Written Answers Nos. 187-201
187. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if additional measures will be implemented as a matter of urgency to deal with the major backlog in applicants awaiting theory tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25174/21]
View answerThe Driver Theory Test is considered a non-essential service and remains closed for now. The Department understands the frustration at this decision, however, these restrictions imposed by the Government based on the advice of NPHET and their panel of scientific experts, are in place to minimize the impact of Covid-19 on this country and its people.
Officials both in this Department and in the Road Safety Authority are keeping the public health situation under constant review and are working extremely hard to ensure that Theory Tests can resume as soon as it is safe to do so.
Because the service was closed for long periods of time over the last year, a large backlog of customers has built up. To deal with the backlog, the RSA have plans to increase capacity when it is allowed to re-open. 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. This will help significantly to tackle the backlog.
The RSA is working to deliver an online driver theory test service. A pilot online driver theory test is underway for trucks and buses. This will be extended to car drivers, initially with 3,200 online tests being conducted per month. Online services will be made more widely available towards the end of 2021.
188. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Transport if he will seek assurances from the CIÉ Group that it will desist from making any changes to the CIÉ 1951 superannuation scheme in advance of the outcome of a High Court application made by the trustees of the scheme, as CIÉ workers feel that this puts their pension scheme under threat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25184/21]
View answer190. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport if it will be ensured that there will not be any changes to the CIÉ 1951 superannuation scheme in advance of the outcome of a High Court application made by the trustees of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25207/21]
View answer197. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport if it will be ensured that no further discussions or actions are taken in respect of the CIÉ pension scheme until there is an outcome to a High Court application on same (details supplied). [25263/21]
View answer198. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Transport if he will seek assurances from CIÉ in the matter of the 1951 pension scheme and that the organisation will await the High Court application being made by pension trustees before engaging in further discussions in relation to the 1951 scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25311/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 188, 190, 197 and 198 together.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport in Ireland.
The CIÉ Group has two pension schemes, namely the Regular Wages Scheme (“RWS”) and 1951 superannuation scheme (“1951 Scheme”) and issues in relation to CIÉ pension schemes are primarily a matter for the trustees of the schemes, the CIÉ Group and their employees.
In relation to the RWS, CIÉ has prepared and submitted draft Statutory Instruments (SIs) to give effect to the proposed changes to the scheme, and these drafts are now being considered by my Department. There are several steps involved before an SI can be made, including the statutory consultation process.
Concerning the 1951 scheme, I understand that members were recently balloted and have accepted the Labour Court proposals which emerged on the 23rd of November 2020.
I have therefore referred the Deputies questions to CIÉ for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
189. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he has authorised Transport Infrastructure Ireland to authorise a company (details supplied) to require ticket inspectors to commence ticket inspections on the Luas trams; if the HSE has approved this; the safety protocols and procedures that are to be applied to protect the health of the inspectors and of the passengers and to stop the spread of infection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25197/21]
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 operations of public transport. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services.
The issue raised is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in conjunction with the Luas operator Transdev and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
191. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Transport if learner driving permits that were due to expire were extended given the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions; and if not, if he will consider extending these permits given that many learner drivers have been unable to access driving lessons for a number of months. [25218/21]
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 currently being considered and I expect to be in a position to advise the House of the final outcome shortly.
192. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Transport if funding previously committed to for extending the runway at Waterford Airport has been released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25226/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware in 2019 Government gave its approval, in principle, to provide Exchequer funds of €5m towards a €12m runway extension project at Waterford Airport. The proposal by Waterford Airport underwent an extensive assessment and it was decided, on balance, at that time, that the potential merits to the South East region justified the support of Government.
The Government decision was made on the basis that the construction of the runway extension and related works would be completed in summer 2020. Furthermore, any Exchequer contribution would only be paid when all upgrade works were complete and the runway confirmed to be ready for service by the IAA.
Given the changed circumstances in the context of the project timeline and the impacts of Covid19 on the aviation market and wider economy, any renewal of arrangements to commit Exchequer funds to this project will need to take cognisance of these changed circumstances as well as the enhanced obligations that are now in place under the revised Public Spending Code, which was published in December 2019.
I recently met with the Chair and management of Waterford airport and they are aware of this position.
193. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Transport when a person (details supplied) will be able to sit their driver theory test. [25228/21]
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.
194. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport the status of a theory test for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25232/21]
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.
The Driver Theory Test is considered a non-essential service and remains closed for now. The Department understands the frustration at this decision, however, these restrictions imposed by the Government based on the advice of NPHET and their panel of scientific experts, are in place to minimize the impact of Covid-19 on this country and its people.
Officials both in this Department and in the Road Safety Authority are keeping the public health situation under constant review and are working extremely hard to ensure that Theory Tests can resume as soon as it is safe to do so.
Because the service was closed for long periods of time over the last year, a large backlog of customers has built up. To deal with the backlog, the RSA have plans to increase capacity when it is allowed to re-open. 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. This will help significantly to tackle the backlog.
The RSA is working to deliver an online driver theory test service. A pilot online driver theory test is underway for trucks and buses. This will be extended to car drivers, initially with 3,200 online tests being conducted per month. Online services will be made more widely available towards the end of 2021.
195. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Transport if Enniscorthy, County Wexford is to be considered as a venue for a pop-up driver testing centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25251/21]
View answerUnder the Road Safety Act and as provided by the Oireachtas, the driver testing service is an operational matter for the Road Safety Authority. The question in relation to location of centres is being referred 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.
196. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport when professional drone operators will receive certainty on their operating conditions in view of the new regulation system that commences in January 2022. [25253/21]
View answerThe Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is the competent authority for aviation safety regulation in Ireland, as provided for under the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993.
The Deputy's question has been referred to the IAA for a direct reply. If the reply is not received within the next 10 days please do not hesitate to contact my office.
199. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport the status of his Department’s work to bring the driver theory test online to help clear the backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25317/21]
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(RSA).
I can confirm, the RSA are currently providing a pilot online driver theory test for trucks and buses. The rollout of this option for customers undertaking car theory tests is planned to begin shortly with up to 3200 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.
200. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Transport when a survival plan will be produced to safeguard the aviation sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25323/21]
View answerOn 14 April, industry members of the National Civil Aviation Development Forum published an Aviation Restart Plan which made several recommendations they considered necessary for the restart and recovery of the Irish aviation sector. These recommendations require engagement across all relevant government departments and consultation with public health authorities, which is now underway.
We are now also assessing additional details that I had requested of the NCADF on their plan on how key stakeholders will ramp up operations incrementally as restrictions ease, while ensuring agreed public health and safety measures remain in effect.
Government continues to advise against all non-essential international travel, to protect public health and to mitigate the risk of new variants of COVID-19 entering Ireland.
A roadmap for the re-opening of international travel will be considered in the coming weeks, which will take account of both the progress made with our national vaccination programme and public health advice. Several Government Departments are involved in the restart of international travel, including work on EU COVID-19 Certificates.
201. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on talks with a company (details supplied) to provide additional financial supports; if State funding provided will be on the basis that strategic routes from Shannon Airport such as Heathrow, New York and Boston are protected; when these talks will conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25324/21]
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. My Department has estimated that over €200 million in operational supports was received by Irish airlines and airports in 2020 under a number of these schemes.
€80 million in aviation specific supports were announced by the Government last November. This will go some way towards addressing the damage caused by COVID-19 and give airports the flexibility to roll out, in consultation with airlines, route incentives/charge rebates, when the time is right. My Department is currently assessing applications for this funding and hopes to be positioned to disburse compensation in the coming weeks.
Liquidity support was made available to Aer Lingus through the ISIF Pandemic Stabilisation and Recovery Fund, with €150 million provided in debt funding. This investment is designed to complement ongoing investment by Aer Lingus’s parent company, International Airlines Group (IAG), in the airline.
It remains open to the airline to engage directly with the relevant agencies concerned with a view to drawing down additional support, with the amount of any such support sought being a commercial matter.
