Written Answers Nos. 289-306
290. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport the risks to the State with regard to the service delivery options provided for the next generation search and rescue contract; his concerns with regard to potential affordability and deliverability if the service was provided by the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33632/20]
View answerIn compliance with the Public Spending Code, a process has commenced to consider options for the next SAR aviation contract as the existing contract comes to an end over the coming years. A Steering Group chaired by the Director of the Irish Coast Guard was established last year to manage this process with a view to ensuring the next service meets domestic and international obligations for search and rescue and represents value for money for the State. As key stakeholders, the Department of Defence and the Air Corps are fully engaged in these deliberations, including as members of this Steering Group. The process is on-going and will comply with the requirements of the Public Spending Code (PSC), which include consideration of all available and realistic options for the delivery of the service.
As a first step in the Public Spending Code process, a Strategic Assessment and Preliminary Appraisal was conducted and agreed by the Steering Group. This went to Government for information in July. This assessment included considerations in relation to the risks, affordability and deliverability across a range of potential service delivery options including the Air Corps assuming full responsibility for the service.
Given that the decision-making process in relation to this is still on-going and will lead to a Government decision ultimately, it would not be appropriate for me to release any specific details in relation to considerations around any one of the options considered as part of the Strategic Assessment and Preliminary Appraisal process.
The next step is a detailed business case which is currently being prepared for Government. Ultimately, decisions on the scope, nature and procurement strategy for the next service will be a matter for Government once the detailed business case has been finalised.
291. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport the specific constraints (details supplied) that prevent the Irish Coast Guard Service from providing a full 24-hour service to the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33633/20]
View answerThe Coast Guard provides national and international patient transfer services to the HSE on a request and as available basis through a Service Level Agreement with the HSE. In practice, international transfer assistance arises in situations where commercial or Air Corps options are not available. Different regulatory constraints apply to such non – SAR services as they are under flown under Commercial Air Transport (CAT) regulations which prescribe, inter alia, mandatory crew rest periods after the lapse of designated duty periods. To that end, CAT missions are not flown between the hours of 2300 and 0730 and accordingly the Coast Guard’s helicopter service is not in a position to provide international patient transfer services from 1900 as travel time to and from UK has to be factored in.
292. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether Ireland has the capacity post-January 2021 to have an uninterrupted continuation of the import and export of goods to continental Europe by sea; the analysis done by his Department on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33658/20]
View answerAs has been signalled since the publication of the report ‘The Implications of Brexit on the Use of the landbridge’ by the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) in 2018, there is likely to be disruption to the UK landbridge to the EU when customs and border controls between the EU and the UK are introduced, which is now due to happen from January 2021. Since the publication of the 2018 report, my Department, in conjunction with the IMDO, has been keeping the issue of direct shipping routes to Continental Europe under close review, including in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since early 2019 my Department together with the IMDO has consulted closely with shipping companies and other maritime stakeholders regarding the issue of direct maritime connectivity to Continental Europe. Shipping companies have assured my Department and the IMDO that they will respond to any increases in demand for direct maritime connectivity when border controls between the EU and the UK are introduced, and shipping companies have been adding capacity on routes to the Continent even during the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-2020.
The IMDO have very recently completed a review of the conclusions and recommendations in the 2018 Landbridge Study and, in particular, the issue of direct maritime connectivity to Continental Europe at the end of the transition period. The IMDO review confirmed that, at present, there is sufficient capacity on existing services in the RoRo network between Ireland and mainland Europe to cater, if required, for the landbridge traffic currently estimated at around 150,000 trucks per annum. The IMDO review will be published shortly. In addition, my Department in conjunction with the IMDO has recently completed a further round of consultation with shipping companies serving Ireland regarding the issue of direct maritime connectivity at the end of the transition period.
Given the spare capacity already available on routes from Ireland to Continental Europe and the spare freight carrying capacity of shipping companies serving Ireland and in the European shipping industry generally, identified by my Department and the IMDO, I am confident, including based on experience during the Covid-19 pandemic, that the shipping industry will respond quickly to any increase in demand for direct maritime connectivity to Continental Europe from January 2021 onwards. Any State intervention to provide direct shipping services in that context would be likely to undermine and disrupt a market response resulting in an insufficient, inadequate and costly intervention being put in place, legal challenges, and breaches of state aid rules with the requirement for repayment of any state aids provided with interest, with resulting adverse impacts on the viability of any shipping companies receiving such aid.
As set out in the Government’s updated Brexit Readiness Action Plan, published on 9th September 2020, businesses are being asked to consider moving, in advance of the end of the transition period, to direct route options for the movement of goods between Ireland and the Continent, to avoid potential delays and the new procedures that will be introduced associated with using the UK landbridge. Shipping companies should also continue to assess expected future demand requirements and remain ready to respond to increased capacity demands, and all the indications are that this is happening.
My Department, together with the IMDO, Department of Foreign Affairs and other Departments and Agencies has recently launched a renewed communications campaign, ACT, which encourages importers and exporters to focus on the direct route option now. The ACT campaign encourages stakeholders:-
- To Assess their current routes to market;
- To Communicate their future needs clearly to shipping companies, and
- To Trial alternative services so that disruption to the UK Landbridge route does not preclude Irish businesses from accessing foreign markets.
More information on this campaign can be found on the IMDO website here: https://www.imdo.ie/Home/site-area/news-events/be-prepared-brexit-act-and-prepare-switch.
My Department, together with the IMDO, is continuing to closely monitor and keep under review the situation regarding maritime connectivity to continental ports, and will remain in close consultation with shipping companies, ports, hauliers, and other relevant stakeholders on this issue.
293. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport if he will allow access to the testing centre toilets and facilities, or seek an appropriate solution in the interests of public health, in view of the fact that driver instructors are legally required to accompany their learner drivers to test centres for their tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32362/20]
View answerWhile it is the case that a learner driver must be accompanied by a fully licensed driver at all times, there is no requirement in law for driving instructors to attend test centres with learners sitting driving tests.
Operational arrangements at test centres are a matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred that element of the Deputy's question to the Authority for direct response; please contact my office if no reply has been received within ten working days.
294. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport the details of the improvements made to Rosslare Europort as part of the Brexit preparations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32416/20]
View answerRosslare Europort is unique among the State-owned ports, as it is not a commercial company operating under the Harbours Acts, but is instead operated on a commercial basis as a division of Iarnród Éireann.
Brexit will have implications for a number of key ports and airports and Rosslare Europort continues to work closely with a range of Government Departments and Offices in preparing for the additional border controls and other impacts that will arise from Brexit.
The Programme for Government commits the Government to continue to work closely with Rosslare Port to ensure that it is ready for all Brexit scenarios. In this context, the Department of Transport is in regular contact with Rosslare Port management about the infrastructural requirements and other Brexit impacts on the port. My Department is advised by Iarnród Éireann that the Border Inspection Post at Kilrane will be fully ready for operation by 1 January. Plans for permanent facilities to be built within the Port are already underway by the State agencies.
I understand also that Rosslare Europort is actively seeking opportunities arising from Brexit to expand shipping services from the port to continental EU ports.
The Government has underlined the importance of the UK landbridge with the European Commission negotiating team and will continue to engage with our partners in France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany to ensure that the landbridge remains a viable and efficient route to market. This is important for Rosslare.
The Programme for Government also commits to ensuring that systems at Rosslare Port are Brexit-ready and adapted to take account of COVID-19 at the end of the transition period. This work is essential to ensuring Rosslare Europort can continue to play its full role as a critical part of Ireland’s economic and social infrastructure.
Finally, my Department is advised by Iarnród Éireann that recent consultations regarding Rosslare’s preparedness for Brexit between the port management, government agencies and shipping lines highlighted the general view that the Europort is well positioned to handle events beyond January 1, 2021.
295. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider upgrading the east coast rail line between Belfast and Rosslare to increase capacity between Belfast, Dundalk, Dublin, Dún Laoghaire, Wicklow and Rosslare Europort as part of any review of the national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32417/20]
View answerThe Deputy is aware that the Programme for Government – Our Shared Future commits toward a fundamental change in the nature of transport in Ireland and I believe that rail has a strategic role to play in achieving that change.
Following a recent Transport Sectoral meeting of the North South Ministerial Council, Minister Nichola Mallon, MLA, and I both agreed that our Departments should further develop draft terms of reference for a proposed study of rail speeds, to ensure the finalised terms of reference take sufficient cognisance of the need for balanced regional development.
I believe this study will allow for a full consideration of the strategic potential of rail, including the opportunities for high-/higher- speed rail where appropriate. This will be a significant study and my Department will work with the Department for Infrastructure Northern Ireland to finalise the terms of reference to allow for the procurement process commence and I look forward to the commence of the study in due course.
Obviously the Deputy is also aware of the multi-billion euro DART+ programme which will significantly expand commuter capacity, including along the DART+ Coastal lines from Drogheda in the North to Greystones in the South, while commuter rail will also benefit in advance of completion of the DART+ programme through the additional capacity to be delivered by the arrival of the 41 additional ICR carriages and the improved train management enabled across the network with the completion of the new National Train Control Centre.
296. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider waiving and refunding the annual cost of taxi registration during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32418/20]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA), the statutory regulator, has since the start of the pandemic taken action to reduce the operating costs for small public service vehicle (SPSV) operators. It has extended vehicle age limits and waived late renewal fees though to March 2021. Furthermore, my Department will provide funding to the NTA to enable it to waive standard SPSV licence renewal fees in 2021.
297. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider introducing a taxi licence buyback scheme to assist drivers who wish to retire from the industry due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32419/20]
View answerThe current SPSV licensing regime is built upon the principle that the purpose of a licence is to indicate a person’s suitability to carry out a function and to ensure that the holder of a licence is subject to lawful conditions and restrictions. As such, a licence should not have, by association, a monetary value or be tradable on the open market. Accordingly, there is no basis for a "buy back" scheme of the type the Deputy has outlined.
298. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport if National Driver Licence Service centres can remain open during level 5 restrictions; if driver licences that are due to expire will now be extended in view of the heightened restrictions; and if persons who have booked to take an appointment in another county can now do so. [32430/20]
View answerUnder Covid19 Level 5 Government restrictions effective from midnight on Wednesday 21 October, for six weeks, applicants can attend an appointment at a National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) centre provided they are an essential worker involved in the provision of essential services or essential retail outlets. Details on what is included in the list of essential workers and retail outlets is available on www.gov.ie.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is continuing work to expand the online facility to accommodate all driving licence and learner permit application types to enable accessibility on-line rather than by calling to an office. The NDLS hopes to allow all application types to apply online by mid-November.
There is no plan to further extend the validity of driving licences. Irish driving licence law is based on a framework of EU law, and the current extensions bring us into line with the EU legislation.
299. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport the reason a process has not been reviewed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32432/20]
View answerThe National Driver Licence Service (NDLS), provided by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), resumed services in June, following the closure of the centres due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. All appointments must be booked in advance as it is not possible to facilitate any walk-ins due to the social distancing requirements, and in the interest of protecting the staff and customers. This, of course, has led to an increase in the demand for appointments.
The RSA is working with their providers to see how they can create the additional capacity while adhering to the return to work protocol. Options being introduced include a combination of additional staff, extended and additional operating hours (i.e. Sundays where needed), and the provision of overtime.
The NDLS booking system is undergoing software changes to cater for the expanded booking window associated with the additional NDLS appointment slots. The introduction of these steps may help ease some of the pressure on the NDLS, free up appointment slots and make it easier to find those slots at local centres.
The RSA is also continuing work to expand the online facility to accommodate all driving licence and learner permit application types to enable accessibility on-line rather than by calling to an office.The NDLS hopes to allow all application types to apply online by mid-November.
Under Covid19 Level 5 Government restrictions effective from midnight on Wednesday 21 October, for six weeks, applicants can attend an appointment at an NDLS centre provided they are an essential worker involved in the provision of essential services or essential retail outlets. Details on what is included in the list of essential workers and retail outlets is available on www.gov.ie. The RSA does not hold details that would identify the employment status of any applicants among those who have a booking at an NDLS centre over the next six weeks, therefore no cancellation of existing bookings will be made.
300. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Transport if NCT centres will remain open; and if tests that have been booked prior to the level 5 restrictions due to come into effect from midnight on 21 October 2020 will proceed as planned. [32449/20]
View answerUnder the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions)(Covid-19)(No. 8) Regulations 2020 (SI No 448/2020) the National Car Test has been classified as an essential service (see Part 2, Item 14(x) of Schedule 3).
Accordingly, the service has not been suspended and vehicle owners should continue to attend NCT Test Centres in order to obtain an NCT certificate for their vehicle.
301. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Transport if driver test centres will remain open; and the arrangements that will be in place for driver tests when level 5 restrictions come into effect from midnight on 21 October 2020. [32450/20]
View answerUnder Covid19 Level 5 Government restrictions effective from midnight on Wednesday 21 October, candidates can attend their scheduled driving test appointment provided they are an essential worker involved in the provision of essential services or essential retail outlets.
The Road Safety Authority has advised it has set up a dedicated email, urgentdrivingtest@rsa.ie, where applicants can request to be given priority and supply supporting documentation. Details on what is included in the list of essential workers and retail outlets is availalbe on www.gov.ie. These requests are prioritised during the scheduling process with cancellation slots being offered where possible.
302. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Transport if under level 5 restrictions there is a plan in place to accommodate persons from Northern Ireland seeking to exchange their driver licences owing to Brexit requirements; if alternative arrangements such as a postal process can be put in place for these persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32451/20]
View answerAn Irish driving licence can only be issued to a person resident in Ireland. A person resident in Northern Ireland can not apply for an Irish driving licence.
303. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Transport if persons can travel outside the 5 km radius to attend a NCT test that has been booked prior to level 5 restrictions due to come into effect from midnight on 21 October 2020. [32452/20]
View answerI can confirm that the National Car Test (NCT) has been classified as an essential service with respect to the Level 5 restrictions effective from midnight on Wednesday 21 October and accordingly vehicle owners travelling to or from an NCT test centre are not subject to domestic travel restrictions. Anyone with an existing appointment should attend their NCT centre as normal.
Vehicle owners travelling to or from their NCT test centre should bring confirmation of their NCT appointment to assist in the event they are stopped by a member of the Garda Síochána.
304. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider an exemption from NCT tests for cars that have been imported from Northern Ireland, in which they previously held an exemption, in view of the level 5 restrictions due to come into effect from midnight on 21 October 2020. [32453/20]
View answerThe Deputy may be advised that as things stand, the unexpired portion of a certificate of roadworthiness issued by another Member State is recognised in Ireland, provided that the certificate is still valid in terms of the frequency intervals established for periodic roadworthiness testing in Ireland. This is provided for under Article 8(3) of Directive 2014/45/EU and currently applies to certificates issued in respect of vehicles that are imported into Ireland that were previously registered in Northern Ireland.
With respect to the current Level 5 restrictions, the National Car Test (NCT) has been classified as an essential service and the owners of any car which does not have a valid roadworthiness certificate should make arrangements to present their vehicles for inspection as normal.
305. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 26 of 23 September 2020, the progress which has been made by the Road Safety Authority to facilitate an expansion in its online facility to accommodate all driver licences, including those for people aged over 70 years and learner permit applications, in a manner that does not undermine the existing legal framework or the effective operations of the stakeholders involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32457/20]
View answerThe Road Safety Authority is continuing work to expand the online facility to accommodate all driving licence and learner permit application types to enable accessibility on-line rather than by calling to an office. The NDLS hopes to allow all application types to apply online by mid-November.
The RSA, through its licensing service the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS), has expanded the postal renewal option to those over 70 who renew their licence every three years. All those 70 years and over who have previously presented at an NDLS centre in the last 5 years and whose licence or permit is due to expire will receive a renewal pack in the post and be invited to apply by post.
306. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Transport the way in which the funding announced for Shannon Airport in Budget 2021 will be allocated; the way in which it will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32490/20]
View answerIn recognition of the devastating effects of Covid-19, and to secure their ongoing viability, this Government has provided a total budget of €10 million in capital funding to Shannon and Cork airports in 2021.
The associated funding scheme will be designed in line with State aid rules, and will be fully compliant the EU's General Block Exemption Regulation. It is intended that investment will be targeted at safety and security related projects and aid intensity thresholds will be determined by a combination of national policy and State aid rules.
The airports will be invited to apply for funding under the Scheme and proposed projects will be examined by an assessment panel, which will include representatives from my Department, the Irish Aviation Authority and New ERA. Subject to my approval of the panel's recommendations, and subsequent allocation of the required funding to the airports, payments will be made during the course of the year - once the appropriate evidence of expenditure on the approved projects has been received by the Department.
