Written Answers Nos. 162-181
162. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of applications for the wheelchair-accessible vehicle grant scheme in 2019 and to date in 2020; the number of grants awarded in each year; the amount awarded in 2019 and to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42957/20]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector, including administration of grants for wheelchair accessible SPSVs, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.
Accordingly, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
163. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of electric SPSVs in operation to date in 2020; the number of hybrid SPSVs in operation to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42958/20]
View answer164. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of applications for electric vehicle grants for SPSVs in 2019 and to date in 2020; the number of individual grants awarded in both years; the value awarded in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42959/20]
View answer165. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of applications for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle grants for SPSVs in 2019 and to date in 2020; the number of individual grants awarded in both years; the value awarded in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42960/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 163, 164 and 165 together.
An efficient and low emitting public transport system is a key priority of my Department, and the transition of the Small Public Service Vehicle (SPSV) sector (which includes taxis, hackneys and limousines) to low emission vehicles has been a particular focus in recent years. This reflects the fact that, despite representing less than 1% of the registered vehicle fleet, SPSVs can have a disproportionately high impact on transport emission levels, particularly in urban areas. This is due to the high mileage travelled by these vehicles, the stop/start and idling nature of their work, as well as the predominance of fossil fuels within the sector.
Using 2015 data it is estimated that carbon dioxide emissions from the SPSV sector amounted to 112 kilotonnes or 28% of total public passenger (bus, hackney & taxi) emissions for that year. This calculation assumes an average annual vehicle kilometres for SPSVs of 38,000km (in 2019 the average annual kms were estimated at just over 39,000km).
The transition of the SPSV fleet towards zero-emission and zero-emission capable vehicles therefore has an important role to play in effecting a substantial reduction in transport carbon dioxide and of air pollutant emissions, particularly in Irish towns and cities. Additionally, increasing the uptake of EVs in the SPSV sector can have a strong leadership and demonstration effect on the public, introducing more people to low/zero emission mobility options.
Following recommendations by the Low Emission Vehicle Taskforce in 2018, my Department established an Electric Small Public Service Vehicle (eSPSV) Grant Scheme, which is administered on behalf of the Department by the National Transport Authority (NTA). The Grant offers up to €10,000 towards the purchase of an eSPSV, with a further €2,500 available to convert the vehicle to a wheelchair accessible model. It also provides support of up to €5,000 for the purchase of plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) SPSVs. The eSPSV Grant Scheme can also be used in conjunction with other incentives for EV drivers, including VRT relief, lower rates of motor tax, and a reduction in road toll charges.
Since the launch of the eSPSV Grant in 2018, 94 SPSV drivers around the country have availed of the grant and changed to an electric vehicle, including 11 who drive PHEV eSPSVs. This is in addition to the 2,696 conventional hybrid SPSVs currently in operation on Ireland’s roads. In 2019, just over 11.5% of the SPSV fleet were hybrid or zero and low emission vehicles, compared to just under 2% of the fleet in 2015. The 94 electric cars in operation in 2019 also represents a significant increase, albeit from a low base, from the 4 electric SPSVs that were in service in 2015.
In 2019, 115 applications were made for electric vehicle grants under the eSPSV Scheme, with 35 individual grants awarded. The total value of grants awarded under the Scheme in that year was €187,000. In the same year, 31 applications for eSPSV grants for PHEVs were made, with 7 individual grants awarded, and grant funds to a total value of €13,000 awarded to support PHEV SPSVs.
Despite the significant negative impact that the Covid-19 crisis has had on the eSPSV sector, since 01 January 2020, 80 electric vehicle grant applications were made to the Scheme, with 20 individual grants awarded. The total value of grants awarded to date this year is €159,000. Twenty-five (25) applications for PHEV eSPSV grants were made since January, with 4 individual grants awarded, and grant funding to a total value of €19,000 awarded to support PHEV SPSVs.
166. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the budget allocation for the rural transport programme in each of the years 2016 to 2020; the number of passengers carried in each of the years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42961/20]
View answer167. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of passengers carried in each county under the rural transport programme in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42962/20]
View answer168. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of individual buses assigned to the rural transport programme by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42963/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 166, 167 and 168 together.
As 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 operates under the Local Link brand.
As I advised the Deputy in my answer to his Question (Ref 18190/20) of 28th July 2020, my Department provides aggregate funding for Local Link services to the NTA. Since 2018 the total annual allocation for Local Link services has included funding for rural regular services, funded from Public Service Obligation (PSO) funding. In my reply of 28th July, I advised the Deputy that the total allocations for the years in question, including the aforementioned PSO allocation for the years since 2018, are
2016 - €12.2m
2017 - €14.4m
2018 - €19.5m
2019 - €21.0m
2020 - €23.4m
In light of the NTA's responsibilities regarding Local Link services, I have referred your Questions in relation to the number of passenger journeys for this period, for 2019 by county, and the number of buses assigned by county, to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
169. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost to Ireland of the A5 upgrade, the Narrow Water Bridge, a high-speed rail connection upgrade on the Belfast-Dublin-Limerick Junction Cork line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42964/20]
View answerIn Budget 2021, An Taoiseach announced that the Irish Government is providing the resources to deliver on its commitment to build a shared island underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. In this context, An Taoiseach launched the Shared Island Fund with a planned €500 million to be made available over the next five years to 2025.
Funding will be allocated to Government Departments and Agencies to fund a variety of cross-border projects, in line with commitments in the Programme for Government which includes working with the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver key cross-border infrastructure initiatives.
A5 Upgrade Scheme
Under the “Fresh Start Agreement” the Irish Government is committed to providing funding of £75 million (sterling) for the construction of Phase 1a of the proposed upgrade of the A5 road. The Government's commitment to provide funding of £75 million (sterling) is also now included in the "New Decade, New Approach" document.
As is the case for all such capital projects, the A5 upgrade scheme is subject to the planning assessment and approval process in Northern Ireland. Following the conclusion in 2018 of a legal challenge which resulted in the quashing of the previous approval of the A5 upgrade scheme, the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure initiated a review of the scheme, including the holding of a new Public Inquiry, with a view to facilitating a new decision on the scheme. This process has not yet reached a conclusion.
Narrow Water Bridge
Following on from the Fresh Start Agreement, the "New Decade, New Approach" document indicates that the Government is ready to jointly progress consideration of options for the development of the Narrow Water bridge project at the North South Ministerial Council.
Options for the development of the Narrow Water Bridge project are under examination at present taking into account other proposed projects in the area including the Newry Southern Relief Road. Consideration of options for a bridge has not yet reached a sufficiently advanced stage where there is a clearly defined and costed scheme.
High Speed Rail Connection
The Department is about to undertake a strategic review of the rail network including a study of rail speeds on the Belfast-Dublin-Cork line and the potential for high-speed rail. It is that study that will provide an indicative level of potential cost associated with the development of high-speed rail.
170. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport the schemes, grants and supports in place in his Department for car rental firms, in particular for their extensive fleets of cars that have not been utilised during the pandemic; and if further supports are under consideration for such companies. [43014/20]
View answerMy Department does not operate any such grant or support schemes for car rental firms.
Car rental firms are private companies, and the Government, as part of their general response to the Covid-19 crisis, has introduced a range of measures for ALL companies whose business is directly affected by the pandemic.
I understand that these measures can be applied for through Enterprise Ireland.
171. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport if he will address the anomaly with applications for the over-70s driver licence given that a five-year licence can be accessed by post but a ten-year licence requires the applicant to attend in person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43015/20]
View answerIn response to the Covid-19 crisis, those 70 years of age have been invited to renew their licence or permit by post. Previously only those aged 70 and over who renew their licence on a yearly basis were invited to renew it by post. As a temporary measure, given the situation with Covid-19, the Road Safety Authority (RSA), through the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS), has expanded the postal renewal option to those over 70 who renew their licence every three years.
Drivers over 70 are not issued licences for 5 or 10 years; drivers in this age group can be issued a licence for either 3 years, or for one year (the shorter duration would be on the advice of their doctor).
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.
172. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number waiting for driver tests by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43017/20]
View answerSpecific details on the numbers awaiting a driver test by county are held by the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred this question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
173. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number waiting for driver theory tests by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43018/20]
View answerSpecific details on the numbers awaiting a driver theory test by county are held by the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred this question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
174. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport if he will request the NTA to arrange a limited Nitelink service over the Christmas 2020 period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43020/20]
View answerAs the Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
The issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with Dublin Bus and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
175. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Transport the State funding provided to Bus Éireann in each of the years 2010 to 2020; the number of passengers carried in each year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43033/20]
View answer176. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Transport the State funding provided to Iarnród Éireann in each of the years 2010 to 2020; the number of passengers carried in each year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43034/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 176 together.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. Since 2010, the award of Public Service Obligation (PSO) funding falls under the independent statutory remit of the NTA. The allocations to individual companies, including Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, are decided by the NTA in accordance with the various contract arrangements that it has in place with PSO service providers. The NTA is also responsible for the collection and publication of statistics relating to public transport.
Therefore, I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
177. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Transport the projects that fall under the remit of his Department that will be funded between 2021 and 2030 under Project Ireland 2040; the funding that will be allocated to each project; the current status of each project, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43035/20]
View answer186. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a list of projects that fall under the remit of his Department that will be funded between 2021 to 2030 under Project Ireland 2040; the funding that will be allocated to each project; the status of each project, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43236/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 186 together.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) Project Tracker available at the link below provides a high level of detail in terms of individual NDP projects and is updated periodically.
The NDP is due to be reviewed in 2021. Any changes to the NDP will, of course, be published and the Tracker will reflect those changes.
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/6db7c4-investment-projects-and-programmes-tracker/
178. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport if drivers who had their driver licences extended beyond the deadline due to Covid-19 will not have to resit their driver test in order to renew them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43036/20]
View answerAll driving licences that expired between 1 March and 31 August 2020 were extended for 7 months. New licence cards were not issued, but the extension period is reflected on the driver's electronic licence record. The extended date is now the new expiry date of the licence.
A person does not have to re-sit their driving test if they renew their licence within 10 years of the date of expiry of the licence.
179. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Transport when the post of chairperson of the Shannon Group will be filled. [43092/20]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for her question in relation to the appointment of a Chairperson to the Board of Shannon Group.
The position of Chairperson of Shannon Group was advertised by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) and the closing date for receipt of applications was 14 October last. An Assessment Panel has been convened by PAS to consider the applications received. I expect to receive a shortlist of the most suitably qualified candidates shortly and I hope to be in a position to appoint a new Chairperson to Shannon Group in the coming weeks.
180. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport the current status of the referral under section 41(7) of the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 of the matter of IAA staff pensions; the reason increases in pension payments have not been awarded in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43115/20]
View answerI can confirm that two submissions on pension schemes have been made on behalf of some staff of the Irish Aviation Authority. Both of these submssions are in accordance with Section 41 of the Irish Aviation Authority Act, 1993 which provides that a dispute on superannuation benefit may be submitted to the Minister for Transport for final determination by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
I am not able to comment on the details of the submissions at this point but can advise the Deputy that it will be considered in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
181. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport the efforts being made to reduce waiting times for driver tests across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43202/20]
View answerMy 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.
