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Thursday, 11 Nov 2021

Written Answers Nos. 219-229

Bus Services

Questions (219)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

219. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the specific location of all bus shelters to be installed in County Cork in 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [55262/21]

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Written answers

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 national provision of bus stops/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.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51

Public Transport

Questions (220)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

220. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the status of contact free ticketing for bus and train use. [55263/21]

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Written answers

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 in the Greater Dublin Area, including ticketing technology.

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.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51

Public Transport

Questions (221)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

221. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the status of providing Leap card prices on the Mallow to Cork rail service. [55264/21]

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Written answers

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 question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Road Projects

Questions (222)

John McGuinness

Question:

222. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport the list of applications being considered by his Department relative to new roads infrastructure in County Kilkenny; the stage each application is at in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55275/21]

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Written answers

The 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. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.

The extent of the cutbacks in grant funding during the post 2008 recession meant that grant funding for road improvement schemes had to be curtailed because expenditure on protection/renewal was falling well short of what was required to adequately maintain the regional and local road network.

Funding is not yet at the level needed for the adequate protection and renewal of regional and local roads and so for this reason, the primary focus for capital investment continues to be the protection and renewal of the network with some limited investment in road improvement projects.

Any road improvement projects proposed by local authorities for consideration for funding 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 (PSC) and my Department's Capital Appraisal Framework (CAF).

There has been some engagement between Kilkenny County Council and my Department in relation to a proposed Kilkenny Northern Ring Road Extension. The Department has advised the Council of the Public Spending Code project appraisal requirements for any proposed transport scheme in March this year, including the need for the preparation of a Strategic Assessment Report.

There has not been any further contact from the Council regarding this proposed scheme.

Regarding national roads, as Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the operation, management and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the requirements of the Public Spending Code and necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you regarding national roads.

Noting the above position, I have referred your question, in respect of any applications for national road projects, to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51

Climate Action Plan

Questions (223)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

223. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding fuel consumption in relation to car journeys further to measures outlined in the new Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55276/21]

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Written answers

The Climate Action Plan 2021 is targeting, inter alia, a daily increase of 500,000 in sustainable journeys taken and a 10% reduction in kms driven by fossil fuelled cars by 2030. The increase in sustainable journeys does not equate to a straight line reduction in car journeys. Based on the modelling done by the National Transport Authority, the abatement potential from the bundle of measures that would achieve these targets is 1.4 MtCO2 emissions. The increased number of daily journeys will be achieved by providing more attractive active travel and public transport options to promote a radical modal shift away car usage. In addition, the reduced use of fossil-fuelled cars over that time will be achieved through various demand management and behavioural change measures.

It is important to highlight that reducing overall car kilometres is not about cancelling trips, but rather it is about reducing the need for, and length of, certain trips. That said achieving this level of reduction in the timeframe envisaged presents a significant challenge given that technology advances can only achieve so much and the heavy reliance on the car among certain cohorts of the population and in certain parts of the country where more sustainable alternatives are limited. For this reason, a suite of potential demand management will need to be delivered in a way that achieves a just transition and supports economic wellbeing. As such, I am committed to providing a wide range of sustainable transport options across the country and undertaking further work to determine how best to pursue our targets in a fair and equitable manner.

Antisocial Behaviour

Questions (224, 225, 226)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

224. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons who are employed to provide security on DART services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55278/21]

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Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

225. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Transport the number of instances of antisocial behaviour and violent attacks on DART trains and stations; the methods in place to monitor these incidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55279/21]

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Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

226. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Transport the measures that are being taken to prevent antisocial behaviour and violent attacks on DART services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55280/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 to 226, inclusive, 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 operation of public transport. While it should be noted that the vast majority of public transport passenger journeys occur without incident, I am of course concerned to ensure that the necessary arrangements are in place to ensure the safety of all passengers and staff.

The safety and security of both public transport passengers and staff, including arrangements to deal with anti-social behaviour, are important matters that, first and foremost, must be managed by every public transport company, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, where appropriate.

As such, 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.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51
Question No. 225 answered with Question No. 224.
Question No. 226 answered with Question No. 224.

Driver Licences

Questions (227)

Michael McNamara

Question:

227. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport when a renewal driver licence will be issued to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55281/21]

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Written answers

The issuing of driving licences is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and, as Minister, I have no power to intervene in individual cases.

I have therefore referred this 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

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51

Commemorative Events

Questions (228)

John Paul Phelan

Question:

228. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport if a request has been received from the Decade of Centenaries committee of Carlow County Council to name the new footbridge at Carlow town train station after a person (details supplied) to mark the centenary of their execution; when a decision can be expected on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55291/21]

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Written answers

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.

I am unaware of any correspondence from the Decade of Centenaries committee of Carlow County Council in relation to the naming of the new footbridge at Carlow town train station being received by my Department.

The query raised in relation to the footbridge is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann, therefore 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.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51

Driver Test

Questions (229)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

229. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to an issue at a driver test centre (details supplied). [55312/21]

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Written answers

Operational arrangements at test centres, including the availability of waiting and washing facilities, are a matter for the Road Safety Authority. I understand that the Authority decided to temporarily close public toilet and waiting facilities in the interests of public safety and as part of its overall Covid-19 resumption of service protocols and in line with health and safety risk assessment procedures, which had to be adopted as part of the RSA's resumption plans. It took account of guidance issued by the Health and Safety Authority and the return to work safely protocol agreed by the Labour and Employer Economic Forum, LEEF.

In response to a formal request to review these arrangements, the Authority wrote to my Department outlining the absolute necessity of retaining these safety measures. While the Authority recognises that this may be inconvenient for partners, family members and indeed driving instructors who accompany learner drivers to their tests, the fact remains that the more people who enter a building, the greater the risk of Covid spreading. The safety of staff and the public in general must remain the Road Safety Authority's number one priority at this time.

I would also note that if accompanying persons were allowed to enter test centres, it would mean a potential doubling of the numbers entering centres, and this could be accommodated only by a significant reduction in the numbers of tests offered, with inevitable increases in waiting times for the test.

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