Written Answers Nos. 78-95
78. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport the measures he will put in place to deal with the backlog within the NDLS nationally in respect of persons left waiting many months for a driving test or licence renewal appointment. [1714/21]
View answerA further extension to the expiry dates of driving licences has been introduced in response to the continued disruption caused by Covid-19 to driver licensing services in Ireland and across the EU.
The extension will apply to different groups of licence holders including those who benefited from extensions in 2020. Further information can be found on the Road Safety Authority (RSA) website.
RSA has also expanded the postal renewal option to those over 70 who renew their licence every three years. Previously only those aged 70 and over who renew their licence on a yearly basis were invited to renew it by post.
The exemption that allows for those aged over 70 to apply for a driving licence without the need to provide a medical report provided they do not have an identified or specified illness has also been extended and will apply until 30 June 2021.
The RSA, through the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS), has expanded the online facility to accommodate all driving licence and learner permit applications to enable accessibility online rather than by calling to an office. A verified MyGovID account, which requires a Public Services Card, is needed to access the online system.
In the driver testing service, due to suspension of driver tests in the first 2020 lockdown, along with the health protocols since resumption of service and the further curtailing of services during subsequent level 5 restrictions, a significant backlog has developed. The need to once again return to level 5 restrictions for reasons of public health will inevitably impact further on delays to driver testing. During the level 5 period, driving tests will be available only to those who are involved in essential services, including essential retail work.
While the service is limited during level 5 restrictions, the RSA is examining ways of increasing the number of tests within health constraints with an eye to resuming wider testing after level 5. This includes increasing the number of testing staff to help reduce and, over time, eliminate the backlog.
Following discussions with the RSA, my Department has approved the hiring of a further 40 temporary testers for 22 months, and the process of recruitment is now underway. However it will take some time for people to be selected and trained.
These new hires will be in addition to the 36 temporary testers who I previously gave sanction to rehire during 2020.
These measures 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. Any decision on this matter will be guided by health protocols.
The Department has been in discussions with the RSA on how to return to the normal target for the maximum waiting time for the driving test, 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.
79. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the length of the backlog for the renewal of driver licences; his plans to address the backlogs in the application process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15569/21]
View answerAs at week ending 14 March 2021, standard applications for driving licences are taking on average 17 working days to process by the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS), which is provided by the Road Safety Authority (RSA). Online applications that do not require review are taking 1 day to process. Postal applications are taking on average 21 days, while applications for the exchange of UK/NI licences for Irish licences are taking on average 29 working days.
The averages provided for postal applications and UK licence exchages are mainly due to applications where there was a delay in processing due to customers having to reply to discrepancies in their applications.
A further extension to the expiry dates of driving licences has been introduced in response to the continued disruption caused by Covid-19 to driver licensing services in Ireland and across the EU. The extension will apply to different groups of licence holders including those who benefited from extensions in 2020, with all relevant licences extended to at least 1st July 2021. This extension will ease the pressure on the NDLS and enable any backlog to be addressed.
80. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to use driving instructors from semi-State bodies, for example Dublin Bus, to help clear the backlog of driving lessons and driver tests. [14199/21]
View answerThe Road Safety Authority is currently examining a number of strategies to increase the number of driving tests within current health constraints with an eye to resuming wider testing after level 5.
These strategies include increasing the number of testing staff to help reduce and, over time, eliminate the testing backlog that has developed as a result of the pandemic. To this end, my Department acted in 2020 to approve the rehire of 36 temporary driver testers whose contracts had expired. The Department subsequently approved the hiring of an additional 40 temporary testers for 22 months.
I must clarify to the Deputy, however, that driving instructors and driver testers carry out two very different roles in the driver education process and are subject to entirely different training and certification requirements. A driver instructor licence in no way qualifies the holder to work as a driver tester. Indeed, the driver education system in this country is underpinned by a long-standing principle whereby Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) teach and prepare students for the driving test while RSA Qualified Driver Testers then assess the students' level of competency while remaining completely impartial. The strict separation of these roles is crucially important to guaranteeing the integrity of the driving test.
In response to the Deputy's suggestion that instructors currently employed in the semi-State sector be somehow redeployed to teach private students after the lifting of level 5 restrictions, I should clarify that driving instruction in Ireland is delivered in the main by private individuals and schools operating as entirely independent businesses, all of whom are solely responsible for their own recruitment practices. While any holder of a valid driver instructor licence is entitled in principle to offer tuition for financial reward, the hypothetical decision to leave semi-State employment in order to teach private students is a matter between the individual and his or her employer.
82. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the number of electric vehicles and electric plug-in vehicles currently in the State; and his plans to increase the number. [13197/21]
View answer101. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to meet the target of 1 million electric cars by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13251/21]
View answer109. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport the steps his Department will take to ensure that all new cars will be electric by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45097/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 82, 101 and 109 together.
According to the most recent information from the EPA and SEAI, passenger cars account for over half of all land transport emissions in Ireland. In addition to supporting, where feasible, switching trips to sustainable mobility options, a transition to low and zero emission cars is one of the key changes necessary if Ireland is to substantially reduce its transport emissions.
Government has put in place several measures and provided generous incentives to encourage the transition from conventional fossil fuel vehicles towards lower emitting fuels and technologies including electric vehicles (EVs). EVs are a prominent mitigation measure in the Climate Action Plan and Ireland has set an ambitious target of 936,000 EVs on our roads by 2030. This target is very challenging but indicative of the scale of the transformation that is needed across all sectors if Ireland is to reduce national emissions and reach its legally binding emission ceiling in future years.
To date, the Government, supported by the work of the Low Emission Vehicle Taskforce, has worked to ensure that conditions and policies are in place to support citizens in making greener vehicle choices. As the Deputies will be aware, a comprehensive suite of measures is available to EV drivers, including purchase grants for private car owners and taxi drivers, VRT relief, reduced tolls, home charger grants, favourable motor and BIK tax rates, as well as a comprehensive charging network. These measures have collectively contributed to increased take up of EVs in Ireland in recent years, albeit from a low base. There are almost 30,000 EVs under taxation in Ireland which includes almost 15,000 BEVs and almost 15,000 PHEVs as of the end of February 2021. Undoubtedly, further work is required to accelerate the uptake of EVs across every sector.
To this end, my Department has convened an Electric Vehicle Policy Pathway Working Group to produce a roadmap to achieving the near one million EV target by 2030 and to continue the concerted efforts across several Departments to hasten the current trajectory of EV sales. The Working Group has considered regulatory, financial and taxation policies to help drive a significant ramp-up in passenger EVs and electric van sales from very early in the decade.
It is also widely expected that, over the coming years, the combination of improvements in technology, reductions in vehicle purchase prices, increasing driving ranges and widened model availabilities, coupled with Government incentives and new investment in the recharging network, will maintain the current positive environment which has seen EV sales rise steeply over the past year.
We will continue to work closely with EU colleagues, with the renewed impetus of union-wide commitment to the Green Deal, to regulate for a step change in EV production levels in the coming years. We will strongly support accelerating the phasing out of fossil fuel vehicle production, preferably union-wide but, if necessary, by working to establish a framework which allows national governments to limit market access to only the cleanest, greenest new vehicles. This should mean that more vehicles will be available for Irish consumers to purchase.
Accordingly, I am confident that we are making real progress towards the delivery of our ambition for the EV transition.
83. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the temporary financial and regulatory reforms that have been put in place to support private bus operators that continue to have limited or no business due to Covid-19; the extent of their drawdown to date; the date on which they are expected to conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15573/21]
View answerBoth the National Transport Authority (NTA) and my Department have been engaging directly with commercial bus operators throughout the Covid-19 Emergency. The public transport system in Ireland has played an essential service role over the course of the pandemic, especially in carrying essential workers and others making necessary journeys.
Several targeted Government Decisions made throughout the crisis, in addition to general supports such as the wage subsidy scheme, have provided much needed support to the sector, particularly the decisions to:
- substantially increase the 2020 budget for the existing PSO system;
- introduce temporary financial support for certain licensed services provided by commercial bus operators (CBOs) for an initial period of 6-months;
- make a higher-than-normal provision for PSO funding in the 2021 budget due to the ongoing impact of Covid-19 on the public transport sector; and
- extend the provision of temporary funding supports for the CBOs for a further 3 months, with the option to extend monthly thereafter subject to engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Prior to the Covid-19 health emergency, licensed operators operated non-subvented bus services on a commercial basis. However, due to the impact of Covid-19 on passenger numbers and the associated drop in fare revenue, these services were no longer commercially viable. As such, on the 25th June 2020 Government decided to introduce new temporary financial support for certain licensed services provided by commercial bus operators to ensure the continued operation of these essential services.
These temporary supports were initially introduced for a period of 6-months, with a view to protecting capacity across the public transport sector throughout the crisis. The NTA on behalf of my Department, has entered into contracts with the licensed bus sector to provide funding for routes where a clear public interest justification supports such intervention.
As it remains the case that commercial bus operators are still under severe financial distress due to the fall in passenger numbers and associated drop in fare revenue as a result of Covid-19, on 26 January 2021, Government decided to extend the temporary funding supports to the licensed bus sector for a further period of 3 months, with an option to extend contracts on a monthly basis thereafter. The total drawdown of CBO to date in 2021 is €4.8m and a total of €32.3m in 2020.
These supports are in addition to the suite of other financial support measures that the Government has introduced to help mitigate the impact of Covid-19, which includes the Wage Subsidy Scheme extended through 2021, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment extended to end June 2021, the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help to improve cashflow.
Further, on 11 March 2021, the Minister for Business, Trade and Employment announced that applications are now open for Phase 1 of the Small Business Assistance Scheme (SBASC). The aim of this new €60m business assistance scheme is to provide grants to businesses ineligible for the Government’s other existing schemes such as CRSS and is designed to help with fixed costs. Further details of this scheme and other business supports are available at www.enterprise.gov.ie.
84. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport if he will instruct Transport Infrastructure Ireland to carry out a road surface review of the M7 between Nenagh and Birdhill, County Tipperary, due to the large number of accidents on that stretch of road. [15414/21]
View answerAs Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and securing exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 as legislated by the Oireachtas and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the operation, management and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
It would not be in accordance with the intent of the Oireachtas as expressed in the law for the Minister to issue directions on such operational matters to TII. The work of TII and its partner local authorities is also subject to the Public Spending Code Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
85. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport the outcomes of a Governmental review concerning a group (details supplied); and when a new chairperson for the board of the group will be appointed. [1713/21]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for his question on Shannon Group.
As the Deputy is aware, given the unprecedented challenges faced by Shannon Group as a result of Covid-19, I committed to undertaking an examination of the future viability and sustainability of the Group.
The outcome of this examination was reflected in a recent Memorandum to Government on Shannon Group. In considering the issues being faced by Shannon Group, Government noted the Exchequer supports being availed of by Shannon Group. These supports include the economy wide supports put in place to help mitigate the effects of the pandemic on businesses and the aviation specific supports which includes a €32.1 million allocation to Shannon and Cork Airports under a new Programme for regional State airports. Capital funding requests from Shannon Airport under this Programme are currently being assessed by my Department.
Further to these supports, I would like to advise the Deputy that the Commission recently approved State aid support schemes to help address liquidity issues at airports as a result of Covid-19. Shannon Airport and other airports will shortly be invited to apply for funding under these new Covid-19 Supplementary Supports Schemes which have a budget of €26 million. These schemes include compensation for State airports (approx. €20m) in light of Covid impacts in 2020. This funding will provide State airports including Shannon Airport with flexibility to roll out route incentives/charge rebates, in consultation with airlines, with a view to supporting recovery and growth of connectivity when possible.
Government fully appreciates the important role of Shannon Group to the economy of the Midwest region and nationally and in this context my Department continues to work with Shannon Group to ensure it is well positioned to weather the current crisis and for recovery and growth into the future once circumstances allow.
In relation to the appointment of a new Chairperson to Shannon Group, I am conscious that this is an important and challenging time for Shannon Group. The appointment of Board members is a matter for Minister Ryan and I understand that he intends to appoint a new Chairperson as soon as possible.
86. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Transport if he is considering extending the ten-year rule for taxi drivers given the impact of Covid-19 on the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15571/21]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector, including age limits for vehicles, is a matter for the independent regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.
Given the role of the NTA as regulator, I have referred your question to the Authority for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
87. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will request that the National Transport Authority consider creating a link between all public bike schemes nationwide to enable users in one location to avail of the scheme in another; if a cost-benefit analysis has been carried out on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15566/21]
View answerAs 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.
88. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport the status of a Carlow town bus service; if funding will be made available for this service in quarter 3 of 2021; his plans to provide rural bus services between New Ross, County Wexford, and Saint Mullin's, Tinnahinch and Borris, County Carlow, and Arklow, County Wicklow, to Carlow town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14745/21]
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 securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally, and for the allocation of associated funding to the relevant transport operators.
The Covid-19 health emergency brought a profound and swift shock to the public transport sector. Public transport’s designation as an essential service throughout the pandemic means, that although fare revenues have collapsed, most of the cost of operations remains and must continue to be met in order to fulfil Government’s broader policy objectives. Government support for all public transport services in 2020 amounted to over €620m. For 2021 over €670m has been provided in funding in order to ensure that the existing level of public transport services, albeit at a higher cost, continue to operate in a safe manner. By comparision, the level of PSO and Local Link funding provided in 2019 was in the region of €300m.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government does commit to the introduction of new services, including new town services, in order to improve public transport connectivity. I intend to pursue additional funding for such services in the context of the Programme for Government during 2021.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. The NTA also has responsibility for local and rural transport, including the management of Local Link services. The NTA has undertaken a nationwide study to inform its approach to rolling out improved public transport across the country (excluding the GDA, Regional Cities and Large Towns) by providing better connections between villages and towns by linking them with an enhanced regional network connecting cities and regional centres nationwide.
Arising from this study, I am advised that the NTA has now completed the first phase of consultation on its proposals, titled 'Connecting Ireland', with all Local Authorities and is now engaging with Regional Authorities and other key stakeholders. This will be followed by a wider public consultation in Q3 2021 prior to finalisation of the proposals by the NTA and submission to my Department.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities, I have passed the Deputy's question regarding specific services to the Authority for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
89. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport the status of progress on the Sutton-to-Sandycove, S2S, greenway. [12982/21]
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 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.
90. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Transport if the N26 is included in the review of Project Ireland 2040; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44807/20]
View answerAs Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and securing exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme.
Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TII ultimately delivers the National Roads Programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the National Planning Framework and the NDP.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to bring forward the planned review of the NDP and to use the review to set out an updated NDP for the period to 2030. The review of the NDP will be aligned with the National Planning Framework and Project Ireland 2040. Work is underway within my Department to contribute to this ongoing review.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply on the status of ongoing projects along this route. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
92. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport the status of the post-Brexit shipping links between Ireland and the UK and the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14558/21]
View answerA key priority for my Department in the lead up to the end of the transition period was to ensure continued maritime connectivity with both our UK and EU markets.
As of March 2021, there are around 68 RoRo freight sailings between Ireland and the Continent in a typical week. This includes five shipping operators, Irish Ferries, Stena Line, DFDS, Brittany Ferries and CLDN offering both accompanied and unaccompanied freight. This represents an increase of around 34 sailings per week, or around 150% increase in continental RoRo frequency compared to March 2020.
Weekly RoRo freight capacity to continental EU ports has doubled in the past 12 months. There is now capacity for approximately 5,000 additional HGV’s & unaccompanied trailers on continental RoRo services per week in March 2021.
What the last number of months have demonstrated is the resilience and responsiveness of the Irish shipping industry. It has adjusted swiftly and comprehensively to the changes in demand from business, and provided a range of additional services, frequency and capacity options to transport goods to continental markets.
When compared to the first two months in 2020, IMDO estimates for RoRo units (imports and exports) in 2021 has shown:
- a decline of 39% on Ireland – GB routes (including c.50% on Holyhead – Dublin),
- an increase of 78% on Ireland – EU routes,
With the Customs declarations and other administrative tasks now required for trade with Great Britain, the Irish RoRo and LoLo freight market is currently experiencing unprecedented market challenges. In addition, both Ireland and Great Britain are experiencing widespread economic restrictions for public safety reasons. These restrictions impose significant downward pressure on trade volumes across both economies. The combined RoRo freight and passenger model of service is particularly affected, particularly with the continuing restrictions on international travel.
While prolonged reduced levels of demand have already seen some reduction in IRL-GB services, there remains more than enough capacity on other services between Ireland and GB to take any displaced freight, accompanied or unaccompanied.
As shipping operators compete to understand new demand patterns, the market is currently in a state of change, with a new equilibrium yet to be found. My Department and the IMDO continues to monitor this closely.
93. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Transport if he has considered amending the statutory instrument on zebra crossings which requires Belisha beacons, which currently restricts installation due to increased costs compared with stand-alone white lines as used in other EU states and some counties in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14730/21]
View answerMy Department is looking at the criteria and legislation surrounding zebra crossings and use of Belisha beacons with a view to the possibility of relaxing the use of such beacons in certain situations.
Any amendments to the use of beacons and where they may or may not be legally required will have to be adequately researched so as to ensure they are implemented safely. The public will also need to be made aware of any proposed relaxation in requirements for Belisha beacons, possibly by means of a nationwide advertising campaign. In addition, experiences in other European countries of relaxing the use of beacons will need to be carefully considered to ascertain if road conditions in those countries are similar and comparable to Ireland. In particular, the deputy will appreciate that ensuring that such crossings are clearly visible to drivers in all weather conditions is essential to road safety and in that regard other parts of Europe have different conditions in that respect.
94. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the consideration he has given to amending legislation to allow commercial driver certificate of professional competency courses to be conducted online similar to those provided in other EU countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15601/21]
View answerDriver Certificate of Professional Competency (CPC) training is ongoing in level 5 as this training has been deemed as an essential service. Driver CPC training organisations continue to provide training and drivers continue to attend and maintain their CPC qualification.
At the current time, the Road Safety authority (RSA) does not facilitate online Driver CPC training. EU Directive 2003/59/EC which introduced Driver CPC was updated in 2018 (EU Directive 645 of 2018) and while the amended Directive allows for the use of ICT tools such as e-learning and blended learning as part of CPC training, a substantial amount of the training continues to be required to be completed in an approved Driver CPC training centre.
The RSA does consider that delivering some training online, in line with revised Directive, is the way forward. The RSA will consult with the industry, including all Driver CPC training organisations, to establish how training can be enhanced and improved within the scope of the opportunities provided for in the EU legislation.
95. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport the position on the inclusion of a road project (details supplied) in the review of the National Development Plan 2018-2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15631/21]
View answerAs Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and securing exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme.
Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TII ultimately delivers the National Roads Programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the National Planning Framework and the NDP.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to bring forward the planned review of the NDP and to use the review to set out an updated NDP for the period to 2030. The review of the NDP will be aligned with the National Planning Framework and Project Ireland 2040. Work is underway within my Department to contribute to this planned review.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply to advise of any ongoing work on this route. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
