Written Answers Nos. 83-102
83. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport when a person (details supplied) who had the M8 motorway built through their land over 15 years ago will receive their final payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49388/21]
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. 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.
84. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Transport further to a question by this Deputy at the Oireachtas Select Committee on Transport and Communications of 29 September 2021 (details supplied), if he will ensure that the estimated capital cost of the preferred scheme of €16,592,240 is made available and that sanction is given without delay to expedite this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49449/21]
View answerThe Deputy’s question relates to a flood relief proposal which is not within the remit of my Department. The report in question was conducted on foot of a request by the then Joint Oireachtas Committee for Rural and Community Development and prepared by consultants under the auspices of a multi-agency Steering Group comprised of Clare County Council, the Office of Public Works, Geological Survey of Ireland, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Iarnród Éireann. A copy of the report was subsequently shared with numerous stakeholders, including my Department.
As the Deputy has previously noted the works proposed are not works related to the actual railway but instead involve the attenuation of some flows at Rosroe and Finn Loughs along with removal of the underground restriction between the swallow hole and spring and ancillary works.
Noting that Iarnród Éireann was represented on the Steering Group I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Company for a direct reply regarding any plans for the protection of the rail line and any update on the work of the multi-agency Steering Group.
86. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport when the railway station in Killbarry, Blackpool, County Cork will be reopened. [49521/21]
View answerAs stated in the recently published National Development Plan , the Cork Commuter Rail Programme targets a 10-minute all-day frequency on electrified rail services running from Mallow to Midleton and Cobh. Phase 1 of the Programme will be funded through the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility and is scheduled for completion by 2026. Phase 2 of the Programme will commence during 2022 with early development, and delivery will continue over the latter period of the NDP.
Delivery of the Programme will be overseen by the National Transport Authority (NTA), working in close co-operation with Iarnród Éireann. Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to it for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
87. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if a LocalLink bus service will be provided for the Kilcully and the upper Glanmire areas in Cork. [49522/21]
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 in this matter, 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.
88. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the number of State boards under the remit of his Department or its agencies in tabular form; the number of members of each board; the number of women on each board; and the percentage of each board that is made up of women. [49570/21]
View answerI am wholly committed to promoting gender balance, diversity and inclusion on the State Boards under my remit as Minister for Transport, to widen access to a broader range of experiences, perspectives, and skillsets. My Department actively engages with our agencies to promote better gender balance on our State Boards, including discussing gender balance and skills mix with Chairs. We also engage with the Public Appointments/State Boards Service to ensure that there is a broad pool of candidates for State Board positions and we will continue to work with them to make further progress on this core objective. I would encourage any individual who has the requisite skills, male or female, to put themselves forward for these open competitions, which provide genuine opportunities to contribute.
There are 11 commercial bodies and 5 non-commercial bodies under the aegis of the Department of Transport. In addition, my Department also processes board appointments for 2 organisations under the remit of our agencies, namely the Railway Safety Advisory Council and the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles.
Information in relation to the membership, number and percentage of women on each board is summarised in the following table.
|
State Board/Agency |
Total Board membership |
Total current Board Members |
Number of Females on current Board |
Female as % of total currently on Board |
|
Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles |
18 |
17 |
5 |
29% |
|
Bus Átha Cliath |
9 |
6 |
2 |
33% |
|
Bus Éireann |
9 |
7 |
2 |
29% |
|
Córas Iompair Éireann |
12 |
12 |
4 |
33% |
|
Dublin Port Company |
8 |
6 |
0 |
0% |
|
Iarnród Éireann |
9 |
8 |
4 |
50% |
|
Irish Aviation Authority |
9 |
8 |
4 |
50% |
|
Marine Casualty Investigation Board |
5 |
3 |
2 |
67% |
|
Medical Bureau of Road Safety |
5 |
5 |
2 |
40% |
|
National Transport Authority |
12 |
9 |
2 |
22% |
|
Port of Cork Company |
8 |
8 |
2 |
29% |
|
Port of Waterford Company |
8 |
6 |
0 |
0% |
|
Railway Safety Advisory Council |
14 |
14 |
6 |
43% |
|
Road Safety Authority |
9 |
9 |
5 |
56% |
|
Shannon Foynes Port Company |
8 |
7 |
3 |
43% |
|
Shannon Group PLC |
10 |
9 |
2 |
25% |
|
Transport Infrastructure Ireland |
11 |
11 |
3 |
27% |
|
daa plc |
13 |
12 |
2 |
17% |
Information relating to board appointments for agencies under my Department's remit and the basis of that appointment is available here on stateboards.ie and here on my Department’s website.
89. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if a driving test application by a person (details supplied) will expedited given the applicant requires the test for work purposes; and if he will make additional resources available to the RSA to assist with the clearance of a backlog as a result of public health restrictions imposed over the past year. [49653/21]
View answerUnder legislation, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is the body responsible for the operation of the Driving Test. The scheduling of appointments is an operational matter for the Road Safety Authority, and one in which I have no role.
I am therefore passing this part of the Deputy's question to the Road Safety Authority for direct reply. If a reply has not been received within 10 working days, the Deputy should contact my office.
Due to the suspension of driver testing services in the initial pandemic response, along with the health protocols required since the resumption of services, services are operating below normal capacity and a significant backlog has developed.
In line with the gradual reopening of services this summer, driving tests for all those who are eligible to take the test and have been waiting longest have now recommenced. Critical frontline workers continue to be the priority for the driver testing service.
My Department is liaising with the RSA on an ongoing basis to meet the growing demand for tests. An additional 40 temporary driver testers have been authorised along with 36 approved for retention or rehire in 2020. These testers have been recruited and trained and commenced testing in July.
In addition, sanction was granted at the end of June to add a further 40 testers to the cohort.
A further issue is the number of tests carried out per tester per day. Before the pandemic, testers conducted eight tests per day. On the resumption of the service in summer 2020, this was reduced to five because of health precautions, but later raised to six. As of September 27, 2021, this has been further increased to seven tests per tester per day.
The health of both the public and the testers themselves must take priority. As a result, it is important to recognise that it will take time to get driver testing waiting times back to normal pre-Covid levels.
90. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport if funding will be granted to Galway County Council following its application for funding for the Derrarthe Móre Road, Carraroe, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49656/21]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads 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 local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants, where applicable. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
Any projects proposed by local authorities for consideration under the Specific Grant Programme are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis. All projects put forward by local authorities for consideration must comply with the requirements of the Public Spending Code and the Department's Capital Appraisal Framework (CAF). Given the limited funding available for road improvement works it is important for local authorities to prioritise projects within their overall area of responsibility with these requirements in mind. Any projects put forward for consideration are assessed taking competing projects and available budgets into account.
As regards works on the Derrarthe Móre Road, no formal application has been received by my Department.
91. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the number and value all procurement contracts that took place by way of negotiated procedure without prior publication in 2020 and to date in 2021; and the date, value and purpose of each negotiated procedure contract in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49740/21]
View answerMy Department has used the Negotiated Procedure without Prior Publication procedure for procurements on two separate occasions in 2020 and in 2021 as outlined in the table below. The Negotiated Procedure without Prior Publication is an exceptional procedure and can only be used in a limited number of defined circumstances as set out in Regulation 32 of the European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations 2016. My Department obtained legal advices in advance of those procurements to ensure compliance with the Regulation.
|
Date of Procurement |
Value of Procurement |
Purpose of Procurement |
|
December 2020 |
€375,000 (ex-VAT) |
The provision of Drysuit Service, Maintenance, Repair and Certification for Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) |
|
January 2021 |
€1.1m (ex-VAT) |
Procurement of supplier to provide Covid-19 testing services for hauliers |
92. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the efforts he is making to support the transition from private car to public transport for commuters to third-level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49080/21]
View answerThe renewed National Development Plan (NDP) provides €35 billion for transport over the next decade, the largest investment in transport in the history of the state, and it will transform how we travel, connect communities and help us to halve our greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. It provides for significant investment in active travel, bus and rail infrastructure over the next ten years in terms of expanding sustainable mobility options in our cities, towns and villages. This will enable us to provide greater choices for commuters to travel more sustainably - be that by walking, cycling or public transport.
The NDP will support the delivery of major public transport projects such as BusConnects, DART+ and Metrolink along with increased investment in the inter-urban and regional rail network. This will be complemented by an expansion of public transport services including in rural and regional areas under Connecting Ireland. Investment of €360 million a year will support 1,000 km of new and improved walking and cycling infrastructure.
My Department also provides funding for the Smarter Travel Workplaces and Campus Programmes, which are overseen by the NTA. These are national, voluntary, behaviour change programmes that work with large employers and third level institutions to implement workplace travel plans that facilitate sustainable travel on the commute and beyond.
We are committed to supporting 500,000 extra daily walking, cycling and public transport journeys by 2030 making it easier for people to travel in a sustainable way including commuters to third-level education. The new Sustainable Mobility Policy which I intend to publish before the end of this year will provide a 10-year policy framework for active travel and public transport to cater for daily travel needs in a more sustainable way and support this commitment.
93. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the reason that the Leap card does not apply in Laytown and Gormanston but does in north County Wicklow, both equidistant from Connolly station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49776/21]
View answer94. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to reduce rail fares at Gormanston and Laytown stations to bring them in line with Balbriggan station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49777/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 94 together.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport, nor decisions on fares.
Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in December 2009, the NTA has responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services, provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts.
Therefore, I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
95. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that all public bus services that serve rural areas have the capacity to transport bikes. [49871/21]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport but the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the provision of the PSO bus fleets.
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.
96. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the status of a bus shelter (details supplied); and the date it will be installed. [49883/21]
View answer97. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the status of a bus shelter (details supplied); and the date it will be installed. [49884/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 97 together.
As 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 provision of bus stops and shelters.
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.
98. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons waiting for a driver theory test in County Wicklow by month in 2021, to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49914/21]
View answerUnder legislation, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is the body responsible for the operation of the Driver Theory Test. The information requested is held by the Road Safety Authority.
I am therefore passing the Deputy's question to the Road Safety Authority for direct reply. If a reply has not been received within 10 working days, the Deputy should contact my office.
99. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Transport the number of reports that have been commissioned over the past 20 years to examine the potential reopening of the Western Rail Corridor from Athenry to Claremorris; and the cost of these reports itemised by each individual report. [49928/21]
View answerSince 2001 my Department believes there were potentially three reports which relate to the possible re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor between Athenry and Claremorris. However, there may be other reports commissioned by private parties that the Department would not hold any relevant information.
In 2004 my Department established an expert Working Group to carry out a full examination of the Western Rail Corridor proposal. The final report is known as the ‘McCann Report’ and while it did not incur significant consultancy costs directly, I understand Iarnród Éireann commissioned Faber Maunsell to conduct some work to assist with the Working Group’s examination.
As the Deputy knows, there have been two Reports produced more recently, in line with a decision of the previous Government. Iarnród Éireann commissioned EY economic consultants to undertake a financial and economic appraisal of a proposed re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor Phases 2 and 3. EY were commissioned by Iarnród Éireann following a competitive procurement process and Iarnród Éireann submitted a final report to my Department in July 2020. Management and oversight of EY’s work programme was a matter for Iarnród Éireann in line with their contractual arrangements, including payment of any fees.
Separately my Department arranged for JASPERS, an agency of the European Union / European Investment Bank, to conduct an independent review of the proposal once the work referred to above was complete. JASPERS provides advisory services to Member States (and other public authorities in the EU) and has extensive experience in relation to transport infrastructure proposals in European regions. There were no payments made to JASPERS in respect of this work as JASPERS’ services are available to Member States at no cost.
100. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Finance if the underspend from the stay and spend scheme will be considered to go toward sports capital grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49087/21]
View answerThe purpose of the Stay and Spend tax credit was to provide targeted support to businesses within the hospitality sector whose operations were likely to be most affected by restrictions. It provided relief direct to the consumer rather than the business.
The Stay and Spend tax credit was a demand led tax measure rather than a voted direct expenditure instrument. As the Deputy will appreciate, direct expenditure measures of the type raised in the question are matters, in the first instance, for the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
The scheme was developed at a time last year when there appeared to be a steady downward trend in infection rates and there was an expectation that the re-opening of the economy could be sustained uninterrupted.
Unfortunately, this was not the case and, with the exception of some short periods, public health restrictions had the effect of impeding the operation of the incentive as originally envisaged.
To the extent that spending on the scheme may have been less than the original cost estimate, this of course means that we need to borrow less and accumulate less debt.
101. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 671 of 21 September 2021, the criteria under which criteria psychologists, who are awaiting regulation by CORU under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, given VAT exemption rated at 13.5% on earnings over €37,500; the reason that counsellors and psychotherapists who are awaiting regulation under the same Act do not meet this criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49108/21]
View answerI am advised by Revenue that the VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. Under our legislation professional medical care services recognised as such by the Department of Health and Children are exempt from VAT. Professional medical care services recognised by the Department of Health and Children are generally those medical care services supplied by health professionals who are enrolled, registered, regulated, or designated on the appropriate statutory register provided for under the relevant legislation in force in the State or equivalent legislation applicable in other countries. This includes health professionals registered under the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, the Nurses Act 1985 and those engaged in a regulated profession designated under Section 4 of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005.
Statutory Instrument No. 170 of 2018 (Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (Regulations 2018)) of 2 July 2018 designates psychotherapists and counsellors as a regulated profession and establishes the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board. Professional counselling and psychotherapy services provided by persons registered by this Board are exempt from VAT from the date of their registration. Where such services are supplied by a person who is not so registered (including where the services are provided by a person in advance of their being so registered) then the supply of the service is liable to the reduced rate of VAT, currently 13.5%.
I understand that Psychologists were listed as designated professionals in the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, although the register of psychologists envisaged by that legislation has not yet opened. I am advised by Revenue that, because the supply of services by psychologists were exempt from VAT for many years prior to the 2005 Health legislation, that pre-existing exemption has been maintained pending commencement of the Psychologists register.
I also understand that, in 2018, Counsellors and Psychotherapists were added by the Minister for Health to the list of designated professionals for the purposes of the 2005 Act. I am advised by Revenue that services provided by these professionals had not been granted VAT exemption prior to this. Therefore, in accordance with the law, Revenue applies the VAT exemption to the supply of medical services by these professionals as and from the date of their registration.
102. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 176 of 9 September 2021, the criteria under which psychologists who are awaiting regulation by CORU under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 are given VAT exemption rated at 13.5% on earnings over €37,500; the reason that counsellors and psychotherapists who are awaiting regulation under the same Act do not meet this criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49134/21]
View answerI am advised by Revenue that the VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. Under our legislation professional medical care services recognised as such by the Department of Health and Children are exempt from VAT. Professional medical care services recognised by the Department of Health and Children are generally those medical care services supplied by health professionals who are enrolled, registered, regulated, or designated on the appropriate statutory register provided for under the relevant legislation in force in the State or equivalent legislation applicable in other countries. This includes health professionals registered under the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, the Nurses Act 1985 and those engaged in a regulated profession designated under Section 4 of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005.
Statutory Instrument No. 170 of 2018 (Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (Regulations 2018)) of 2 July 2018 designates psychotherapists and counsellors as a regulated profession and establishes the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board. Professional counselling and psychotherapy services provided by persons registered by this Board are exempt from VAT from the date of their registration. Where such services are supplied by a person who is not so registered (including where the services are provided by a person in advance of their being so registered) then the supply of the service is liable to the reduced rate of VAT, currently 13.5%.
I understand that Psychologists were listed as designated professionals in the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, although the register of psychologists envisaged by that legislation has not yet opened. I am advised by Revenue that, because the supply of services by psychologists were exempt from VAT for many years prior to the 2005 Health legislation, that pre-existing exemption has been maintained pending commencement of the Psychologists register.
I also understand that, in 2018, Counsellors and Psychotherapists were added by the Minister for Health to the list of designated professionals for the purposes of the 2005 Act. I am advised by Revenue that services provided by these professionals had not been granted VAT exemption prior to this. Therefore, in accordance with the law, Revenue applies the VAT exemption to the supply of medical services by these professionals as and from the date of their registration.
