Written Answers Nos. 190-209
190. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the arrangements his Department is putting in place to facilitate driver theory tests in County Wexford; when a facility for theory tests will be up and running in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33264/21]
View answerUnder legislation, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is the body responsible for the operation of the Driver Theory Test.
This is an operational matter for the RSA. This question is therefore 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.
191. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the breakdown of Vote 31 with headings and subheadings for 2021, in tabular form. [33274/21]
View answerThe Revised Estimates for Public Services 2021 are published in full on GOV.ie - see link below. The Department of Transport's Vote, Vote 31, sets out the allocations across three programme areas - Civil Aviation, Land Transport and Maritime Transport and Safety.
https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/e20037-revised-estimates/#2021
192. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the State agencies, organisations or boards under the responsibility of his Department or that receive funding from his Department that have been charged interest for savings on deposit in Irish banks since negative interest rates were introduced; the amount of interest that has been charged to each State agency, organisation or board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33323/21]
View answerI have referred the question to the agencies under the aegis of my Department for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply with 10 working days.
193. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport if Bus Éireann will be reconsidering its online pre-booking system in view of the fact that those with valid open returns and those with free travel passes are being made to wait and have no idea whether they will get a seat on a bus or not; if he will consider scrapping the €2 charge applied to those travelling on a travel pass particularly when Iarnród Éireann does not have such a charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33330/21]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I am responsible for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in day-to-day operational matters. The Free Travel Scheme is a non-statutory scheme administered by the Department of Social Protection.
The query raised appears to relate to Bus Éireann's commercial service, Expressway, and I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
194. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of providing one million additional passenger journeys on the LocalLink service in one year. [33335/21]
View answerAs Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
It is the National Transport Authority (NTA) which has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. The NTA also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including management of the Rural Transport Programme which operates under the Local Link brand.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities regarding Local Link services, I have referred your Question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
195. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of increasing the public transport fleet investment budget by 20%. [33336/21]
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 national PSO rail and bus fleets.
As the Deputy will be aware, there are two fundamental elements to increasing fleet. Firstly, there is the one-off capital expenditure cost associated with the purchase of new fleet and then secondly there is the recurring current expenditure cost associated with operating and maintaining that new fleet.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
196. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of increasing the road improvement and maintenance budget by 20%, excluding the cost of toll payments. [33337/21]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads (RLR) is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from Councils’ own resources supplemented by State road grants, where applicable. Arising from the arrangements in place in relation to Local Property Tax receipts, the four Dublin Councils are largely self-funding for works on regional and local roads since 2015 and my Department no longer provides grants to these Councils under the main regional and local road grant categories.
Details of the regional and local road grant allocations and payments to local authorities are outlined in the regional and local road grant booklets which are available in the Oireachtas Library. The Revised Estimates Volume (REV) allocation for regional and local roads in 2021 is €555 million and to increase this by 20% would require additional funding of €111 million.
As 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 operation and maintenance 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.
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.
197. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the total budget for cycling and active travel in 2021. [33338/21]
View answerAs the Deputy is likely aware, the Programme for Government committed that €360 million in cross-Government funding will be spent on walking and cycling per annum over the lifetime of the Government. This investment will help support the delivery of almost 1,000 kilometres of improved walking and cycling infrastructure by 2025 as well as additional investment in Greenways.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that this year, we have seen a significant increase in funding, in line with the Government’s prioritisation of Active Travel and Greenways. I was delighted to announce earlier this year an allocation of €240 million to Active Travel projects in the Greater Dublin Area, along with an additional €72.8 million to projects in the other local authorities. The latter funding stream constitutes the first ever major Active Travel investment programme for rural Ireland. €50 million has been allocated to the Department’s Greenways programme in 2021 in addition to a carryover of €19m from 2020. This overall increase in funding will not only support the construction and improvement of walking and cycling infrastructure but also the deployment of almost 250 Active Travel staff in local authorities around the country.
The Deputy should also be aware that local authorities can also access funding sources through other Departments to support walking and cycling infrastructure development. The two most significant are the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), which falls under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), overseen by the Department of Rural and Community Development. The latter Department also supports leisure orientated walking and cycling through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS).
198. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the number of defibrillators at bus stations across the State in 2021. [33341/21]
View answerAs the 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 operations of public transport.
The issue raised is a matter for Bus Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
199. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport the reasoning behind the exemption of Dublin councils from the €10.5 million in funding for repair and improvement works for non-public roads in rural communities; if additional funding will be made available for rural areas of County Dublin; the reasoning behind the exemption of Dublin county councils from the funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33416/21]
View answerThe €10.5 million allocation of funding for repair and improvement works for non-public roads in rural communities, to which the Deputy refers, relates to the Department of Rural and Community Development's Local Improvement Scheme (LIS). The Deputy may wish, therefore, to refer the question to the Minister for the Department of Rural and Community Development for answer.
200. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport if he will introduce additional travel grants for those with limited mobility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33435/21]
View answerAs Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for promoting the development of an integrated, accessible public transport network. The NTA works with the relevant public transport operators, who have responsibility for day to day operational issues, to progressively make public transport accessible.
However, the remit of my Department and its Agencies, including the NTA, relates to public transport services, rather than individualised or personalised travel supports.
Public transport services are open services which are planned, coordinated and delivered as a means for the general public to access a wide variety of services and allow all passengers to travel together, in so far as possible.
Transport services that do not fit this description are deemed to be ‘closed’ services, for example, dedicated door-to-door disability services, and do not come under the remit of my Department or the NTA.
In addition, the funding allocated to my Department and its Agencies is for public transport services, for example Public Service Obligation (PSO) funding, and the Local Link Rural Transport Programme, rather than for individual travel or mobility grant support schemes.
For the information of the Deputy, the Free Travel Scheme comes under the remit of the Minister for Social Protection, who also has responsibility for the Disability Allowance scheme. The Mobility Allowance Scheme comes under the remit of the Minister for Health as does responsibility for Motorised Transport Grants.
201. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport the length of time Iarnród Éireann operated the quiet carriage initiative; the reason the initiative was phased out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33446/21]
View answer202. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport the annual expenditure for the quiet carriage initiative operated by Iarnród Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33447/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together.
As the 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 operations of public transport.
The issues raised are an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the company for direct reply.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
203. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a copy of the letter he and the Minister of State at his Department sent to the Taoiseach, the Minister for Health and other Ministers in April 2021 endorsing antigen testing as referenced by him in response to an oral Parliamentary Question on 17 June 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33468/21]
View answerI have arranged for a copy of the letter from Minister of State Naughton, sent in May rather than in April as was stated in the Dáil on 17 June 2021, and sent to the Taoiseach, Minister for Health and other Ministers endorsing antigen testing to be forwarded to the Deputy. Minister of State Naughton has also written to the Minister for Health this week on the subject of the consideration a pilot of the use of antigen testing for international travel linked to the implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate.
204. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport if it is planned to reintroduce the mobile driver theory test vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33471/21]
View answerUnder legislation, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is the body responsible for the operation of the Driver Theory Test.
This is an operational matter for the RSA. This question is therefore 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.
205. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport the number of airlines his Department has engaged with and or written to in respect of the interim provision of the Donegal to Dublin air service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33472/21]
View answer206. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport the number of airlines that have expressed an interest in the interim provision of the Donegal to Dublin air service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33473/21]
View answer207. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport the date by which expressions of interest and or submissions are to be made to his Department by airlines in respect of the interim provision of the Donegal to Dublin air service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33474/21]
View answer208. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport the date by which an airline is to be appointed for the interim provision of the Donegal to Dublin air service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33475/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 205, 206, 207 and 208 together.
As the Deputy is aware, Stobart Air held the contract for operating Government supported PSO air services on two routes between Dublin and the airports of Donegal and Kerry. The recent termination of its franchise agreement with Aer Lingus resulted in the cancellation of these services with immediate implications for users of the PSOs.
I can assure the Deputy that the restoration of regional connectivity is of critical importance to Government. Work is already progressing to restore air services on these vital regional routes as soon as possible.
In that respect, and as announced on 15 June, an emergency procurement process has been initiated by my Department. All Irish licenced (Category A) air carriers, as well as other carriers who have expressed an interest in operating these services, were issued with a Request for Quote (RfQ) document by my Department on 21st June. The closing date for receipt of quotations from air carriers, in response to this RfQ, is 5pm on Monday 28th June 2021. The evaluation of submissions will commence immediately afterwards.
It is my hope that this procurement can be concluded early in July with a view to services re-commencing by the new operator(s) as soon as possible thereafter. The contract(s) will be subject to a maximum term of 7 months and will operate in accordance with EU law.
To mitigate against any further disruption to these services, my Department will shortly launch a procurement process for the continued provision of the services after the temporary arrangements have expired. This procurement process will provide for contracts of up to 4 years, in line with EU law, and will ensure the continuation of services to Donegal Airport as it recovers from the impacts of Covid.
My Department will continue to engage closely with aviation stakeholders, including Donegal Airport, to keep them informed of plans in this regard.
209. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport the status of online driver theory tests; if more spaces can be made immediately available to help clear the growing backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33476/21]
View answerThe RSA has been working to deliver an online theory test service, with a pilot online test already underway for trucks and buses. This pilot service has now been extended to include a limited number of car and motorbike tests.
The new offering will see 4,000 online theory tests available for all categories of vehicles during June. The RSA has plans to increase this by a further 6,000 during July. Tests are available on a first-come-first-served basis with the new online service becoming more widely available later in the year.
It is important to emphasise the limits of online testing. These may be convenient for test candidates, but they have to be monitored closely by a supervisor, which makes them more staff-intensive than tests in test centres. In consequence, if the RSA and Prometric, the test operator, get approval in future to extend capacity in test centres to 50,000 tests, they have indicated that they will prioritize staff for the test centres and may have to reduce the figure online from 10,000. This will in fact have a positive impact on numbers tested, as the test centres are far more efficient.
