addition, the Government introduced a new temporary funding support for the non-PSO (licensed, commercial) bus sector in respect of its continuation of necessary bus services.
The Government's newly announced Living with Covid Plan, clearly sets out the guidance and restrictions that will apply for all sectors, including public transport, at the 5 levels of the Plan, including strong messaging that people should use active travel as an alternative where this is feasible. The advice is aimed at ensuring public transport is safeguarded for those who need it most, most notably, frontline workers and those needing to travel to education. This advice along with other measures (such as continuing to work from home where possible) is also aimed at suppressing the spread of Covid-19 in Ireland.
Both my Department and the NTA are closely monitoring public transport demand and will continue to be guided by public health advice.
The continued operation of the public transport sector is important and, from a very early stage in the Covid-19 crisis, public transport was designated by Government as among the essential services that could continue throughout the emergency. Guided by public health advice, measures have been introduced across the system to enable the continued operation of services during the pandemic, including enhanced cleaning regimes and appropriate social distancing measures across the network.
With the commencement of Phase 3 of the Government's Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business on 29 June 2020, changes to the existing public transport social distancing restrictions were agreed, allowing a move from 2-metre social distancing to utilising 50% of the passenger-carrying capacity of bus and rail fleet. Alongside this change, new Regulations were introduced making mandatory the wearing of face coverings on public transport, with some limited exceptions. This has helped to underpin public transport services provided by both public and commercial licensed operators during these unprecedented times, with a view to safeguarding public transport capacity.
There is continued strong messaging that public transport capacity remains restricted and therefore should only be used for essential travel, with only those who have to travel at peak times doing so and encouraging staggered retail and office opening hours. People are being encouraged to walk or cycle where practical, and organisations are encouraged to continue to facilitate working from home.
The Government is also spending considerable additional Exchequer funds on the public transport sector in order to support the continued operation of necessary services, despite the reduced demand and the restricted capacity owing to the Covid-19 situation. The Exchequer is now funding the PSO (public service obligation) regime far in excess of the allocation that had been provided under Budget 2020. In addition, the Government introduced a new temporary funding support for the non-PSO (licensed, commercial) bus sector in respect of its continuation of necessary bus services.
The Government's newly announced Living with Covid Plan, clearly sets out the guidance and restrictions that will apply for all sectors, including public transport, at the 5 levels of the Plan, including strong messaging that people should use active travel as an alternative where this is feasible. The advice is aimed at ensuring public transport is safeguarded for those who need it most, most notably, frontline workers and those needing to travel to education. This advice along with other measures (such as continuing to work from home where possible) is also aimed at suppressing the spread of Covid-19 in Ireland.
Both my Department and the NTA are closely monitoring public transport demand and will continue to be guided by public health advice.
61. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide details of the nomination and election process for the taxi advisory committee; if there are vacancies on same at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29787/20]
View answerThere are currently five vacancies on the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles (commonly referred to as the Taxi Advisory Committee). There are two vacancies in the special interest or expertise categories, two vacancies in the small public service vehicle and driver interests category and one vacancy in the consumer interest category. I will shortly ask the Public Appointments Service (PAS) to launch an open process - through the State Boards facility administered by PAS - for filling these positions on the Advisory Committee.
As the centralised provider of recruitment, assessment and selection services for the Civil Service and other public bodies, PAS aims to provide an open, efficient and effective gateway and process to identify top quality people for consideration by Ministers for appointment to State Boards. Adopting this approach will help to ensure a fair and transparent process, enabling all interested persons with suitable experience to apply to be considered for appointment to the Committee.
The Advisory Committee has played an important role in advising my Department and the National Transport Authority (NTA) on the issues facing the industry and on how to assist it through the pandemic and ensure its future sustainability. The Committee submitted a report in July with a number of recommendations and since then my Department has worked with the Committee to examine how these can be addressed. The report has been shared with other Government Departments and has served as a useful basis for engagement to ensure that SPSV operators, many of whom are self-employed, are able to access to the greatest extent possible the range of measures Government has introduced to support businesses through these difficult circumstances.
The Advisory Committee, which is established under the Taxi Regulation Act 2013, enjoys a broad membership with members representing driver interests, dispatch operators, passenger interests, and official stakeholders such as local Government and An Garda Síochána. This diversity of representation, combined with members' commitment to having a well-functioning and effective SPSV sector, is a real strength of the Committee. It has been and will remain the central focus of engagement with the SPSV sector for my Department in relation to issues affecting the sector, including the impact of COVID-19. In addition, the National Transport Authority, as statutory regulator for the sector, will of course continue to engage with the industry and communicate regularly with individual SPSV operators in relation to the ongoing impact of COVID-19.
62. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport the number of driver tests cancelled due to the Covid-19 lockdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29818/20]
View answer63. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons currently awaiting a driver test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29819/20]
View answer64. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons who did not show up for their scheduled driver test in 2019 and 2020 before the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29820/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 62 to 64, inclusive, together.
The figures requested are held by the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred these questions 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
65. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport his plans to ensure the Road Safety Authority has enough resources to appoint sufficient driver testers to deal with the six-month waiting list of applications for driver tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29836/20]
View answerMy Department is remaining in close contact with the RSA who are examining ways of increasing the number of tests within the current health constraints. I am pleased to say, my Department has already given approval to the RSA to retain 18 driver testers on temporary contracts due to expire in October and November, and to rehire up to 19 testers whose contracts expired in May. The authority is also examining the recruitment and training of new driver testers. However, I would like to stress that many of the issues impacting on the delivery of service are concerned with the throughput of centres themselves in light of the restrictions, rather than on the availability of staff.
The RSA are also looking at a number of other measures, including whether the number of tests a driver tester can perform each day can be increased and scheduling additional overtime tests, including testing on Saturdays to increase capacity.
It is my understanding that those who had appointments cancelled due to Covid 19 are being prioritised in the first instance. Priority then will be given in order of application date. While there is some capacity for urgent test slots, the Road Safety Authority (RSA)'s capacity to make these available in all cases will be limited. Therefore, initially those who are frontline healthcare workers will be deemed eligible for an urgent test slot. This approach for prioritising customers will be kept under review as the RSA moves through the service resumption.
66. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport if he will address the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29940/20]
View answerThe scheduling of candidates’ driving tests is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and as Minister, I have no power to intervene in individual cases.
My Department is remaining in close contact with the RSA as they deal with the increased demand for their driver testing service since operations resumed following its temporary closure due to the COVID emergency. In addition to this, due to the social distancing requirements, normal daily capacity is considerably reduced. This means that customers will experience longer waiting times than was the case before the service was suspended. The public’s patience and understanding in this regard is requested.
It is my understanding that those who had appointments cancelled due to Covid 19 are being prioritised in the first instance. Priority then will be given in order of application date. While there is some capacity for urgent test slots, the Road Safety Authority (RSA)'s capacity to make these available in all cases will be limited. Therefore, initially those who are frontline healthcare workers will be deemed eligible for an urgent test slot. This approach for prioritising customers will be kept under review as the RSA moves through the service resumption.
