Written Answers Nos. 169-186
169. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a property (details supplied) can connect to fibre broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53414/21]
View answerThe Question refers to a premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention. I appreciate people's frustration when they are living so close to a fibre network but cannot get a connection to that network, particularly given the heightened importance of connectivity during the Covid-19 pandemic. The NBP will ensure that in all such cases a future proofed high speed broadband network will be built to serve these premises and work to deliver on this is underway.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 27 October, nearly 273,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed. Surveys are complete or underway in County Donegal in the areas of Letterkenny, Creeslough, Tamney, Bunbeg, Arranmore, Rutland Island/Burtonport, and Inisfree Island/Burtonport. Pre-build works are underway in Letterkenny. Based on initial investigations by my Department, I understand that the premises is a new build and NBI has added the premises to the Intervention Area ensuring that the premises will be delivered with high speed broadband under the NBP.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Donegal through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie. Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises as works commence. NBI has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries. Given the scale and complexity of delivery of the new high speed broadband network under the NBP, I am advised that any dates provided by NBI on its website are based on the best available information at the time and may be subject to change.
In addition to the challenges to the delivery of the NBP due to the Covid-19 pandemic, NBI has faced a range of other challenges due to the sheer scale and complexity of rolling out fibre to the home in a rural environment. These include significant tree trimming to ensure cable can be placed on overhead poles, remediation of ducting that has been in place for many decades, the co-ordination of hundreds of contracting crews and addressing the many issues arising week on week which could not have been foreseen until the build crews commenced work on the ground. My Department has worked closely with NBI to put in place a remedial plan under the Contract. This plan addresses delays experienced by NBI, primarily arising as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and re-baselines milestones for 2021. Work is underway to re-baseline milestones for 2022 and beyond. This has resulted in some changes to timeframes for connection for end users.
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 27 October, 386 BCP sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly accessible sites and the Department of Education for school BCPs. BCP’s are connected at Rathlin Knitwear, Dunree Military Museum, Ray Community Centre, Glenveagh National Park, Malin Head, Tory Co-Op, Leghowney Community Centre, Meenreagh Hostel (located 6.7km from the premises), Sliabh Liag Ranger Station, The Gweedore Theatre and Cranford Coole Community Centre. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Urbalreagh National School, Scoil Naomh Cholmcille, Drumfad National School, Scoil Naoimh Colum and Doaghbeg National School have been installed by NBI for educational access. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband, within the Intervention Area, for connection over the term of the NBP. In this regard, an acceleration of this aspect of the National Broadband Plan was announced in December which will see some 679 primary schools connected to high speed broadband by 2022, well ahead of the original target delivery timeframe of 2026. Further details are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list
170. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Transport the reason for the delay in compensation discussions which were due to take place in September 2021 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53218/21]
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. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code and the necessary statutory approvals.
In this context, TII is best placed to advise you in relation to discussions between Donegal County Council, TII and homeowners for relevant road schemes. Noting this 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.
171. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Transport the steps that are being taken to improve public transport services from rural areas to designated cancer centres for scheduled day case treatments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52022/21]
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 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. All services operated by TFI Local Link are open public transport services, providing access for passengers to a number of services including health services.
I referred a similar Question from the Deputy of 28 September 2021 (Ref: 46620/21) to the NTA for direct reply. I understand that the NTA replied to the Deputy on 15 October 2021 and advised that a public consultation phase on Connecting Ireland would be commencing this year.
As the Deputy may be aware, last Friday, 29 October 2021, I joined with the NTA to launch the Connecting Ireland public consultation on the NTA's draft proposals. The consultation will provide all interested parties and the general public with an opportunity to review and comment on the proposals. Details of the consultation can be found on the NTA's website at www.nationaltransport.ie/connecting-ireland/
172. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport when the Ballybrophy to Limerick continuous welded rail track renewal project will be completed; his plans to improve the frequency of the Ballybrophy to Limerick rail line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52024/21]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware the Infrastructure Manager Multi Annual Contract (IMMAC) provides the funding framework for the protection and renewal of our railway infrastructure, including the Ballybrophy to Limerick rail line. This is the second year of the five year IMMAC programme, as approved by Government in 2020, and over the five years of the programme over €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 an example, the enhanced programme of track relaying on the Ballybrophy line, as referred to by the Deputy, has been supported by this programme in 2021.
I understand from Iarnród Éireann that while still ongoing, track relaying work has meant that all bar approximately 15 of the 52 miles of the Ballybrophy to Limerick (Nenagh Branch) route are now continuous welded track, and that further works are scheduled throughout November to renew track.
Noting Iarnród Éireann's (IÉ) responsibility in the first instance, I have referred the Deputy's questions to IÉ for a more detailed reply on the matters raised. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
173. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport the current status in relation to provision of LUAS carriages on the red line; the increases in carriages that have taken place in the past two years; the increase in service that has taken place in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52053/21]
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 in the Greater Dublin Area, including Light Rail.
Noting their responsibility in relation to this matter, I have fowarded your query to the NTA for their consideration and direct reply.
174. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport the improved services that are planned for the provision of Luas Redline services to Citywest via Tallaght and to Citywest via Red Cow given the huge developments taking place in Citywest and its environs. [52054/21]
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.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
I have, therefore, forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
175. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport his plans to address the anomaly whereby a person could be refused a driving licence test in their car by the Road Safety Authority for not having a valid NCT disc on the day of their test given their NCT could be valid by virtue of the four month extension. [52074/21]
View answerAny vehicle that is to be used during the course of a driving test must hold a valid National Car Test (NCT) certificate. As the Deputy has noted, the Road Traffic (National Car Test) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 provided for a four-month extension to test due dates for certain vehicles as a result of the suspension of the NCT Service on 28 March 2020.
This extension automatically applies to:
- vehicles with an NCT certificate in force on 28 March 2020; and
- vehicles with a first test due falling during the period beginning on 28 March 2020 and ending on 31 July 2020.
Where a vehicle was eligible for a four-month extension, and where the driving test date fell within the period of that four-month extension, then the vehicle would meet the criteria required for being used in a driving test. However, the onus would on the person undertaking the driving test to provide evidence that the extension applies in respect of their vehicle.
The operation of vehicle driver testing is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and I have no role in individual cases.
I have referred the question 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.
176. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport the status of a driver test for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52087/21]
View answerUnder legislation, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is the body responsible for the operation of the Driving Test. The scheduling of driving tests is an operational matter for the RSA, and I do not have any role in this process.
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.
177. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport the reason a person (details supplied) has been waiting a long time for their driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52147/21]
View answerUnder legislation, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is the body responsible for the operation of the Driving Test and Driving Licensing services. Individual cases are a matter for the Authority.
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.
178. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport the status of the expenditure and programme of construction and repair of the accessible elevators at all DART stations across Dublin by Iarnród Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52170/21]
View answerAs the issue rAs the 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.
aised is a matter for Irish Rail in the first instance, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the Company for direct reply.
179. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if there have been adjustments made to ensure that the rail fleet is properly ventilated; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that customer monitors have shown that the air conditioning now in use is allowing excessively high CO2 concentrations to build up within carriages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52194/21]
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 operation of public transport.
The continued operation of public transport services has been a priority throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Public transport operators have been advised of, and are following, public health instructions issued by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) in relation to COVID-19.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) is working closely with all transport operators to ensure that public transport services continue to operate in a safe manner during the crisis. The specific issues raised are an operational matter for Iarnród 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.
180. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if e-scooters and e-bikes will be subject to motor tax in the context of the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021; and if so, the bands of motor tax they will be liable under. [52239/21]
View answerUnder the The Road Traffic Act, 1961, users of mechanically propelled vehicles in a public place, as defined in the Act, must ensure that their vehicle is taxed appropriately, with penalties under road traffic laws for non-compliance.
The Road Traffic and Roads Bill, which was recently published, proposes an amendment to the vehicle categories in Section 3 of the Act, to provide that powered personal transporters, including e-scooters, and low-powered pedal-assist e-bikes are excluded from the scope of the category for mechanically propelled vehicles. Accordingly, it is not intended that motor taxation requirements would apply in the case of these vehicles.
181. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Transport the reason the transport budget concession for younger persons only includes 19- to 23-year-olds in view of the fact that many third-level students are in the 17- to 18-years-of-age bracket; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52277/21]
View answer191. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the budget that will be required to administer half-price public transport to 19- to 23-year-olds as announced in Budget 2022; and the number of persons this measure will cover. [52606/21]
View answer197. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he has plans to include commercial bus operators in the recently announced youth travel card scheme; the reason for their exclusion; the estimated cost of their inclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52684/21]
View answer199. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Transport the reason the transport budget concession for younger persons only applies to public transport in view of the fact that many third level students travelling from rural areas depend on private coach transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52727/21]
View answer200. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider extending the transport budget concession scheme for younger persons to cover the private company transport links in use in view of the fact that there are few suitable public transport links to colleges in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52728/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 181, 191, 197, 199 and 200 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.
As part of Budget 2022, I secured €25m of funding to provide for the introduction of a youth travel card which will allow any person between the age of 19 and 23 to avail of a 50% discount on fares across the transport network and promote modal shift in the transport sector among this group. Child fare rates already cover all children up to and including the age of 18.
The NTA have commenced work in relation to the implementation of the new fares structures for young adults. I have therefore forwarded the Deputies questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
182. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 243 and 244 of 15 September 2021, the way the National Transport Authority, NTA, levies fines on Dublin Bus and a company (details supplied) [52346/21]
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 day-to-day operations of public transport.
As explained to the Deputy in Parliamentary Questions Nos. 243 and 244, the issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with the individual transport operators,
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 response within ten working days.
183. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if the NTA have requested information (details supplied) as per its agreement with Dublin Bus; and if similar information is retained by the authority in relation to a company and Bus Éireann companies. [52347/21]
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 day-to-day operations of public transport.
The issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with the individual transport operators and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
184. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Transport the status of the all-island strategic rail review; when the public consultation will begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52414/21]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, my Department, in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure (Northern Ireland), is undertaking a Strategic Rail Review which will inform the development of inter-urban and inter-regional rail on the Island of Ireland over the coming decades.
Following the appointment of Arup, work on the Review has commenced. A consultation process is included in the scope of the Review and I understand it is planned to be launched next month. I would encourage all interested parties to participate in the consultation, when the process is launched.
185. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Transport if he will activate past driving instructors from An Garda Síochána and the Army given there is a massive shortage in driving instructors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52419/21]
View answerApproved Driving Instructors (ADIS) are entirely independent operators, not a State-provided service.
To work as a driving instructor in Ireland, an instructor must be on the Road Safety Authority’s (RSA) Register of Approved Driving Instructors (ADI) and must display an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) permit. To become registered and get an ADI full permit, each instructor is assessed by the RSA to ensure they have the necessary skills and ability to teach a learner driver.
There is no barrier to people applying if they so wish.
186. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the status of the CIÉ group pension schemes; the proposed changes; when they will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52447/21]
View answerThe 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. These changes involve significant amendments to the Scheme which are necessary in order to address the Minimum Funding Standard requirements under the Pensions Act. These changes have been agreed by the trustees of the schemes, the employees and the CIÉ Group following extensive and prolonged engagement between all parties.
There are a number of steps involved before an SI can be made, including the statutory consultation process. In this context, I would like to reassure the Deputy that my Department, in consultation with advisors in NewERA, are working on the draft SIs as expeditiously as possible.
Concerning the 1951 scheme, members of the scheme were balloted regarding the Labour Court Recommendation which emerged on 23rd November 2020, with a majority voting to accept the proposals. CIÉ has prepared and submitted a consolidated draft Statutory Instrument to give effect to the proposed changes to the scheme which is being considered by my Department in conjunction with NewERA.
I further wish to advise that the rules governing the 1951 scheme are currently subject to ongoing legal proceedings before the Commercial Court. As such, being sub-judice, it is not appropriate for me to comment further on the matter.
