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Wednesday, 24 Mar 2021

Written Answers Nos. 51 - 59

Road Network

Questions (55)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

55. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport the status of investment in major road infrastructure in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15539/21]

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Written answers

Responsibility of TII and the Department

Firstly, I would like to explain that, once funding arrangements have been put in place through my Department, under the Roads Act 1993-2015, the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

Overall, TII is responsible for the delivery of the National Roads Programme in accordance with Project Ireland 2040 and the National Development Plan (NDP).

In that context, TII provides my Department with regular updates on its delivery of the National Roads Programme. The following information is the most up to-date information available to me on TII’s delivery of projects in Cavan and Monaghan.

Background

Within the overall context of Project Ireland 2040, the NDP was developed to underpin the successful implementation of the National Planning Framework (NPF).  This provides the strategic and financial framework for the National Roads Programme for the period from 2018 to 2027. The focus of TII's activities is, accordingly, being directed towards the development of the major national road improvement schemes that are included in the NDP, along with the maintenance of the existing national road network.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to bring forward the review of the NDP from 2022 and to use the review to set out an updated NDP for the period out to 2030. The review of the NDP will be aligned with the National Planning Framework (NPF) and Project Ireland 2040.  Work is underway within my Department to contribute to this review.

I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight that all projects, including those listed in the NDP or any revision to the NDP, require statutory approval and compliance with the Public Spending Code.

The three projects outlined below have been subject to pre-appraisal in compliance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code and Common Appraisal Framework. Following my Department’s Strategic Research and Analysis Division’s confirmation that the Project Appraisal Proposals comply with the Public Spending Code and the Common Appraisal Framework, the schemes have been included in a portfolio of projects to be progressed to Phases 1 to 4 of Planning and Design.

N3 Virginia Bypass

The N3 Virginia Bypass is a 13km improvement scheme extending from the end of the existing N3 dual carriageway at the Cavan/Meath border to Lisgrey north of Virginia Town.

Current Status

Technical Advisors have been appointed to progress planning and design of the scheme and Phase 1 Concept and Feasibility was completed in Q4, 2019, and Phase 2 Option Selection commenced in Q1, 2020.  The public consultation on the scheme commenced on 11 November 2020 and concluded on 15 January 2021. It is anticipated that the Emerging Preferred option will be established in Q3 2021. TII allocated €1 million to the project in 2021.

Benefits

- Support economic growth by increasing network capacity and reducing travel times between Dublin and the North-West;

- Improved road safety by reducing frequency and severity of collisions;

- Environmental improvements in noise, air and water quality for Virginia Town and Lough Ramor, which is a proposed Natural Heritage Area; and,

- Improved access to the National road network for the towns of Ballyjamesduff and Bailieborough.

N2 Ardee to south of Castleblayney and N2 Clontibret to the Border

The N2 Ardee to south of Castleblayney scheme is a circa 32km improvement scheme located on a Trans-European Comprehensive Network (TEN-T) route. The N2 Clontibret to the Border project is a circa 28km improvement scheme, also located on the same TEN-T route.

Current Status

Technical Service providers have been appointed to progress planning and design of both schemes. Currently the schemes are at the Option Selection stage and three Public Consultations have been carried out between June 2019 and October 2020. The Preferred Route Corridors and Option Selection Reports were published on 9th February 2021 and the Gate Review Statements requesting approval from TII to go to design and environmental evaluation for the two projects were submitted in February 2021. TII confirmed approval for both projects to proceed to phase 3 of the Project Management Guidelines. TII allocated €1.3 million to the N2 Ardee to south of Castleblayney project and €1.2 million to the Clontibret to the Border project for 2021.

Benefits of both projects

- Improved Road Safety;

- Enhanced access between Dublin and the North-West region;

- Reduced travel costs;

- Encourage economic activity; and

- Improve road based public transport.

Timing and Funding of projects

The progression of these three schemes is dependent on funding availability.

The timeframe for delivery of any major or minor works/projects that require statutory approval, whether for Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) or Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), or both, is between 8 to 13 years.

The current estimate for the projects proceeding to construction, providing they gain the required statutory approvals, is:

- 2029 – N3 Virginia Bypass;

- 2025 – N2 Ardee to Castleblayney;

- 2028 – N2 Clontibret to the Border.

As the projects are in the early stage of planning, it is not yet possible to provide an accurate estimate of the total cost. The estimated cost cannot be finalised until a project reaches the Business Case Stage of the process.

Bus Services

Questions (56, 63)

Cormac Devlin

Question:

56. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport the progress of the BusConnects network redesign. [12983/21]

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Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

63. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the costs to date of the BusConnects project; when proposed route changes to the network will be implemented in the Dún Laoghaire area of County Dublin; if the promised increase in services across the city of 23% will see an actual 23% increase in bus fleet numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15581/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 63 together.

BusConnects Dublin is a transformational programme of investment in both active travel and bus which will benefit generations of Dubliners and visitors alike.

As the Deputies are aware BusConnects Dublin comprises a number of different elements. The two most well-known are the Core Bus Corridors, which relates to the infrastructure, and the Network Redesign, which relates to the services. However, there is also a host of other elements to the programme such as a move to zero-emission fleet, a new ticketing system, a new bus livery and new bus stops and shelters.

Development of the programme has been subject to extensive non-statutory public consultation in recent years, while the planning and design of the necessary infrastructure has also been subject to extensive work and engagement with local communities. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has recently published details of expenditure on the programme since 2018 on its website.

Last year the National Transport Authority published its final proposed Dublin Area Bus Network which concludes the consultation process in relation to the Network Redesign and there was also a final round of consultations held on the Core Bus Corridors.

This preparatory work has informed the development of the Preliminary Business Case which, under the Public Spending Code, must be submitted to Government as Decision Gate 1: Approval In Principle. Government approval will allow the programme move toward implementation, whether that is roll-out of the new network or an application to An Bord Pleanála in relation to the necessary infrastructure.

Implementation generally will follow a phased approach both in terms of the roll-out of the new network of services and the construction of the new infrastructure. Once the preliminary Business Case is approved by Government, it is hoped to begin roll-out of the new network this year with the remaining phases to be completed over the 2022 to 2024 period. I am informed that the Dún Laoghaire area will see its roll-out commence in mid-2023 with the ‘E Spine’ and continue into 2024 with regard to the ‘B-Spine’ and related routes.

In relation to the fleet increases proposed, I am informed that the overall fleet size will increase by around 20% while services overall are estimated to increase by around 23%. This difference is due to the fact that some of these service increases can be facilitated by using existing fleet on off-peak or weekend expanded services.

Electric Vehicles

Questions (57, 81, 115, 305, 352, 357)

Richard Bruton

Question:

57. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he will take steps to accelerate the roll-out of the promised enhanced electric vehicle charging network. [1494/21]

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Steven Matthews

Question:

81. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport the number of electric vehicle stations installed across the country by local authority since August 2019, when his predecessor launched the five-year plan for increasing public electric vehicle charging points; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13106/21]

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Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

115. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport his plans to increase the availability of public fast charging points for electric cars on all national roads, including in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1820/21]

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Neale Richmond

Question:

305. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport the progress made in the installation of electric vehicle charging points throughout Ireland; the target for the number of charging points to be installed in 2021; the number installed to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14630/21]

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Neale Richmond

Question:

352. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport the steps he has taken to ensure that owners of apartments will be permitted to install electric vehicle chargers in their parking spaces at their own cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14559/21]

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Richard Bruton

Question:

357. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he will take steps to encourage the motor industry to accelerate its roll-out of the promised enhanced electric vehicle charging network and require it to report quarterly on the scale of the network it is supporting. [1502/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 57, 81, 115, 305, 352 and 357 together.

The Government’s policy regarding the increased use of Electric Vehicles (EVs) is primarily driven by the Climate Action Plan which sets a target of 936,000 EVs by 2030. 

To support this EV transition, a network of 690 publicly accessible charge points is already available including circa 100 fast chargers, which are mainly found on national routes. The majority of these chargers have been rolled out by the ESB through its eCars programme, with some public chargers being provided by local authorities, retail outlets and private companies. 

The Climate Action Fund (CAF) has also allocated up to €10 million to a project from ESB eCars that will further enhance its current network and complete a nationwide EV charging network capable of facilitating large-scale electric vehicle uptake over the next decade. In addition to the CAF project, the Government is also providing support for home charging and on-street charging.

The Climate Action Fund/eCars investment alone will result in: 

- 90 additional high power chargers, each capable of charging two vehicles 

- 52 additional fast chargers, which may replace existing standard chargers 

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

The project is due to be completed in 2022.   

Further details on ESB charge points nationwide can be found at https://esb.ie/ecars/charge-point-map and further details on this project can be found at https://esb.ie/ecars/our-network/network-upgrades.

While several private operators such as Tesla, Ionity & EasyGO are involved in providing charging infrastructure, my Department does not hold information on the location of charging infrastructure which has been installed without government support.  I am aware, however, that ESB has partnered with Tesco Ireland to install 22kW Standard AC Chargers at 33 Tesco locations around the country in the last number of months. More than 50 of these are planned in total. 

Home charging is considered the primary method of charging for the majority of EVs in Ireland and is a convenient, cost effective and environmentally-friendly means of charging, especially when using night-rate electricity. It accounts for circa 80% of EV charging sessions and will continue to be the primary method of charging in the future. The EV Home Charger Grant Scheme has been in operation since January 2018 to support the installation of home chargers for purchasers of new and second-hand BEVs and PHEVs.  The grant provides generous support towards the full cost of installation of a home charger, up to a maximum of €600.  

Currently, work is being progressed to expand the EV Home Charger Grant to include shared parking (e.g. in apartment blocks). There are a number of complex planning issues to address to expand the grant in this way and the Department and the SEAI are working to address the issues involved.  

On new builds, it should be noted that the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive requires member states to ensure that appropriate infrastructure is installed in all new residential and non-residential buildings, as well as those buildings with more than ten car parking spaces. This is currently being transposed into Irish law. 

The Public Charge Point Scheme has been in place since September 2019 and will continue to be available during 2021 to provide local authorities with a grant of up to €5,000 per charger to support the development of on-street public chargers. The primary focus of this scheme is to provide support for the installation of infrastructure that can 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. To date no chargers have been installed by local authorities under the scheme. The SEAI has, however, received requests from 13 local authorities for applications under the scheme and two completed applications from Louth County Council and Dublin City Council to install a total of 29 charge points within their administrative areas. These applications are currently being assessed for approval.  

My Department is working closely with key stakeholders, including local government, to ensure electric vehicle charging infrastructure stays ahead of demand. This includes helping to develop appropriate guidance for local authorities to facilitate the expansion of the national public charging network using the supports available. I would also note that the four Dublin local authorities are currently examining a combined approach to developing a network of charging infrastructure across the metropolitan area. 

Furthermore, my Department is making €2 million available this year through the SEAI to support the installation of destination charge points in locations such as hotels and shopping centres. This new initiative will help provide another critical link in the overall network for public charging. My Department is working closely with the SEAI and other stakeholders to develop a scheme, which is envisaged to open for applications later this year. 

Finally, the Deputies will be aware that the Programme for Government published in June last year, commits to publishing an electric vehicle infrastructure strategy. Once completed, the strategy will provide a key framework for ensuring sufficient infrastructure to keep ahead of demand. I expect the strategy to be completed and published later this year.

Driver Test

Questions (58)

Verona Murphy

Question:

58. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the progress his Department has made with the Road Safety Authority to provide an online facility for the driver theory test; the timeline before proposals on same are examined by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15602/21]

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Written answers

The current public health emergency has had a profoundly disruptive effect on the learning and testing system in this country. I can assure the Deputy that the Department is very aware of the challenges facing the RSA as they work hard to further manage the backlog in the Driver Theory Testing Service.

The Driver Theory Test has not been deemed to be an essential service under Level 5.  Therefore, the service is closed while Level 5 restrictions remain in place.

My Department had previously requested that the RSA, as the body legally responsible for the driver theory test, examine whether theory tests can be taken on-line remotely and what is required to do so.  

Acting on this request, the Driver Theory Test service launched a pilot phase of a new initiative, offering a Remote Testing service for specific categories of Theory Test (C, D, CD, BMT, TMT, ADI, CPCB, CPCT). This was trialled during December and January.

The pilot phase is now being evaluated with a view to extending the online service to all test types during 2021. However, this expansion of services will take some time. Operational, technical, logistical and contractual issues will have to be addressed prior to roll out of the service and it is expected to be at least the end of Quarter Two before the RSA are in a position to offer the service for all test categories.

As remote testing facilitates additional capacity whilst also enabling the service to continue in the event of further lockdowns, it would be expected this would greatly help in returning the service to normal waiting times over the second half of this year.

In addition to the remote testing initiative, the RSA is engaging with its service provider to examine ways of increasing the number of tests within the current health constraints for when services resume. In this regard, the aim is to double capacity at test centres over a three-month period. Subject to decisions on future Covid 19 restrictions, this will mean that additional capacity would be made available in April, May and June 2021.

Normal capacity before the pandemic was approximately 15,000 tests per month.  When the service reopened in July 2020, this was increased to 25,000 to deal with the backlog which had developed by that point.  Based on the capacity of 25,000 tests per month, the aim is to provide an additional 25,000 tests per month on top of this for the first 3 months of reopening, or a total of 75,000 extra test appointments over the three-month period. This would make substantial inroads into numbers waiting over that time period.

The Department has been in discussions with the RSA on how to return to the normal target for the maximum waiting time. 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 return to a normal waiting time. It is also important to emphasise that the review of Level 5 restrictions, which are currently due to expire on the 05 April, will impact on how quickly the backlog plan can be delivered.

Driver Test

Questions (59)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

59. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport his plans to address the issue of long wait times for driver test dates due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15528/21]

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Written answers

The current public health emergency has had a profoundly disruptive effect on the driver learning and testing system in this country. I can assure the Deputy that my officials and I are very aware of the challenges facing the RSA as they work hard to further manage the backlog in the Driver Testing Service and we continue to monitor the situation and work with the Authority.

RSA driver testers are undertaking driving tests in extraordinarily difficult conditions in the current Covid19 environment. The driving test is conducted in an enclosed space for a period of over 15 minutes, where physical distancing is not possible. 

Given the significant risk to testers when conducting a driving test, Government has deemed that the driver testing service should be available ONLY for those involved in essential work under Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions.  The Road Safety Authority offers driving tests to those who can produce evidence that they are an essential worker, in accordance with Government definitions.  No exceptions can be made.

My Department is liaising with the RSA on an ongoing basis to help the service meet the growing demand for tests within the current public health situation.  An additional 40 driver testers have been authorised by my Department along with 36 approved for retention or rehire in 2020. Recruitment has commenced and a panel will be formed. However, hiring of testers requires advertising, selecting candidates and training. Newly hired testers require 7 weeks of training in order to be ready. Training is given by experienced testers, so while new hires are in training the capacity of the service is reduced.  We will continue to work with the Authority and monitor progress and we will consider whether additional recruitment is required as tests are resumed generally.

The provision of extra testers will not on its own suffice to address the problem.  One of the difficulties is with the capacity of test centres themselves, given limits on throughput due to Covid restrictions.

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 or not. When the service resumed in June 2020, testers were conducting 5 tests each per day, as against 8 before the pandemic.  This increased to 6 tests from 14 September. The RSA is looking to increase the number of tests to 7 per tester per day as well as extending operating hours when restrictions are lifted. Any decision on this matter will be guided by health protocols.

Waiting times have increased significantly and while this is not acceptable, we have to be realistic.  There are no easy fixes, and it will take time to work through the backlog and bring the numbers down.  Until Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions have been eased, no progress can be made on addressing the backlog. However, the Road Safety Authority has plans in place for when the service is allowed to resume for all learner permit holders to be tested at the earliest possible date, and a gradual return of driving test times to their pre-Covid levels.

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