Written Answers Nos. 150-177
150. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport if he has considered holding the driver theory test online to clear the backlog and allow it to proceed during Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11783/21]
View answerAt the request of my Department, the RSA in collaboration with the Driver Theory Test service provider, are working on a plan to rollout an online driver theory test service. During the pilot phase, remote testing will be available for specific categories of Theory Test (C, D, CD, BMT, TMT, ADI, CPCB, CPCT).
Following a review of the pilot phase, the RSA expect the initiative to be extended for car and motorcycles in the future.
The RSA are keen to progress and extend the service to all categories of Driver Theory Test, however scaling up operations to facilitate higher numbers will take time to achieve.
The RSA, together with its service provider, have put plans in place to significantly increase capacity within the in-person service for when it is allowed to re-open. To cope with the initial four-month suspension in 2020, the service increased capacity from an average pre Covid-19 capacity of 15,000 to over 25,000 monthly. A plan is being progressed to increase this capacity up to 50,000 per month when service resumes, to manage the backlog of customers and shorten waiting times.
The extension of Level 5 restrictions will impact on how quickly the backlog plan can be delivered and the position will be reviewed again when Level 5 is lifted .
151. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport the specific options currently being considered for the Narrow Water Bridge project; the expected timeframe for a defined and costed scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11804/21]
View answerOptions 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 and the potential extension of the Newry to Carlingford Greenway.
Consideration of options for a bridge has not yet reached a sufficiently advanced stage where there is a clearly defined and costed scheme.
I and my officials will continue to liaise with Minister Mallon and her officials in the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland regarding all the options.
152. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport the number of passengers arriving into each airport in Ireland on a weekly basis since 1 January 2021 by country of original departure in tabular form and not country of last departure as is listed in the weekly aviation statistics. [11816/21]
View answer168. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport if a consideration will be given to publishing international arrivals from category 2 designated states based on the original country of departure in the weekly aviation statistics in the interests of transparency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12168/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 168 together.
The statistics compiled by my Department are published and available on the Department's website.
The Statistics are gathered with the assistance of the Airport Authorities, who have no power or jurisdiction to gather data on passenger movements. The Aviation statistics only take account of the passengers arriving on direct flights and do not and cannot gather data on passengers and their original point of departure.
The Deputy may be aware that in filling out the passenger locator form which is a requirement for entering the State, passengers are requested to provide information on their country of departure and all countries visited in the past 14 days. The Department of Health is the data controller in relation to this form.
153. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport his plans to encourage the four Dublin local authorities possibly through the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly to examine the establishment of a Dublin regional bike-sharing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11822/21]
View answer170. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the status of the public bike schemes in Cork, Limerick and Galway cities in each of the years 2017 to 2020; the number of registered users annually; the number of bike trips taken annually; the number of complaints regarding the condition of bikes and-or bike stations annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12174/21]
View answer171. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the details of plans to develop and expand public bike schemes in Cork, Limerick and Galway cities including planned expansion sites and plans to deploy e-bikes and bikes suitable for those with different physical capacities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12175/21]
View answer172. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the details of investment in and cost of the public bike schemes in Cork, Limerick and Galway cities in each of the years 2017 to 2020; the amount spent on the schemes; the amount of revenue collected through registration and usage fees; the revenue from sponsorship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12176/21]
View answer173. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if he will make available the tendering process for the establishment and maintenance of public bike schemes in Cork, Limerick and Galway cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12177/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 170 to 173, inclusive, together.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to cycling and public transport infrastructure. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of the management of public bike schemes. Details regarding contracts, operation and expansion of existing and proposed bike schemes fall under the remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA), working in conjunction with the relevant local authorities.
Noting the NTA's responsibilities in the matter, I have referred your question to the NTA for a more detailed reply . Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days
154. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport his plans to establish new schemes, funding and national regulations to encourage more entrants to the car-sharing market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11823/21]
View answerI agree with the Deputy that shared mobility has a part to play as we seek to achieve a fundamental change in the nature of transport in Ireland.
Of course shared mobility is not necessarily a new concept and we already have successful examples here in Ireland both in terms of shared bike schemes and also shared car schemes which operate across the country, mainly in the five cities. In relation to shared car schemes specifically, these are principally market-driven initiatives which are supported by local authorities through a variety of means such as access to on-street parking.
The Deputy is likely aware that my Department is currently carrying out a review of sustainable mobility policy. Since the end of the public consultation last year, it has analysed more than 250 submissions that were received, and a report of that consultation process was published on the Departmental website. That report provides an overview of the types of stakeholder who engaged with the consultation process and summarises the different thematic areas raised, including car-sharing.
In that report the Deputy will see a number of ideas were submitted with regard to promoting shared mobility schemes. The Deputy will also see that there were different views expressed in relation to the regulation of such schemes ranging from those advocating a very permissive regulatory framework to others who argued that good quality regulation would be crucial to guarantee safety, address environmental concerns and ensure consumer protection
My Department is now developing a new policy framework for the next 10 years that can provide a strategic backdrop to the increased investment planned by this Government across the sustainable mobility programme as outlined in the Programme for Government – A Shared Future . The aim is to develop a policy framework that better supports sustainable mobility to provide for an increased use of active travel and public transport.
Once the new policy framework is refined further, we will engage with stakeholders in the coming months and I look forward to that engagement in due course.
155. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport the status of the original plan for the 22 km Dublin Bay Sutton to Sandycove cycle route, S2S, which was planned as a predominantly off-road route running alongside the DART line as part of a wider east coast greenway from Belfast to Rosslare; the details of all meetings his officials held with Dublin City Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council regarding the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11824/21]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including cycling and walking infrastructure.
Details of individual projects are matters for the NTA and the relevant local authorities, accordingly I have referred your question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
156. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport the status of a driver licence application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11988/21]
View answerAll enquires relating to driver licensing are handled by the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS), provided by the Road Safety Authority (RSA). My Department does not have access to individual applications.
I have forwarded the Deputy's query to the RSA for direct reply. If he has not heard from them in 10 working days I would ask that he contact my office directly.
157. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport the schedule now being followed in respect of proposed legislation to deal with the menace of quad bikes and scramblers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12008/21]
View answerOn 16 February, the Government approved proposals which I brought forward to legislate to deal with the anti-social use of scramblers and other similar vehicles. This legislation will be brought forward by way of amendments at committee stage to the forthcoming Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.
The timing of the introduction of these proposals is therefore dependent on the Bill. Drafting of the Bill itself is well-advanced in the Office of the Attorney General. However, as the Deputy will be aware, it is standard practice for the relevant Joint Oireachtas Committee (JOC) to have an opportunity to conduct pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme of a Bill before publication.
The General Scheme of this Bill was sent to the JOC in November 2019. Due to the dissolution, election, and subsequent period before the formation of the Government, as well as the inevitable impact of the pandemic on the work of the Committee, this scrutiny has yet to take place.
It is my hope that scrutiny by the JOC can take place quickly, followed soon after by the publication of the Bill. The scrutiny process will assist the Committee in being better prepared to study the Bill during Committee Stage.
As the date of scrutiny is a matter for the JOC, and as the assignment of Dáil time for the Bill cannot be determined until it is published, I cannot therefore offer the Deputy a precise schedule for the passage of the legislation. I would like to assure him, however, that it is my intention to see it passed as soon as possible.
158. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if he will grant an extension for learning permits and certificates of competence in line with the extension of driver licences in view of the pandemic. [12012/21]
View answerA further extension to the validity of learner permits is currently being considered. A decision will be made shortly.
Certificates of competency, which are issued when a person passes are driving test, are meant to be submitted with an application for a person's first full driving licence. They are valid for two years. While regulations were brought in to extend the validity period of certificates of competency during the first lockdown in 2020, I have no plans at present to bring in a further extension at this time. However, this matter remains under review.
159. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport when he will fully implement regulation 2021/267 published in the Official Journal of the European Union with regard to the automatic prolongation of validity of authorisation with respect to a further derogation on the driver's card, CPC card, tachograph calibration and DOE certificate; and if he will further implement the derogation to each. [12039/21]
View answerThe extensions provided for under Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2021/267 in relation to driver CPC qualification cards and periodic training will be implemented from 6th March.
Previous extensions to test due dates for Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Tests (CVRT) were granted as a direct result of the suspension to the CVRT roadworthiness testing service from 25 March 2020 to 18 May 2020. As there has been no further suspension to the CVRT service, additional extensions to CVRT test due dates are not necessary and accordingly the provisions provided under Article 5 of the Regulation are not required.
As the CVRT centres are also open for tachograph calibrations and the digital tachograph card issuing unit are processing card applications as normal, extensions are not required under Article 4 of the Regulation concerning the regular inspections of tachographs, the renewal of driver cards, and the replacement of driver cards.
160. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Transport his plans to extend the validity of motorbike initial basic training certificates given the extension of level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12075/21]
View answerThe validity period of Initial Basic Training (IBT) certificates is set out in legislation. Making a change to the validity of an existing certificate requires a change in law.
My Department is currently considering proposals from the Road Safety Authority to extend the validity period of IBT certificates.
161. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport the status of a bus test for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12077/21]
View answerI wish to make you aware that the operation of the tests is handled by the RSA. My Department does not have access to individual applications nor have I any power to intervene in individual cases.
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.
162. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to extend the deadline for holders of TM CPC UK certificates to exchange same for EU or Irish certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12089/21]
View answerMy Department received clarification in late November 2020 from the European Commission that holders of a Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (TM CPC) issued by a competent authority in the UK could request a corresponding CPC from the competent authority in the Member State where they live or where the road transport operator employing them is established, as long as the request was submitted before the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020. My Department wrote to all TM CPC holders working as Transport Managers for Irish road transport operators to inform them of this position, urging them to apply for a corresponding Irish (EU) certificate.
As the deadline applicable has now passed, any persons who wish to act as Transport Manager for an Irish/EU operator must obtain a TM CPC issued by an EU Member State. Obtaining an Irish TM CPC requires passing the examination administered by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) on behalf of my Department. Candidates who already hold a UK-issued TM CPC will not be required to undertake the training course of 100 hours that is normally mandatory before taking the examination. The next dates for the TM CPC examination are 31 March and 30 June 2021 and candidates can register online with CILT for either examination session.
A transport manager holding an EU TM CPC and working for a road transport operator in an EU Member State, including Ireland, must reside in an EU Member State.
163. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider bringing car and tractor theory tests online in line with bus and lorry theory tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12102/21]
View answerAt the request of my Department, the RSA in collaboration with the Driver Theory Test service provider, are working on a plan to rollout an online driver theory test service. During the pilot phase, remote testing will be available for specific categories of Theory Test (C, D, CD, BMT, TMT, ADI, CPCB, CPCT).
Following a review of the pilot phase, the RSA expect the initiative to be extended for car and motorcycles in the future.
The RSA are keen to progress and extend the service to all categories of Driver Theory Test, however scaling up operations to facilitate higher numbers will take time to achieve.
164. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if he has engaged with National Broadband Ireland on any aspect of broadband provision in the past six months; and the outcome of any engagement. [12130/21]
View answerI can confirm that, in my capacity as Minister for Transport, I have not engaged with National Broadband Ireland on any aspect of broadband provision in the past six months.
165. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the status of the introduction of Leap cards and associated fares on the Mallow to Cork rail line. [12134/21]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for regulating fares charged by public transport operators.
I have, therefore, 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.
166. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the status of the introduction of contactless ticketing for bus services in Cork. [12135/21]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including ticketing infrastructure.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
167. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Transport if funding is provided to local authorities for the maintenance and upkeep of all types of roads on the islands; the funding provided by local authorities to the islands for their roads over the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12159/21]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the Council.
Within the budget available to my Department for regional and local road grants, grant funding is allocated on the basis of grant programmes and not on the basis of the category of road. The allocation of funding across specific roads or across categories is a matter for each local authority, having regard to the funding available to it from local and central sources as well as its particular priorities.
The main regional and local road grant programmes are focussed on specific policy objectives i.e. surface sealing to protect the road surface from water damage, road strengthening based on pavement condition rating to lengthen the life of roads and a Discretionary Grant Scheme which allows for a specified range of activities including winter maintenance. These 3 grant programmes account for most of the grant funding and are allocated taking into account the length of the road network and traffic factors in a particular local authority area.
As regards the funding provided by local authorities to the islands for their roads over the past three years, details of the regional and local road grant allocations and payments to local authorities are outlined in the regional and local road allocations and payments booklets which are available in the Oireachtas Library. For the main grant programmes the apportionment of grant monies between individual Municipal Districts is a matter for decision by each Local Authority.
169. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport if concerns raised by employees in a company (details supplied) in respect of future supports will receive a response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12172/21]
View answerThe Government has put in place a range of supports for businesses, including those in the aviation sector. The supports include the wage subsidy scheme, alleviation of commercial rates, deferral of tax liabilities, the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme, the Credit Guarantee Scheme, and the SBCI Working Capital Scheme.
As regards supports specifically targeted at the protection of employment, the Employment Wage Subsidy Schemes (EWSS) has been a key component of the Government's response to the COVID-19 crisis to support viable firms and encourage employment amid these very challenging times and has been extended to the end of June 2021
In November, the Government also agreed a revised €80 million funding package specifically for Irish aviation in recognition of the very difficult circumstances facing the sector. The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €26 million Irish aid scheme to compensate airport operators for the losses caused by the coronavirus outbreak and the travel restrictions imposed by Ireland to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The aid consists of three measures: a damage compensation measure; an aid measure to support the airport operators up to a maximum of €1.8 million per beneficiary; and an aid measure to support the uncovered fixed costs of these companies. The aid will take the form of direct grants.
Any additional supports designed to facilitate growth of air traffic can only be progressed at the appropriate time, taking account of the outlook for the easing of travel restrictions and improving wider epidemiological conditions.
I will continue to monitor the financial impact of COVID-19 on the Irish aviation sector on an ongoing basis in consultation with relevant Government Ministers and all key stakeholders.
176. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Finance his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding car imports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11745/21]
View answerI am informed by Revenue that the person concerned has been in contact with them and has been advised on the documentation required to enable registration.
177. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the proposed sale of a loan book by a bank (details supplied) which includes loans which the bank had previously agreed to sell to a voluntary housing body in which the owners of the properties involved would revert to a tenancy agreement with the voluntary housing body; if he will intervene to ensure that this particular cohort of the loan book is sold as previously agreed to the voluntary housing body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12019/21]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, as Minister for Finance I have no role in the day to day operations of any bank operating within the State including banks in which the State has a shareholding. I'm precluded from intervening on behalf of any individual customer in any particular bank. Decisions in relation to commercial matters are the sole responsibility of the board and management of the banks, which must be run on an independent and commercial basis. The independence of banks in which the state has a shareholding is protected by Relationship Frameworks which are legally binding documents that cannot be changed unilaterally. These frameworks, which are publicly available, were insisted upon by the European Commission to protect competition in the Irish market
Non-performing exposures (NPE's) remain at an elevated level across the European banking system and addressing this issue is one of the key priorities for the European banking supervisor. In Ireland significant progress has been made across the banking sector in reducing the level of NPEs since the financial crisis mainly through loan by loan restructuring in addition to a number of loan disposals.
Despite this progress, the level of NPEs in the Irish system remains well above the European average and some time ago the supervisory authority tasked the management and board of each institution with developing and implementing a strategy to address this challenge. The banks have no choice but to respond.
You will recall that in 2018 my Department brought forward legislation to ensure that the contractual rights and obligations of a customer are not altered by the sale of a loan and customers will continue to benefit from, and fall under the scope of applicable regulations, whether with their bank or a third party servicing entity. In this regard - the Consumer Protection (Regulation of Credit Servicing Firms) Act ensures that relevant borrowers whose loans are sold are afforded the regulatory protections they had prior to the sale. All of the customer's rights under their existing terms and conditions will remain in place post transfer.
