Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 November 2020
24. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the work being undertaken by his Department during the current level 5 restrictions to better equip sectors under his guidance to be resilient in the face of any future resurgence of Covid-19 cases in order that they can remain open safely, even in the face of a step-up in restrictions on social interaction. [34557/20]
View answerI welcome the opportunity provided to outline the continuing measures being taken by my Department and its agencies to enable services to continue to operate during this unprecendented time.
Public Transport
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 to enable the continued operation of services during the pandemic, including enhanced cleaning regimes and appropriate social distancing measures across the network. Regulations were also introduced making mandatory the wearing of face coverings on public transport, with some limited exceptions.
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 for essential purposes doing so. 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, in light of 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 NTA issued a statement on their website on 20 October 2020 which says that they will look at “particular pressure points” in relation to public transport should the need arise, with a view to addressing them at local level. Both the Department of Transport and the NTA are closely monitoring public transport demand and will continue to be guided by public health advice.
Aviation
Protocol for the management of air passengers in light of COVID-19
The “Protocol for the management of air passengers in light of COVID-19” was published by the Department of Transport, in consultation with the National Air Transport Facilitation Committee, which includes representatives of the aviation industry, regulators, border control and public health authorities. The Protocol, published on 21 July 2020 and updated in October, is guidance for the coordinated implementation of EASA/ECDC – “COVID-19 Aviation Health Safety Protocol – operational Guidelines for the Management of airline passengers in relation to COVID-19 pandemic” (AHSP) (30, June Issue 2). The protocol has due regard to the EASA/ECDC COVID-19 Aviation Health Protocol Guidelines and national guidance in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has taken a pro-active role in promoting and ensuring that airports and airlines operate the guidelines contained in the AHSP. In addition to the AHSP, the IAA has written to each Irish airline and airport encouraging each one to participate in the EASA industry Charter for COVID-19. The Charter establishes a feedback loop from industry directly to EASA on the performance of the measures implemented, to fine-tune and improve the guidance in the light of operational experience and of the expected increase in traffic volumes. A number of Irish airlines and airports have already joined. EASA are performing an overall monitoring role in Europe and are using the information collected from multiple sources, including the charter participants, to identify areas where the protocols outlined may be ineffective or can be further improved. As such, the AHSP is a living document and the IAA expects ECDC/EASA to publish a further revision in the coming weeks.
The Passenger Locator form, administered by the Department of Health, remains in place for all persons arriving into the State regardless of the "colour" of the location they are arriving from. Essential transport workers continue to be exempt from completing the form. The introduction of an online form supports an enhanced system of engagements with arriving passengers. The main purpose of the form is for the targeting of key public health messages to arriving passengers through SMS and email.
Testing/EU Traffic Light System
The Government has developed a framework around the EU “traffic light” system, which was adopted at EU level on 13 October. As part of this, people arriving into Ireland from EU green regions do not have to restrict their movement for 14 days. All other passengers must continue to restrict their movements for 14 days unless they are exempted essential workers. The Government also aligned with the updated list of exempted categories of traveller with essential function or need within the EU recommendation.
The requirement for those arriving from orange locations to restrict their movements can be waived, if they have a negative COVID-19 test result from a test taken up to three days before arrival.
From midnight 29th November, arrivals from an EU red region will not be expected to restrict movements following receipt of a negative/not-detected result from a COVID-19 PCR test taken a minimum of five days after arrival in Ireland. This provision will also be available to arrivals from orange regions who may not have availed of a pre-departure test.
There are a number of COVID-19 testing technologies currently available or emerging on the commercial market. However, subject to the ongoing review of testing by NPHET and Government, a negative result from a COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test is the only test result that means the passenger is not expected to follow advice to restrict movements. Testing technology and delivery options for facilitating international travel will be kept under review.
Testing provision under Ireland’s framework for international travel will not be provided through the public health system, but rather will be met by the private commercial sector testing supply on a user pays basis. As the availability of testing cannot be guaranteed intending passengers wishing to avail of a test should seek an early appointment for a test in advance of travel.
Maritime
It is recognised that maritime transport plays a crucial role in the supply chain, particularly to an island nation such as Ireland. It is essential to the continued supply of goods in and out of the country, accounting as it does, for 90% of Ireland’s international trade in volume terms. For this reason, ensuring Ireland’s ports, shipping operations and all the elements of that maritime supply chain continue to function is vitally important.
My Department has engaged regularly throughout the pandemic with key stakeholders in the maritime sector and has put in place a number of measures to ensure that the maritime sector has continued to operate across all levels of the Government’s Living with COVID-19 Plan. This is exemplified by the fact that not only have the majority of scheduled sailings into and out of Ireland continued during COVID-19 but a range of new services have been added in recent months, thus enabling the supply of goods and the carriage of essential workers to critical jobs along with the repatriation of citizens.
My Department is also continuing, with the assistance of the IMDO to monitor and assess market conditions and trends on a weekly basis.
In addition to meeting regularly with key stakeholders in maritime to address COVID-19 issues, a number of key guidance documents have been published to ensure the sector has access to the most up-to-date information and advice.
- The COVID-19 Agreed Protocol for International Ro-Ro Passenger Transport Services, Ports & Terminal Service Operators was published in July. The Protocol, which was developed in collaboration with relevant stakeholders aims to ensure a broadly consistent approach to the facilitation by maritime transport providers of a safe and gradual restoration of maritime passenger transport as countries lift travel restrictions.
- To assist stakeholders and the public with issues that may arise as a result of COVID-19, my Department developed a Frequently Asked Questions guide on COVID-19 related issues in the Maritime Sector. This guide is updated regularly as required.
A series of Marine Notices were also published on Gov.ie and circulated to a mailing list of almost 700 recipients. These Marine Notices provided information on the following:
- Marine Notice No. 14 of 2020 sets out the temporary measures being put in place in relation to the validity of seafarers’ documents impacted as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- Marine Notice No. 06 of 2020 provides instructions from the Health Service Executive (HSE) on the submission of Maritime Declarations of Health.
- Marine Notice No. 15 of 2020 sets out temporary provisions for survey and certification of Irish ships.
- Marine Notice No. 16 of 2020 sets out the measures that have been taken to date to protect the maritime transport supply chain, guidance that has issued to supply chain workers and other COVID-19 related updates in the maritime sector.
- Marine Notice No. 22 of 2020 provides details of the Passenger Locator Form.
- Marine Notice No. 32 of 2020 reminds domestic passenger vessels of the latest COVID-19 guidance issued.
Furthermore, my Department has made arrangements to continue with the training of seafarers at the National Maritime College of Ireland by facilitating on-line examinations as well as online delivery of lectures for students at the college. Similar provisions are being made with Bord Iascaigh Mhara at the National Fisheries Colleges at Greencastle, Co. Donegal and Castletownbere, Co. Cork. In addition my Department has engaged with the National Maritime College of Ireland regarding proposed changes to online delivery to some seafarers' training courses currently approved by the Department. Additionally, the MSO has continued with face-to-face oral examinations of officers for their qualifying examinations for certificates of competency. The MSO has also made arrangements with the owners of new fishing vessels and tourist vessels which are being built overseas to ensure the on-going statutory certification of such vessels.
Thus through regular engagement with maritime stakeholders it has been possible to address the challenges posed by COVID-19 in a timely and effective manner and ensure that maritime the sector remains operational.
Road Haulage
I wish to fully acknowledge the essential role of road transport operators and HGV drivers and the challenges facing the industry both in the context of COVID-19 and Brexit.
A number of measures have been implemented to date to support the road haulage sector. Many of these are still applicable today, in the context of the current Level 5 restrictions.
In recognition of the importance of the work of everyone involved in the supply chain, a communication was published early on, noting that every element of the supply chain helps to ensure a continuous flow of essential goods. That communication also noted that where practical, all goods should continue to be distributed to the greatest extent possible.
My Department also published guidance on the cleaning of HGV cabs, and that guidance is available online at Gov.ie.
In collaboration with the Health Service Executive and the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, my Department published an important communication stressing the importance of providing access to toilet and handwashing facilities for transport workers. That communication was circulated to Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the Irish Petrol Retailers' Association and other key retail stakeholders to ensure a broad distribution of this important message.
In response to the extraordinary circumstances that we saw at the very beginning of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland, my Department, in conjunction with the Road Safety Authority, introduced a temporary relaxation of the EU driving and rest time rules in March, and this remained in place for a period of time, until the end of May.
In relation to supply chain workers, including HGV drivers, travelling on ferries as part of their work, the health and safety of staff and passengers on board is to be protected to the greatest extent possible. In this regard, a COVID-19 agreed protocol for international RoRo passenger ships and terminal service operators has been put in place, which ferry companies worked on with my Department. Further information is available online (COVID-19 Agreed Maritime Protocol). This protocol has due regard to the national guidance in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and maintain passenger safety and aims to ensure a broadly consistent approach by maritime transport providers to facilitate maritime passenger transport as safely as possible.
My Department is in frequent contact with the Irish Road Haulage Association, Freight Transport Association Ireland and other road transport stakeholders on COVID-related matters, in line with our longstanding practice of engaging with the sector.
Road Safety
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has responsibility for the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS), National Car Test (NCT) and Certificate of Vehicle Roadworthiness Test (CVRT). Steps have been taken in all services which have been deemed essential by the Government to enable them to continue under COVID restrictions, albeit with limited capacity and additional restrictions. The only such service deemed non-essential by the Government at this time is the Driver Theory Test.
National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF)
The NVDF systems allow citizens to continue as normal in completing change of ownership and renewal of motor tax through the Online Motor Tax service.
