Written Answers Nos. 81-101
81. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details of correspondence with the Department of Foreign Affairs following the hacking of the phone of the Minister, Deputy Coveney, in 2020; if new procedures were initiated for security of Ministerial phones following this hacking; and if so, the details of the updated procedures. [42917/21]
View answerThe National Cyber Security Centre does not comment on operational matters relating to the security of Government Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The security of the ICT systems of Government Departments is the responsibility of individual Departments.
82. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Ministerial phones have been hacked or attempted to be hacked during the term of office.. [42923/21]
View answerThe Department has no knowledge of the Minister’s phone being compromised or of any attempt at compromising it.
83. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has ever used his personal phones for Government business; and if so, if the personal phones have been hacked during his term of office. [42941/21]
View answerThe Department has no knowledge of the Minister’s phone being compromised or of any attempt at compromising the phone.
84. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of freedom of information requests responded to by his Department in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of responses that included documents related to text messages and other phone message communications such as messages sent through an application (details supplied) in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42963/21]
View answerThe number of Freedom of Information requests my Department has received from 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021 is set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Number of Freedom of Information Requests |
|
2016 |
159 |
|
2017 |
195 |
|
2018 |
362 |
|
2019 |
464 |
|
2020 |
184 |
|
2021* |
139 |
*up to 08 September 2021
My Department does not maintain statistics relating to different record types, including documents related to text messages and other phone message communications such as messages sent through WhatsApp. This information is not readily available and its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work.
85. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of formal and informal roles held by a person (details supplied) in the name of his Department or associated agency in the lifetime of this Government; when they were appointed to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43036/21]
View answerThe filling of positions in the Department or to Boards under the remit of my Department is conducted through the formal procedures and managed through the Public Appointments Service. The individual in question is not currently serving on any Board nor any other position that would require approval by the Minister or my Department.
86. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and or his special advisers and or officials use or have used services (details supplied) to communicate in the past 18 months. [43070/21]
View answerOfficials in my Department currently use or have used in the past 18 months the software referred to in the Deputies question for official internal communications. I can confirm that accounts with both services were created on my behalf, to facilitate Green Party rather than Departmental business. The use of one of the specified services pre-dates my appointment as Minister, and I have not used the application for any Department or Government business since my appointment. I can also confirm advisors have used these services for Green Party business.
88. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost in 2022 if the budget for the Irish Coast Guard increased by 5%. [41459/21]
View answerThe 2021 allocation in the Revised Estimate for the Irish Coast Guard is €79.3m, including current and capital. A 5% increase on that budget would be €3.96m
89. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the amount Iarnród Éireann spent on maintenance on the Dublin to Sligo rail line in each of the years of 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [41460/21]
View answer90. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the amount Iarnród Éireann spent on maintenance the Dublin to Waterford rail line in each of the years of 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [41461/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 90 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Infrastructure Manager Multi Annual Contract (IMMAC) provides the funding framework for the protection and renewal of the railway network, including both the Dublin to Sligo and Dublin to Waterford rail lines. This is the second year of the current five year IMMAC programme, as approved by Government in 2020, and over the five years of the programme in excess of €1billion in Exchequer funding will be made available to support delivery. This funding will increase service reliability and punctuality, improve journey times and ensure continued safety of rail services.
As the operation, maintenance and renewal of the rail network is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the company for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
91. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport if he will address a matter regarding a bus service (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41483/21]
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 issue raised in relation to a bus service in Cork is a matter for Bus Éireann 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.
92. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the number of vehicles that passed through the toll on the M4 between junction 8 and Junction 10 in each of the past five years and to date in 2021, by vehicle type; the amount of profit that was generated by the toll operator in each of the past five years and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41495/21]
View answer93. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the number of vehicles that passed through the toll on the M3 between junction 5 and junction 6 and also between junction 9 and junction 10 over each of the past five years and to date in 2021; the breakdown of vehicles by type; the profit generated by the toll operator over each of the past five years and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41496/21]
View answer94. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the amount of revenue that was collected from private toll operators throughout the country in each of the past five years and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41503/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 92 to 94, inclusive, together.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Matters relating to the day to day operations regarding national roads, including toll roads and the establishment of a system of tolls, are within the remit of TII. More specifically, the statutory power to levy tolls, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into agreements with private investors are vested in TII under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended).
Noting the above position, I have referred the questions to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
95. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if suggested bus routes (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41525/21]
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 implementation of BusConnects.
Noting their responsibility in relation to this matter, I have forwarded your query to the NTA for their consideration and direct reply.
96. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport if a response will issue to queries raised by a person (details supplied) in relation to the agreement of dangerous goods by road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41578/21]
View answerThis 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.
97. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport the current policy regarding the employment of persons with disabilities in his Department and in each State and semi-State body under the aegis of his Department; the disability quota of his Department at present; if there is an active campaign to increase the disability workforce from the current target of 3% to a minimum of 6% by 2024; if this quota has now been exceeded; if so, the details of same; if there has been an advertised competition in relation to the quota; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41603/21]
View answerUnder the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities for 2015 – 2024, the Government has committed to progressively increasing the statutory target for the employment of people with disabilities from 3% to a minimum of 6% in the public sector by 2024. As a public sector organisation and equal opportunities employer, my Department is conscious of its statutory obligations and is continually working to ensure that it meets all commitments in this regard.
For the most part, staff recruitment into my Department is facilitated through the Public Appointments Service who provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities during their engagement with the recruitment process. In that regard, there is no designated recruitment competitions for the employment of people with disabilities in the Civil Service.
The Department of Transport is presently subject to specific legal obligations in the Disability Act 2005 and is required to reach and maintain a 3% target for the employment of staff with disabilities.
In the most recent survey, which was conducted earlier this year, 3.05% of staff in the Department of Transport disclosed that they had a disability in accordance with the Disability Act 2005.
The Deputy will be aware that the disclosure of a disability is a confidential and sensitive matter for staff and is not mandatory and the data disclosed refers to officers who have chosen to disclose a disability as defined under the Disability Act 2005.
My Department has also participated in the Willing Able Mentoring Programme (WAM) which is a work placement programme and provides paid work placements to graduates with disabilities.
I have asked the aegis bodies to respond directly to you on this matter and if you do not hear from them within 10 days you should contact my office.
98. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport his plans to provide resources to city councils to employ bicycle mounted enforcement officials in order to assist them in issuing fines and or compliance advice in respect of motor vehicles obstructing designated cycle lanes. [41630/21]
View answerLocal authority traffic wardens are empowered by law to enforce a range of parking offences, including that of parking in a cycle lane. The recruitment, deployment, and resourcing of wardens are matters for each individual local authority and my Department has no role in this regard.
99. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport if legal provisions have been made to ensure aisle chairs are provided onboard every flight for wheelchair users; the steps he is taking in relation to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41869/21]
View answerThe rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air are protected by Regulation (EC) 1107/2006. The Regulation obliges tour operators, air carriers and airport management bodies to provide high-quality and practical help to disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility so that they have the same travel opportunities as others.
Air carriers are required to make all reasonable efforts to arrange seating to meet the needs of individuals with a disability or reduced mobility, on request and subject to safety requirements and availability. In addition, assistance in moving to toilet facilities must be provided if required. The Regulation also states that persons who require assistance must notify the air carrier at least 48 hours in advance of travel and should outline any specific requirements.
However, there are no specific legal provisions to ensure aisle chairs are provided onboard every flight for wheelchair users. Air carriers must comply with stringent European aviation safety regulations and compliance may impact on the equipment and seating available to persons with reduced mobility and disabled persons depending on the type of aircraft. There are no plans to introduce legislation mandating the provision of aisle chairs on all flights at this time. If any such proposals were to be introduced, they would be best considered in an EU-wide context. Any such proposals would be subject to relevant safety approvals by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and its Member States.
The Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) is the designated body responsible for the enforcement of Regulation (EC) 1107/2006 in Ireland. Passengers are advised to contact their air carrier at the time of booking to ensure that seating and equipment can be provided which best meets an individual's needs. It is advisable that passengers who will require an aisle chair, particularly when intending longer journeys, check availability in advance of booking and in writing. Further advice is available on the CAR’s dedicated passenger rights website www.flightrights.ie.
100. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport when an essential driver (details supplied) in County Kerry will be given a date for a driver test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41900/21]
View answerThe driving test is the statutory responsibility of 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.
101. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number, type, that is, fatal, serious, and minor and location of collisions recorded on each national road and motorway in each of the years 2015 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41943/21]
View answerMy Department cannot provide all the details required. Details on collisions are recorded and provided by An Garda Síochána which falls under the remit of the Department of Justice.
While the Road Safety Authority does publish some statistics detailing the number, type and location of collisions, this is only following verification of the incident which can, in some cases, be a considerable time after the actual event has taken place. This is because inquests, coroner's reports and court cases can take a number of years to be settled.
However, some of the information is currently being compiled by Transport Infrastructure Ireland which I will forward to to the Deputy.
