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Thursday, 10 Dec 2020

Written Answers Nos. 199-223

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (199)

Brendan Howlin

Question:

199. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the grant assistance or supports that are being made available to places of worship to enable Covid-19 protocols to be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42549/20]

View answer

Written answers

I am acutely aware of the difficulties that communities and voluntary organisations have faced in recent months due to the impact of social distancing requirements.

The Government’s 'Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19, the operation and reopening of Ireland' will be guided by the need to manage risk and repairing the damage that COVID-19 has inflicted on society, and the implementation of appropriate measures to do so across society as the situation evolves.

Earlier this year, the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) introduced a package for Community and Voluntary Organisations, Charities and Social Enterprises. This includes a Stability Fund of up to €35m and a Philanthropy Fund of €5m. Under the July stimulus a €5m fund for repairs or upgrades to community centres and community buildings was launched.

DRCD is also responsible for the Community Services Programme (CSP) and Community Enhancement Programme (CEP), which may be of some assistance.

My colleague, Minister Heather Humphreys T.D., Minister for Rural and Community Development, may be able to provide more specific details on these schemes and the roadmap to recovery.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (200)

Brendan Howlin

Question:

200. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there are additional Covid-19 supports available for companies in the position of a company (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42564/20]

View answer

Written answers

I am keenly aware that businesses are making a massive sacrifice to protect their communities and I am committed to ensuring that the Government will offer as much assistance and support as possible.

My Department has worked to ensure that appropriate supports are in place for businesses as they develop their response to impacts arising from COVID-19. Details of the wide range of supports available are noted on my Department’s website at https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/

Budget 2021 provided a significant package of tax and expenditure measures to build the resilience of the economy and to help vulnerable but viable businesses across all sectors. We are providing for an extension of the tax warehousing scheme to include repayments of Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme funds owed by employers and preliminary tax obligations for adversely affected businesses.

In Budget 2021, the Government announced the provision of support of €50m for the live entertainment sector. This will include measures for the commercial entertainment sector and will support live entertainment across the country. The 2021 supports for the live entertainment sector will be the subject of further consultation with stakeholders. It will also be informed by the pilot live performance scheme in 2020 which is being rolled out now.

My colleague, Minister Catherine Martin T.D., Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, may be able to provide more specific details on these supports for the entertainment sector, for which she has lead responsibility.

These measures are in addition to the July Stimulus €7bn package of enterprise measures, which includes the Wage Subsidy Scheme extended through 2021, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help to improve cashflow amongst self-employed.

I acknowledge the issue arising whereby businesses might not be eligible for the CRSS or other measures announced in the budget, such as the €50 million fund for live entertainment. I have asked my officials to conduct work along with officials from the Department of Finance and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, regarding how many businesses might be in this position and to report back to me with proposals.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (201)

Bríd Smith

Question:

201. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if professional fees are paid by his Department on behalf of employees; if so, the total number involved; and the amount of each fee. [42698/20]

View answer

Written answers

Professional fees are paid in my Department in line with Circular 47/2001: Reimbursement of Professional Membership Fees. The reimbursement of fees are initially paid, where there is a mandatory condition for appointment to the role advertised during the recruitment campaign.  

In an effort to ensure the highest level of professionalism in certain areas of the Department and as part of strategic talent management, the continuation of the reimbursement of professional fees for certain staff is sustained during their career while they remain in their professional posting.  This ensures that the officials in my Department have access to up-to-date information, case law, networks, latest business thinking and best practices in the market.  

The reimbursement of professional fees in my Department relates to functions including the legal profession, accountants, auditors, HR and professional expertise in other areas of the corporate function. The latter supports my Department’s implementation of the Civil Service wide People Strategy.

The process involves the submission of a business case, supported by the line manager and approved by the HR Unit in line with Circular 47/2001.  The table below sets out the detail of 7 officials who have been approved for reimbursement of professional fees to date in 2020:

1

€288.00

2

€308.76

3

€220.67

4

€238.32

5

€582.00

6

€308.93

7

€582.00

Total

€2,528.68

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (202)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

202. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect to receive the restart grant plus scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42756/20]

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Written answers

The Restart Grant Plus Scheme for B&Bs, while funded through my Department, is administered wholly by Fáilte Ireland on its behalf.    My Department has no role in relation to individual applications. I would therefore encourage the proprietor to liaise directly with Fáilte Ireland with regard to payment of the grant.

Fáilte Ireland's website www.failteireland.ie/grant-plus-for-b-and-bs  will provide further information on the Restart Grant Plus for B&Bs.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (203)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

203. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 will be amended to allow workers to carry over annual leave in cases in which they could not take leave due to Covid-19, as has been done in the UK and Northern Ireland; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42800/20]

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Written answers

The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 (OWTA) sets out an employee’s entitlement to annual leave and the terms around the taking of same. Under Section 20 of the Act, the times at which annual leave is taken is ultimately determined by the employer subject to the leave being granted within the leave year to which it relates, or, with the consent of the employee within the period of six months of the end of that leave year.

An employee’s entitlement to annual leave was introduced as a health and safety measure under the European Working Time Directive, which the OWTA transposed. While there have been less opportunities for foreign travel and recreation activities this year, it is still important that employees avail of annual leave to take a break, avoid burnout and maintain an appropriate work-life balance. This is even more true for those workers who have been engaged in front line or emergency work related to the pandemic and have faced an extremely stressful and challenging year.

My Department has not received any representations to date that would suggest that the carryover of annual leave is a particularly pressing issue for employees at this time. However, I have sought the views of the social partners on this matter via the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF) sub-group on Employment and Enterprise. With regard to emergency workers I have received assurances from both the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the HSE that public sector and frontline workers have been encouraged to take annual leave throughout the pandemic. 

If an employee believes they have been denied their right to take annual leave they may refer a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission where the matter can be dealt with by way of mediation or adjudication leading to a decision that is enforceable through the District Court.

Electric Vehicles

Questions (204)

Réada Cronin

Question:

204. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the plans in place to establish public charge points for electric vehicles in Kilcock and Clane, County Kildare; the time frame thereof; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42571/20]

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Written answers

In line with the Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan 2019, this Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle charging network over the coming years.   There are currently circa 650 standard public charge points and over 100 fast charge stations in Ireland (the majority of which are operated by the ESB). There are several public chargers in Co. Kildare and surrounding areas, including standard chargers in Clane and a fast charger at the M4 motorway services in Enfield. An interactive map showing ESB charger locations and their status can be found at www.esb.ie/ecars .

In addition, we have committed €10 million from the Climate Action Fund to promote the charging network across Ireland and this has leveraged a further €10 million investment from ESB. This intervention alone will result in:

- 90 additional high power chargers (150kW), each capable of charging two vehicles

- 52 additional fast chargers (50kW), which may replace existing 22 kW standard chargers

- 264 replacement standard chargers (22kW) with more modern technology and with each consisting of two charge points

The high powered and fast chargers will be mainly concentrated on or near national roads and motorways to enable longer journeys to be completed. Four multi charger sites have already been delivered, including one on the M9 in Kildare with an additional site planned for Monasterevin.

More information on these upgrades can be found at https://esb.ie/ecars/our-network/high-power-charging-hubs .   

My Department also supports the Public Charge Point Scheme which is administered through the SEAI and which will continue to be available during 2021 to provide local authorities with a grant of up to €5,000 to support the development of on-street public chargers. The primary focus of this scheme is to provide support for the installation of infrastructure which will facilitate owners of electric vehicles (EVs), who do not have access to a private parking space but rely on parking their vehicles in public places near their homes, to charge their EVs.

Combined with an effective public charging network, Ireland's home charging policy will help sustain and service the expected growth of electric vehicles on Irish roads. Charging at home accounts for around 80% of electric vehicle charging in Ireland and to support home charging, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), on behalf of my Department, administers an EV Home Charger Grant of up to €600 towards the purchase and installation of an EV home charger unit.

Environmental Policy

Questions (205)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

205. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans for businesses that harvest peat moss for horticultural use; if businesses will be permitted to harvest in summer 2021 given that alternative methods for this production are not currently in place; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that if harvesting is not permitted in 2021 horticultural peat moss will have to be imported from mainland Europe which does not make environmental sense; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42587/20]

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Written answers

Commercial peat extraction is subject to a dual consent process requiring planning permission and, for sites over 50 hectares, an Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) licence from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). There has been a history of widespread non-compliance with this dual consent process with many operators in the sector lacking planning permission and / or an IPC licence.  

Following a 2019 High Court judgment which re-affirmed, inter alia, that commercial peat extraction absent planning permission constitutes unauthorised development, the onus is on operators to first regularise their past activities via the planning system and then secure planning permission  before any recommencement of harvesting could take place.  

The suspension of commercial peat extraction has commercial implications for both operators in the sector and also for the horticultural sector. I am also aware that a recent unrelated Supreme Court judgment on the Substitute Consent mechanism within the planning system has further complicated the process facing operators. It is not open to the State to simply remove the requirement for operators to regularise their past unauthorised development.  

Insofar as the availability of supplies for horticulture use in 2021 is concerned, officials from my Department will engage with their counterparts in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on the matter and on the potential longer term solutions for the sector.  

Rather than focusing on a recommencement of further commercial peat extraction, my immediate priority is on bog rehabilitation and restoration. This has significant potential to be part of our broader strategy to tackle climate and biodiversity challenges. Last month, the Government approved my proposals to provide funding of up-to €108m for the Bord Na Mona Enhanced Decommissioning, Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme (EDRRS) to support a just transition in the midlands region, while protecting the storage of 100m tonnes of carbon, sequestering 3.2m tonnes of carbon out to 2050, enhancing biodiversity, creating jobs and contributing to Ireland's objective of being climate-neutral by 2050.

Inland Fisheries

Questions (206)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

206. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to introduce attendant by-laws to deal with salmonid conservation; if he will provide a draft of these bye-laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42620/20]

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Written answers

The annual Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations which provide for the management, development and conservation of stocks of wild salmon and sea trout by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), were published on 12 November last and are available at www.gov.ie/salmontaggingregulations. They are currently out to statutory public consultation. These regulations provide for the status of each salmon river (open to harvest, closed to harvest or open to catch and release angling) and the tagging and recording requirements for exploitation of the resource, in respect of the 2021 season  The status of each river and the surplus (if any) available for harvest set out the in the Regulations is based on annual scientific assessment of each genetically unique river stock by the independent Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS) which underpins annual management  advice by IFI.   

A suite of annual secondary legislation (bye-laws) is currently being drafted and mainly involves additional conservation measures for individual fisheries (rivers) or groups of fisheries to reflect the status of the rivers contained in the Regulations. In particular, they contain measures to ensure that the provisions in relation to catch and release status contained in the regulations are not compromised by the use of equipment or baits not conducive to the survival of fish.

  These bye-laws will be available on the gov.ie website in due course.

Inland Fisheries

Questions (207)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

207. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to reintroduce monitored community fishing schemes to allow previous fishing practices such as salmon and eel fishing be used for artisanal and traditional purposes to generate tourism potential and preserve heritage in villages around Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42624/20]

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Written answers

The fundamental determining factor as to whether a fishing activity can be facilitated is the availability of a sustainable surplus of stocks in line with the conservation imperative. Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) manages salmon on an individual river basis as each river has it own genetically unique stock of salmon. These individual stocks are subject to annual scientific and management review. Exploitation is only permitted on stocks which are meeting their individual conservation limit - the number of spawning adults to maintain a healthy population.  Such rivers are open to angling and, where a commercial fishery exists to commercial harvest.  Estuaries are open to fishing only where the rivers contributing to the estuary are each maintaining a sustainable surplus. A statutory public consultation process on the draft legislation governing salmon fishing for 2021 closes tomorrow.

IFI also undertakes ongoing research and monitoring of eel populations in Irish waters every year. The European eel is a single stock across the entire European continent and distribution is naturally random between countries.  The species is on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (ICUN) red list of endangered species. The very latest international scientific advice is that anthropogenic mortality should be kept at zero or as close to zero as possible. In line with this advice, and Ireland's Eel Management Plan approved by the European Commission under EU regulation 1100/2007, the fishery in Ireland remains closed and there is a prohibition in legislation on issuing licences. No harvesting of eels is permitted and I have no plans to change this position.

Legislative Measures

Questions (208)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

208. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the inland fisheries (consolidation) Bill will be published and progressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42755/20]

View answer

Written answers

I refer the Deputy to the response to Question No 115 of 8 December 2020. The position is unchanged.

National Broadband Plan

Questions (209)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

209. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when high-speed fibre broadband will be facilitated in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42688/20]

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Written answers

The Question refers to a premises which is located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention, the contract for which was signed in November last with National Broadband Ireland (NBI).  I appreciate people's frustration when they are living so close to a fibre network but cannot get a connection to that network, particularly given the heightened importance of connectivity during the Covid-19 pandemic.The NBP will ensure that in all such cases a future proofed high speed broadband network will be built to serve these premises and work to deliver on this is underway.It will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 500Mbps from the outset. This represents an increase from the 150Mbps committed to under the Contract. The deployment plan forecasts premises passed in all counties within the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State having access to high speed broadband within the next four years.Further details are available on specific areas within County Kildare through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie. Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises as works commence. I am aware that concerns have been raised regarding the level of information available on the deployment of the NBI network and I am advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans.I am advised by NBI that, as of 3 December 2020, over 139,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed which is ahead of the full year survey target of 120,000 that had been projected by the company. Surveys have been completed in the following areas across Co Kildare, Killashee, Oughterard, Naas Rural, Rathmore, Kill, Kilteel, Carnalway, Gilltown, Ballymore Eustace, Bodenstown, Naas Urban, Newtown and Donaghcumper. The next step is for NBI to develop network designs to deliver the new fibre to the home network to these premises, followed by pre build and build works. I am advised that NBI intend to have completed surveys at this location in early 2021 and the indicative target commencement of network build at this location will be available following that work. The first fibre to the home connections are expected shortly in Carrigaline and  will be subject to technical testing and validation prior to a wider release of the area. I am advised that from early 2021 retailers will be able to resell the service and householders in these areas will be able to order high speed broadband provided via the NBI network.

Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 3 December, 217 sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Affairs for publicly available sites and by the Department of Education and Skills for schools. 59 publicly accessible BCPs across the country are now live. BCPs locations due for installation in Kildare include Backgate Lodge, Kilkee Demesne, Castledermot and Crookstown Further Education and Training Centre.  Bigstone Community Hall is now fully connected with public WiFi and Lullymore Heritage Park is installed and waiting connectivity.  Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/ .  Rathmore National School and St Davids National School in Co Kildare will be connected for educational access as part of this initiative by the end of the year. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education and Skills to prioritise other schools with no high speed broadband, within the intervention area for connection over the term of the NBP. In this regard, an acceleration of this aspect of the National Broadband Plan has just been announced which will see almost 700 primary schools connected to high speed broadband by 2022, well ahead of the original target delivery timeframe of 2026.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (210)

Bríd Smith

Question:

210. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if professional fees are paid by his Department on behalf of employees; if so, the total number involved; and the amount of each fee. [42699/20]

View answer

Written answers

The following Membership fees have been paid by My Department in 2020:

 Membership 

Fee Paid 

Irish Mining & Quarrying

250.00

Institue of Geologists

298.00

Institue of Geologists

213.00

Institue of Geologists

213.00

Institue of Geologists

213.00

Society of Chartered Surveyors

889.00

Chartered Institute of Civil Engineering Surveyors

312.75

ACCA

290.00

Law Society

170.00

Law Society

500.00

CIPD

163.00

CIPD

163.00

CIPD

163.00

Legal Island

995.00

Institute of Internal Audit

308.75

All fees are paid in line with Department of Finance Circular 47-01 Reimbursement of Membership Fees 

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (211)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

211. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport the annual budget his Department allocated to organisations that save lives, for example, coastguard and naval and search and rescue services for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42619/20]

View answer

Written answers

My Department provides funding to the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) as a principal search and rescue emergency service. The majority of current spend is on the IRCG Helicopter contract currently held by CHCI DAC.  Some funding is also provided to support other third party organisations involved in SAR activities including the Mountain and Cave Rescue Teams, Mountain Rescue Ireland, the Community Inshore Rescue Boat teams and Dublin Fire Brigade.  The bulk of capital expenditure relates to programme spend by the Irish Coast Guard, including provision for a building programme, IT upgrades, vehicle and boat fleet renewal, pollution equipment and maintenance of telecommunications infrastructure. The overall funding allocations for past five years are set out below.

YEAR

IRISH COASTGUARD FUNDING (€'000)

2020

76,475.

2019

77,235.

2018

74,004.

2017

71,485.

2016

70,085.

Brexit Issues

Questions (212)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

212. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if the Common Travel Area under Brexit agreements with the United Kingdom will be extended to allow UK driver licences to remain in operation by residents in Ireland. [42747/20]

View answer

Written answers

The Common Travel Area (CTA) is an arrangement between the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland that gives a variety of rights to citizens of those countries. It allows British and Irish citizens to travel freely between the UK and Ireland and reside in either jurisdiction. It also facilitates the enjoyment of associated rights and privileges for Irish citizens in the UK and British citizens in Ireland including the right to reside, to work, to study and to access social security benefits and health services, and to vote in local and national parliamentary elections. Through the Memorandum of Understanding signed on 8 May 2019,  Ireland and the UK confirm the commitment of both Governments to maintaining the CTA in all circumstances.

The CTA arrangements do not, however, and never have, extended to driving licences.

My Department and the Road Safety Authority have been advertising since early 2019 that people residing in Ireland who hold a UK licence will need to exchange it for an Irish driving licence before 31 December 2020. After this date, a UK driving licence will no longer be an EU licence and so will not be recognised as a valid licence for exchange purposes until a licence exchange agreement is in place between the UK and Ireland.

This may take some time to complete as it involves the signing of a formal agreement between both jurisdictions and the introduction of legislation here in Ireland, as well as corresponding steps by the UK. 

 

Road Network

Questions (213)

David Stanton

Question:

213. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport if he has received a request from Cork County Council to upgrade the R624 access road to Cobh and the Great Island to national road status; if so, when he will be in a position to make a decision on the request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42581/20]

View answer

Written answers

A request was received from Cork County Council in 2018 to reclassify the R624 access road to Cobh and Great Island as a national road.  Following consultation with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, my Department is not proposing to advance consideration of such a reclassification at present. 

Driver Licences

Questions (214)

Duncan Smith

Question:

214. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if a person is entitled to hold on to their UK driver licence once they swap for an Irish licence or if they lose that entitlement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42584/20]

View answer

Written answers

It is not possible to hold both a UK and Irish driving licence. The process of moving from a UK licence to an Irish licence is an exchange programme; the UK licence must be surrendered and exchanged for an Irish driving licence.  This is no more than the obvious corollary that drivers are required to obtain a driving licence in their country of residence, under EU law.  There is no provision in EU law for drivers to have more than one country of residence.

Brexit Issues

Questions (215)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

215. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons by county residing in Ireland using a UK driver licence; the way in which they will be impacted by Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42585/20]

View answer

Written answers

There is no way to establish how many people living in Ireland hold a UK licence; however, the Road Safety Authority estimates that there may be as many as 15,000 people who have yet to exchange their UK licence for an Irish licence before the deadline of 31 December.

Driving licences issued by the Member States of the European Union are mutually recognised. Therefore, a holder of an EU licence who moves to another Member State can drive on that licence until the licence expires. On expiry, the licence holder will then need to exchange their licence for the licence of the country they are now resident in. 

After the transition period (transition period ends 31 December 2020), the UK will no longer be a Member State and so a UK driving licence will not be recognised here. Holders of UK licences resident in Ireland have been encouraged since 2019 to exchange their UK licences for an Irish one in advance of 31 December 2020.

Legislation exists to allow for the recognition of foreign driving licences for exchange purposes in the Road Traffic Acts.  Following the transition period, the potential then exists for arrangements to be made under those Acts and Ireland will be pursuing this option. This may take a little time to complete as it involves a formal agreement and legislation here in Ireland, as well as corresponding steps by the UK.

Driver Licences

Questions (216)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

216. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Transport the breakdown by centre of the wait times for appointments to exchange a UK driver licence at an NDLS centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42586/20]

View answer

Written answers

Appointments in National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) centres are available to all who wish to apply for, renew or exchange driving licences.  No distinction is made on the type of application an appointment is booked for, therefore no breakdown is available. 

I would like to point out that my Department and the Road Safety Authority have been highlighting the need for UK licence holders to exchange their licences for Irish driving licences since early 2019, and urging licence holders to do so in plenty of time before the end of the Brexit transition period of 31 December 2020.  Following this, Irish residents who hold a UK driving licence will not be permitted to drive in Ireland.  It is not possible under EU law to grant an extension to this deadline.

However, the potential exists for arrangements to be made to enter into a formal licence exchange agreement with the UK, and Ireland will be pursuing this option. This may take a little time to complete as it involves a formal agreement and legislation here in Ireland, as well as corresponding steps by the UK.

The NDLS Customer Service are putting arrangements in place to manage the large number of queries in relation to exchanging UK licences for Irish licences. Those who have not yet exchanged their licences are urged to do so. Enquiries can be made by phoning the NDLS at 0761 087880 but as the NDLS currently deal with up to 1,000 calls daily, applicants can expect delays in accessing this telephone service.  Those living in Ireland now holding UK licences should not delay but make the necessary arrangements online for an appointment for exchanging their licence.  All the details they need can be found on the NDLS and RSA websites.

Brexit Preparations

Questions (217)

Michael McNamara

Question:

217. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport if all the supports possible will be put in place for the establishment of a direct daily service from Rosslare Port to ports in mainland Europe for example, Le Havre, Dieppe, Calais and Dunkirk along with a daily return service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42588/20]

View answer

Written answers

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, it is clear that there will be disruption to the GB landbridge when customs and border controls between the EU and the UK are introduced at the end of this month. Since the publication of the report, my Department, in conjunction with the IMDO, has been keeping the issue of direct shipping routes to the Continent under close review, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The IMDO recently reviewed the conclusions and recommendations in the 2018 GB Landbridge Study and in particular the issue of direct maritime connectivity and capacity to Continental Europe at the end of the transition period.  The IMDO analysis shows that there is sufficient capacity on existing direct services in the RoRo network between Ireland and mainland Europe to cater, if required, for all of the landbridge traffic currently estimated at around 150,000 trucks per annum.  The shipping industry serving Ireland have shown that they are resilient, responsive and capable, without State intervention, of adjusting to and satisfying market demand.

My Department has had very regular discussions with shipping companies and other maritime stakeholders about this issue since January 2019.  We have consistently received strong assurances from the shipping companies that if there is an increase in demand for shipping capacity on direct routes to Continental Europe, they will respond.  Additional shipping links were added on direct routes to Continental Europe even during the Covid-19 pandemic in Summer 2020, with further improvements and increases in capacity announced to take place starting from January 2021, including new RoRo (roll on roll off) services from Ireland to Zeebrugge, Santander and Portugal by CLdN. New LoLo (lift on lift-off) and Bulk services have also been added in the period. Increased frequency by Irish Ferries and Stena Line on the Ireland/Cherbourg routes from 1 January 2020 will mean that between them there will be a daily service available from Ireland to France. Brittany Ferries have also increased their number of sailings from next year.

Indeed, a new six-day per week RoRo service from Rosslare to Dunkirk was announced on 27 November to commence in  January 2020.  There will be three new vessels on the route with a journey time of 24 hours from Rosslare to Dunkerque, carrying around 120 trucks / trailers. 

Such announcements reinforce the IMDO report findings about the willingness and ability of the shipping sector to adjust and respond to market demand.

The Government considers that direct State intervention to establish State shipping links in the context of Brexit would be likely to undermine a market response resulting in an insufficient, inadequate and costly intervention being put in place. Such an intervention would be almost certain to result in legal challenges from shipping providers already providing services to Continental Europe, would result in breaches of EU state aid rules and consequent requirements for repayment of the state aids with interest, with resulting adverse impacts on the viability of any companies receiving such aid.  It could also create difficulties for the State in extricating itself from the shipping market.

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 from Ireland to 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 

A communications campaign is currently underway, "ACT now and Prepare to switch", which encourages importers and exporters to focus on the direct route option now. This campaign encourages stakeholders to Assess their current routes to market, Communicate their future needs clearly to shipping companies, and Trial alternative services so that disruption to the GB Landbridge route does not preclude Irish businesses from accessing foreign markets. 

My Department will continue to closely monitor and keep under review the evolving situation regarding maritime connectivity to continental ports and will remain in close consultation with the maritime sector and other relevant stakeholders, including importers, exporters and freight and logistics stakeholders, as we all prepare for the post Brexit scenario arising from January 2021.

Driver Test

Questions (218)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

218. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport when a person (details supplied) will receive a driver test date in Donegal town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42646/20]

View answer

Written answers

The scheduling of driving tests is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and I have no power to intervene in individual cases.

The  Deputy should be aware that the Road Safety Authority cannot schedule applicants for a driving test until the Authority has received the confirmation from the candidate's ADI Instructor that they have the completed 12 Essential Driver Training (EDT) sessions.  Under Level 5 of the COVID plan, in the interest of public health, driving tests were restricted only to essential workers, while driving lessons were limited to those with a test booking.  However, following the move to Level 3, that is no longer the case and lessons may now be obtained from an authorised driving instructor.

 If the person has completed their 12 EDT sessions, they may wish to request an urgent test. The Road Safety Authority has advised it is prioritising driver testing for essential workers and has set up a dedicated webform on its website www.rsa.ie. This webform will allow customers to assess whether they qualify for an urgent test appointment and if so, to submit an application for same. If the applicant’s request is accepted, they will be placed on a short notice list.

Brexit Issues

Questions (219, 220)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

219. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Transport when his Department first flagged the unique issue related to transport managers in Ireland in relation to Brexit with the European Commission; when his Department first contacted transport managers in relation to the need to obtain an Irish qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42692/20]

View answer

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

220. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Transport if he has investigated the possibility of directly transferring the qualifications of experienced transport manager without the need to sit the transport management examination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42693/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 220 together.

EU legislation sets out a number of requirements to be satisfied in order to hold a road transport operator licence, one of which is professional competence. To fulfil this requirement, every road transport undertaking established in Ireland (or in any other EU Member State) must have a nominated Transport Manager who resides in the EU to effectively and continuously manage its transport activities. The Transport Manager must hold a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) in either Road Haulage or Road Passenger Transport, depending on the nature of the operator's business. This certificate must be issued by an EU Member State and is ordinarily obtained by passing a written examination.

As highlighted by the European Commission in their notice to stakeholders in 2018 and more recently in July of this year, after the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December any Transport Manager CPC issued by an authority of the United Kingdom or a body authorised by the United Kingdom will no longer be valid to work for an EU operator. As part of the Government's Brexit preparations, my Department carried out a review and identified approximately 200 individuals with a UK-issued Transport Manager CPC who are currently nominated as Transport Manager for Irish road transport operators. The Department wrote to these Transport Managers and the relevant operators in October 2019 to highlight the position as outlined by the European Commission and communicated with them again last month in this regard.

The matter of UK-issued Transport Manager CPCs held by Transport Managers working for Irish operators is among the issues that have been raised by my Department in ongoing engagement with the European Commission in the context of Brexit. The matter similarly impacts, for example, on people living in the EU and working for other EU-based operators but holding a UK-issued Transport Manager CPC. The Commission recently provided clarification that a corresponding Irish Transport Management CPC may be issued to UK-qualified individuals working for Irish operators, before the end of the Brexit transition period. This means that these Transport Managers will not now be required to undertake an Irish examination in order to continue to work as Transport Manager for an Irish or other EU operator.

In view of this clarification, my Department has established arrangements with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) for the application process to obtain a corresponding Irish Transport Management CPC. CILT is the body with responsibility for issuing Transport Management CPCs in Ireland on behalf of my Department. A further communication has now been issued by my Department to affected Transport Managers to outline how to contact CILT in order to obtain an Irish Transport Manager CPC.

It is important to note that application must be made to CILT by 31 December 2020, as after that date it will not be possible to obtain an Irish Transport Management CPC on the basis of holding a UK certificate. My Department has emphasised this point to affected Transport Managers and has urged them to contact CILT as soon as possible.

No fee will apply in this case for obtaining an Irish Transport Management CPC.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (221)

Bríd Smith

Question:

221. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if professional fees are paid by his Department on behalf of employees; if so, the total number involved; and the amount of each fee. [42711/20]

View answer

Written answers

The Department of Transport pays professional fees relevant to the role of employees. The total amount paid for the 12 month period to the 7th December 2020 is €3,308.40. This is in respect of 8 employees and was paid to the following professional bodies:

Chartered Governance Institute £345.00 (€390.09)

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development £163.00 (€184.31)

Chartered Accountants Ireland €1,164.00

Certified Public Accountants €615.00 

Engineer's Ireland €955.00 

Driver Test

Questions (222)

Neale Richmond

Question:

222. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport the measures that will be introduced to ensure that the waiting list for driver tests will be cleared as quickly as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42715/20]

View answer

Written answers

My Department is in constant contact with the Road Safety Authority since the start of the pandemic regarding all of its services, the impact of Covid-19 on those services, and how they can best be maintained in the current circumstances.  

As you are aware, car driving tests were first temporarily suspended due to Covid-19 in March 2020. The service resumed, on a gradual basis, in mid-July.   

Since resuming operations, there has inevitably been an increased level of demand due to the consequent backlog.  Unfortunately, due to social distancing and other public health and hygiene requirements, service capacity has had to be considerably reduced. This means that customers experience longer waiting times than was the case before the service was suspended.   

In addition, Level 5 restrictions which took effect for six weeks from 22 October 2020 to the 01 December, meant that driving tests were only available to those involved in essential services, including essential retail work. While I regret the inconvenience caused, public safety must remain of paramount importance.  

The Road Safety Authority is currently examining ways of increasing the number of tests within health constraints and is working in close consultation with my Department on this matter. This includes increasing the number of testing staff to help reduce and, over time, eliminate the backlog.  

My Department has recently approved the retention by the RSA of 18 temporary driver testers whose contracts were due to expire in October and November, and the RSA has also rehired a further 18 temporary testers whose contracts expired in May. This will help to increase testing capacity. 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 within current health constraints. Due to the additional hygiene and sanitation procedures that are now absolutely necessary, each testing slot now takes a much longer time to complete. As a result, the number of tests a tester can safely conduct per day was reduced from eight to five when the service reopened.  Following experience of managing the tests under Covid restrictions, this was increased to six in mid-September. This may be raised to 7, depending on health assurance, but not until January 2021 at the earliest.  

The Department has been in discussions with the RSA on how to return to the normal target for the maximum waiting time, which is around ten weeks.  It is clear that it will not be possible to arrive at this quickly, given restraints which must be in place due to the pandemic.  It is important to recognise that there are no quick fixes and that the continuing build-up of applications as the pandemic goes on means that it will take time to reach a normal waiting time.

Transport Infrastructure Provision

Questions (223)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

223. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if local authorities can apply for funding out of the fund announced on 4 December 2020 of €50 million for investment in walking and cycling projects for areas outside of towns and villages in which an estimated 30% of the population live (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42727/20]

View answer

Written answers

I was delighted to be able to announce  the creation of the new fund which is specifically designed to support active travel projects in those local authorities that have heretofore not traditionally had access to dedicated active travel funding.

My specific intention with this fund is we support active travel projects across Ireland and seek to ensure that active travel is supported outside of the major cities and into towns and villages, and more rural areas too, across the country.

It is open to local authorities to put forward projects to the National Transport Authority (NTA) in line with the criteria set out in last week's annoucement and I understand that the NTA will be writing to local authorities in the coming days.

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