Written Answers Nos. 128-141
133. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Transport the reason he has failed to commence a competition to fill the post set aside for persons with disabilities within the National Transport Authority; and when the recruitment process will commence. [27826/21]
View answerThere are currently three vacancies on the Board of the National Transport Authority (NTA). My Department has commenced the recruitment process and is actively engaging with the Public Appointments Service (PAS) with regard to filling the current vacancies on the Board, including one with experience in the area of disability and accessible public transport. It is hoped that the PAS competition to fill these vacancies will commence shortly.
135. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons currently on the waiting list for the standard driver theory test; the mechanisms being put in place to alleviate this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27871/21]
View answerThe driver theory testing service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority.
Information on waiting lists is held by the Authority and this part of the question 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.
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 approximately 15,000 tests per month up 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 up to 3,200 online tests being conducted per month. Online services will be made more widely available towards the end of 2021.
136. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport the status of the search and rescue helicopter service contract. [27908/21]
View answerThe current helicopter service contract between the then Minister for Transport and CHC Ireland DAC commenced on 1st July 2012 for a period of 10 years. It contains an option to extend for a period(s) up to a further 3 years. The contract has been extended initially for one year to July 2023 to facilitate the procurement of a new service in accordance with Public Spending Code requirements and a seamless transition from one service to another.
The current status of the procurement process for the new service can be referenced in the Published eTenders update on eTenders and our SAR Webpage www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/ed653-irish-coast-guard-search-and-rescue-sar-aviation-project/.
137. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if his Department will investigate the reason CIÉ has failed to honour the 1994 agreement in relation to retired members who have had not had an increase since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27909/21]
View answerAs 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.
I have therefore referred the Deputy's question to CIÉ for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
138. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 191 of 11 May 2021, if a revised submission in respect of a roads project in County Kerry will be expedited given the strategic and safety elements involved in the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27920/21]
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 a revised submission in respect of Listry Bridge, the position remains as previously outlined to the Deputy in PQ No. 191 of 11th May 2021 namely that a revised preliminary appraisal has been received from Kerry County Council concerning a number of options. Specific Grant allocations for 2021 have been notified to local authorities, including a €30,000 allocation for the proposed Listry Bridge scheme, and further progression of the scheme will fall to be considered as part of the 2022 Specific Grant allocation process. The submission received from Kerry County Council will be considered in that context taking into account project need, objectives, options and costs as well as funding availability allowing for existing project commitments.
139. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 188 of 11 May 2021, if the Road Safety Authority will re-examine the option of bilateral licence exchange with the best performing US states as an initial step towards improving the scenario for returning Irish emigrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27924/21]
View answerAs this is a 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.
140. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide clarity on the position of drivers who will reach 70 years of age shortly in relation to the extension of their driver licence; if they will be contacted individually to confirm that the validity of their licence has been extended; and if his attention has been drawn to the difficulty of contacting and obtaining e-mail replies from the National Driver Licence Service in relation to such queries. [27925/21]
View answerAll driving licences not already renewed that expired from 1 March 2020 to 31 August 2020 have been automatically extended by 13 months in total OR to 1 July 2021, whichever date is the latest. Driving licences not already renewed that expire from 1 September 2020 to 30 June 2021 have been automatically extended by 10 months in total.
All enquires relating to driver licensing are handled by the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS), the provision of which I have delegated to the Road Safety Authority (RSA) under the relevant legislation.
I have forwarded the Deputy's query to the RSA for direct reply. If she has not heard from them in 10 working days I would ask that she contact my office directly.
141. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to introduce legislation to extend the duration of learner driver permits in view of the delay in driving tests; if so, when this will occur given it is urgent that learner drivers are permitted to continue driving within the law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27931/21]
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.
