Written Answers Nos. 181-200
181. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport the way in which the backlog of driver tests will be managed to ensure the backlog is cleared quickly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23875/21]
View answerDriving tests for essential workers will continue to be the priority for the driver testing service. In line with the gradual reopening of services, driving tests for all those who are eligible to take the test and have been waiting longest will recommence in a limited fashion this month and the situation will be kept under review.
The RSA and the Department plan to reduce the waiting times and backlog of those waiting for driving tests as quickly as possible. In addition to recently recruiting 40 temporary testers, 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. It is also planned to seek sanction to recruit a further 40 testers to tackle the backlog and waiting times when full services resume. This will bring the cohort of testers up to 218.
182. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the expected date for the return of international travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23970/21]
View answerThe Government continues to advise against all non-essential international travel. Travel restrictions are designed to protect public health and to mitigate the risk of new variants of COVID-19 entering the country. Several Government Departments are involved in preparatory discussions towards the restart of international travel, including in relation to the EU’s proposed system of Digital Green Certs. The Government will decide when the time is right to lift the current advice on non-essential travel, in line with these developments, the rollout of Ireland’s vaccination programme and overall public health advice. A roadmap for the re-opening of international travel will be considered in the coming weeks.
183. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport the efforts that will be made to improve security on public transport including on platforms and stops; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23995/21]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services.
The safety and security of passengers and staff, including arrangements to deal with anti-social behaviour, are matters for the transport operators, in conjunction with, as appropriate, An Garda Síochána. I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann, Iarnród Éireann and to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), which has contracted Transdev to operate the Luas, for their direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
185. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Transport the funding allocated by his Department or agencies under his remit to An Taisce in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the expected allocations to An Taisce for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24114/21]
View answerMy Department did not allocate funding to An Taisce in the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021 and will not allocate funding to it for the remainder of 2021.
I have forwarded your question to the agencies under the aegis of my Department for direct response to you. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days please contact my private office.
186. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 61 of 12 November 2020, the status of and the way the early stage planning has progressed; the proposals presently in place to provide online learner driver theory testing; the expected timeline for proposals for an online service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24192/21]
View answerA pilot online driver theory test is underway for trucks and buses. Any customers wishing to sit a driver theory test in these vehicle categories can do so by visiting www.theorytest.ie.
The rollout of this option for customers undertaking car theory tests is planned to begin within this month, with up to 3000 online tests being conducted per month. There will be a limit on the number of customers that can avail of the service during the initial rollout phase, but work is ongoing to make online services more widely available towards the end of 2021.
187. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport the status of the operation of the learner driver theory test under the easement of public health restrictions from 10 May 2021; his plans to clear the backlog in counties Carlow and Kilkenny of those awaiting a test following several cancellations; if an online theory test is to be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24194/21]
View answerCurrently, the Driver Theory Test is considered a non-essential service and remains closed for now until an appropriate phase of the Government's plans..
Because the service was closed for long periods of time over the last year, a large backlog of customers has built up. The RSA recognise that it will take time to meet this demand and restore pre-COVID-19 waiting times when the service does reopen.
In response to this, the RSA will introduce an increase in capacity within the service when it is allowed to reopen. This additional capacity will see the number of tests increase from an average pre Covid19 output of 15,000 tests per month to 50,000 per month when the service resumes. This will help significantly to tackle the backlog of customers.
A pilot online driver theory test is underway for trucks and buses. The rollout of this option to theory tests for cars is planned to begin shortly. There will be a limit on the number of customers that can avail of the service during the initial rollout phase, but work is ongoing to make online services more widely available towards the end of 2021.
188. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport if he and his Department will make efforts with the new United States administration to streamline driver licensing arrangements between Ireland and the United States of America given the challenges that exist for returning Irish emigrants or American citizens relocating to Ireland in the area of driver licensing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24034/21]
View answerIrish driver licensing law operates within a framework of EU law, which sets out the driver licensing legislation with which all Member States must comply. The format of driving licences, categories of vehicles, and the standards to be met in driving tests to qualify for a licence, are all set at EU level. As all Member States test drivers to the same standard, there can be a mutual recognition of driving licences for exchange purposes.
When it comes to driving licences issued by non-EU states, we may make bilateral agreements on licence exchange. The fundamental component in the negotiations on reaching such agreements is that the relevant authorities on each side must study and compare the two licensing regimes, so that each may be satisfied that they are compatible. Driver licensing exists in the interests of public safety and is in essence about ensuring that people licensed to drive on our roads have reached certain recognised standards. In reaching a bilateral agreement, therefore, the most important element is ensuring that the other jurisdiction applies standards for obtaining a licence which are compatible with our own. Where they do not meet these standards, no agreement is possible, no matter how desirable an agreement with that jurisdiction may be. From the Irish side, the task of conducting a comparison of the two licensing regimes falls to the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
The RSA has previously explored reaching agreement on exchange with the USA. However, US driver licensing operates at state rather than federal level, meaning that there are 50 licensing systems with widely varying standards and indeed widely varying road safety performance, many with levels of road fatalities significantly worse than most EU countries. Agreement with any one state would mean taking into account the exchange relations between that state and the other 49. The RSA determined that such an agreement would not be possible.
When people come to Ireland with a non-exchangeable licence, we have no option but to require them to go through the process of obtaining an Irish licence. This is a matter of public safety. While many may have a safe driving record, we have no way of measuring this.
People with a full but non-exchangeable licence go through the normal driver learning process but can avail of the shorter Essential Driver Training of 6 lessons instead of the usual 12, and they do not have to be a learner for the usual minimum of 6 months before taking a driving test.
189. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport the status of the construction of the N22 Baile Bhuirne to Macroom, County Cork road development; if the project is progressing on schedule and within budget; the earliest anticipated date of completion and opening of each phase of the project; the overall completion timeline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24264/21]
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. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you on the status of this project.
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.
190. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport the status of the N69 Listowel Bypass-Relief Road project; the earliest anticipated date of completion and opening of the project; the overall completion timeline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24265/21]
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. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you on the status of this project.
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.
191. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport the status of the R563 Listry bridge project; the latest interaction his Department has had with Kerry County Council on the project; if the local authority will be in a position to progress to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24266/21]
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.
As regards potential regional and local road grant funding from the Department, the position remains as previously outlined to the Deputy in PQ No. 322 of 24th March 2021 namely that a preliminary appraisal has been received from Kerry County Council concerning a number of options for Listry Bridge. The Department requested additional survey investigation to be undertaken to inform the options and ensure all appropriate measures are considered to achieve maximum value for money in accordance with the Public Spending Code. Funding was provided in 2019 and 2020 to assist with these studies and a revised submission was received at the end of 2020. The Department will consider this submission including project need, objectives, options and cost.
Progression of a scheme is dependent on funding availability and in the context of commitments for other projects currently being funded.
192. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport the status of the N22 Killarney to Farranfore project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24267/21]
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. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you on the status of this project.
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.
193. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the breakdown of the driver test waiting list by county in February, March and April 2021, respectively in tabular form. [24269/21]
View answerThis is an operational matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
194. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport if the Road Safety Authority has met its requirements under the EU third directive on periodic training for all driver testers in driving skills, assessment and evaluation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24277/21]
View answerThis is an operational matter for 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.
195. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Transport if he has examined the possibility of granting disabled parking badges for severely autistic persons and persons with an intellectual disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24325/21]
View answerThe Disabled Parking Permit (also known as the European Parking Card or Disabled Parking Badge) is available to people living in Ireland whose mobility is severely restricted, whether they are drivers or passengers, and also to those who are registered blind. In 2010 the Department conducted a review of the Disabled Parking Scheme, in consultation with various stakeholders. One of the issues examined was eligibility for the scheme. Disability groups in particular were unhappy at the fact that some people were being issued with Disabled Parking Permits because they had particular medical conditions rather than an actual mobility impairment. As a result of the review the scheme was revised so that permits are now given on the basis of mobility impairment rather than the diagnosis of a particular condition or illness. This is in line with the original intention of the scheme.
The possibility of extending the eligibility criteria for the scheme to include people with autism or with certain forms of intellectual or cognitive impairment, has been raised on a number of occasions and the Department has consulted extensively with the joint issuing authorities of the scheme, who also represent people with disabilities, the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland (DDAI) and the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWC), on this matter. In light of this consultation there are currently no plans to change the criteria.
I must particularly emphasise to the Deputy that issuing a large number of extra permits by extending the eligibility criteria would in fact put the existing scheme under significant additional pressure and compromise the availability of disabled parking spaces in general, thus disadvantaging those with restricted mobility who are currently eligible.
196. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Transport if a testing centre (details supplied) is still operational; if not, the reason for its cessation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24326/21]
View answerThe Covid test centre for HGV drivers at Gorey closed on 21 April along with the two other centres that had been set up in Dublin and Holmestown. The centres were set up under a three month contract that ended on 21 April. It was decided not to renew the contract because most of the requirements for the testing of HGV drivers have now been lifted across Europe.
I should point out that Ireland has continued to exempt essential transport workers travelling in the course of their duties from testing and quarantine requirements when entering Ireland, in the interests of keeping supply chains open.
The test centres were set up and operated in close liaison with the haulage industry representative bodies, who were kept appraised of developments throughout.
Under the contact an Irish company, RocDoc Ltd, set up the centres and provided antigen tests, free of charge, to commercial drivers travelling to the continent. Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the Dublin Airport Authority, Wexford County Council and Circle K also helped with the set up.
The centres were set up to allow drivers to meet a French requirement introduced on 28 January 2021 for all truck drivers arriving in France on direct ferries from Ireland to show a negative COVID-19 test result prior to embarkation. A number of other countries introduced similar restrictions around the same time.
France lifted its requirement for drivers entering from Ireland on 5 March and most other test requirements around Europe have also been lifted since then.
In total over 8,000 tests were carried out under the contract. The positivity rate was low at less than 0.3%, which reflects well on the strict health protocols that have been followed within the haulage industry since the start of the pandemic.
Many private testing facilities remain available throughout the country and obviously the public testing facilities are still available to all.
197. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if he will address an issue raised in correspondence (details supplied); and his views on whether it is appropriate for a person to be offered appointments so far away for a theory test. [24330/21]
View answerUnder the Road Safety Act and as provided by the Oireachtas, the driver testing service, including the theory test, is an operational matter for the Road Safety Authority. Individual cases are a matter for the Authority and the question in relation to this case is being referred to it for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
198. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport the funding that will be invested in the Public Service Obligation bus fleet by route in 2019, 2020 and 2021, in tabular form. [24353/21]
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 the procurement of the PSO bus fleet.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the question to the NTA for their consideration and direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
199. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport the non-governmental organisations in receipt of funding from his Department; the amount of funding allocated to same in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24384/21]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, funding is allocated to regional airports under the Regional Airports Programme. A new Regional Airports Programme for the period 2021 to 2025 was published on 4th February. This Programme, with a budget of €21.3 million in 2021, will continue to support Ireland’s smallest airports i.e. those that handle less than 1 million annual passengers. In addition to targeting funding at safety and security projects and activities, the scope of the new programme has been expanded to encourage airports to reduce emissions and build climate resilience.
This Programme also provides for a Public Services Obligation (PSO) Air Services Scheme, in compliance with Regulation (EC) No. 1008/2008. This scheme provides financial support to operate PSO air services on two routes, Donegal/Dublin and Kerry/Dublin. Following a competitive tender, Stobart Air is currently contracted to operate PSO services on both routes from 1 February 2018 to 31 January 2022.
Funding to non-governmental organisations, provided through the Regional Airports Programme in 2020, in line with EU rules on State aid, breaks down as follows:
FUNDING ALLOCATED DURING 2020
|
CURRENT€000s |
CAPITAL€000s |
TOTAL€000s |
|
|
Donegal Airport |
581 |
245 |
826 |
|
Ireland West Airport |
1,354 |
883 |
2,237 |
|
Kerry Airport |
1,500 |
1,156 |
2,656 |
|
Waterford Airport |
375 |
375 |
|
|
Stobart Air |
7,307 |
7,307 |
|
|
TOTAL |
11,117 |
2,284 |
13,401 |
The airports that benefit from supports under the Regional Airports Programme are Donegal, Ireland West and Kerry. However, funding in 2020 also included an operational grant of €375K to support operations at Waterford Airport.
In addition to funding available under this Programme, on 24 February, the Commission approved State aid support schemes to help address liquidity issues at airports as a result of Covid-19. These schemes will include up to €6m in funding in 2021, under the EU Temporary Framework, to regional airports in recognition of the impact of COVID on their business. The airports that will benefit from potential supports under this Framework are Donegal, Ireland West and Kerry also.
My Department allocated €2,556 to the European Cyclist Federation in 2020 for Euro Velo cycling route and other supports, and it also allocated Community Rescue Boats Ireland (CRBI) Maintenance Grants of €5,075 to the following organisations in 2020:
|
- |
|
|
Ballinskelligs Inshore Rescue |
Corrib Lough Mask Rescue |
|
Ballybunion Sea & Cliff Rescue |
Derrynane Inshore Rescue |
|
Banna Rescue |
Limerick Marine Search and Rescue |
|
Bantry Lifeboat |
Tramore Sea Rescue Association |
|
Bonmahon Lifeboat |
Waterford City River Rescue |
|
Cahore Inshore Rescue Service |
My Department allocated a Development Grant of €64,000 to Mountain Rescue Ireland (MRI), and MRI Maintenance Grants to the following in 2020:
|
€ |
|
|
Glen of Imaal |
€32,410 |
|
Dublin & Wicklow |
€32,155 |
|
Mayo |
€25,525 |
|
Donegal |
€22,210 |
|
Kerry |
€21,700 |
|
South East |
€20,935 |
|
SARDA |
€19,405 |
|
Galway |
€18,130 |
|
Sligo |
€17,620 |
|
Mountain Rescue Ireland |
€20,000 |
200. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if the period of validity of learner driver permits will be extended in view of the fact that driver tests have been deferred during lockdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24404/21]
View answerThe validity of learner permits that expired between 1 March and 30 June 2020 were extended for 8 months, while those that expired between 1 July and 31 October 2020 were extended for 4 months. A further extension is being considered.
