Written Answers Nos. 234-252
234. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the arrangements that have been made to ensure that persons who are in own-door direct provision will get the €100 plus VAT reduction on their electricity bills as passed by Dáil Éireann recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8443/22]
View answerThe Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022 will establish a scheme for the making in 2022, of a once-off Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Payment to each domestic electricity account, having regard to the exceptional rise in energy prices. This scheme is in addition to the Government’s long-standing measures to address energy poverty and the protection of vulnerable customers, the measures introduced in the Budget and those announced on 10 February.
The scheme will be operated by the Distribution System Operator (ESB Networks), and electricity suppliers. Based on the number of domestic electricity accounts, ESBN will make payments to the individual energy suppliers who will then make the payments to each domestic electricity account.
The scheme will apply to all domestic accounts and will include pre-pay customers. It will use the single eligibility criterion of a meter point registration number, to ensure payments to each domestic electricity account as early as possible in 2022. The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) will be charged with oversight of the scheme.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has advised that International Protection applicants who reside in any International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) centres, including in own door accommodation, are not required to pay for their utilities, such as electricity or heating. Therefore, as this credit payment is for domestic electricity accounts, these applicants in own door accommodation will not receive payment under the scheme.
The Deputy may also wish to note that regular information updates, including frequently asked questions, are being made available on gov.ie at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/4ae14-electricity-costs-emergency-benefit-scheme/.
235. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Transport when the review by his Department of the supply of renewable transport fuels in Ireland, such as biofuels, advanced biofuels, e-fuels, synthetic fuels, green hydrogen and biogas will be completed. [7603/22]
View answerThe Climate Action Plan 2021 sets out the commitment to carry out a review of the supply of renewable transport fuels in Ireland, such as biofuels, advanced biofuels, e-fuels, synthetic fuels, green hydrogen and biogas.
My Department is currently finalising the proposal for this research study.
The study will examine the availability and sustainability of biofuels and renewable transport fuels, from indigenous and international sources. It will give due regard to domestic obligations under the Climate Action Plan 2021 to increase biofuels in land transport to 2030, and to the future obligations on the sustainability and the use of renewable transport fuels under the EU's "Fit for 55" climate proposals, for road transport as well as for aviation and maritime transport.
The Renewable Fuels for Transport Policy Statement, which I published in November 2021, sets out a pathway concerning the increased supply of renewable fuels in transport in Ireland and further expands on this commitment to increase the level of evaluation, analysis and enforcement of robust sustainability limits to underpin renewable fuels in Ireland.
236. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the amount of motor tax raised in each of the years 2019, 2020 and 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7429/22]
View answerGross motor tax receipts for the calendar years 2019 to 2021 are as follows.
|
Year |
Gross motor tax receipts (€) |
|
2019 |
964,349,811 |
|
2020 |
939,554,114 |
|
2021 |
908,083,058 |
237. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the actions that are being taken to alleviate traffic tailbacks for commuters in Rathcoole, County Dublin as they enter Rathcoole via the entrance off the N7 at Citywest. [7441/22]
View answerEach local authority is responsible, in conjunction with Transport Infrastructure Ireland in the case of national roads, for the management of roads, including traffic management measures, within its administrative area.
The National Transport Authority is responsible for overall transport strategy in the Greater Dublin Area and liaises with local authorities in that regard, including South Dublin County Council.
238. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport the efforts have been made to resolve an issue for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7445/22]
View answerMy Department has no role in providing financial compensation to the fishing sector. The Marine Survey Office of my Department does not become involved with the financial arrangements for individual vessels in order to maintain the necessary separation of commercial and safety considerations. Such matters are within the remit of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), so the individual concerned should make contact directly with DAFM who are better placed to help with this matter.
239. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport the status of discussions to end a long-running dispute surrounding a pension for workers of a company (details supplied). [7528/22]
View answerI wish to advise the deputy that pay, and superannuation of employees are operational matters for port companies in the first instance. I am not party to discussions on the pensions dispute ongoing at the port in question. I understand that the matters referred by you in your question are currently before the Workplace Relations Commission for determination, and as such it is not appropriate for me to comment.
Officials from my Department will review the correspondence attached to this question and will contact the sender directly on the matters raised.
240. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport if he will intervene in the case of a bus shelter (details supplied) that has been delayed multiple times over the past 18 months. [7537/22]
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 provision of bus stops/shelters.
It is my understanding that specific information has been supplied recently by the NTA to the Deputy on this matter.
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.
241. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has engaged with airlines to highlighting the need to check passport expiry dates when purchasing flights; the guidelines or requirements that are currently in place for airlines to ensure consumers are protected from purchasing flights without having a valid passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7549/22]
View answerMy Department regularly engages with airlines on various matters including those related to consumer protections which have a legal basis at EU level. The relevant EU wide consumer protections specific to aviation are related to air passenger rights on cancellation, denied boarding and long delays - commonly known as EU261 - rights to transparency relating to air fare pricing, access to air transport for persons with reduced mobility and rules concerning air carrier liability in respect of the carriage of passengers and their baggage by air.
The onus generally rests with intending passengers to satisfy any identification requirements, which ordinarily means official photo-identification such as a passport or other entry requirements of the immigration authorities at their destination or any points of transit. In some instances air carriers require some form of identification and some regard a passport as the only valid identification. The passenger is responsible to provide valid in date documentation.
My Department has not engaged with airlines specifically on the matter of ensuring passenger hold valid passports prior to booking flights however, the main Irish airlines do present relevant information on their websites and through their booking processes where required.
242. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider introducing free or heavily discounted public transport in the greater Dublin region on a trial basis to encourage the use of public transport and to alleviate the cost of living as part of Government plans in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7582/22]
View answerAs 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.
It is the National Transport Authority (NTA) that has the statutory responsibility for the regulation of fares in relation to public passenger transport services and also has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public transport services by way of public transport services contracts in respect of services that are socially necessary but commercially unviable. The funding of those services comprises both the fares paid by passengers and the subvention payments from the Exchequer. The main purpose of the subvention payment is to meet the gap between income from fares and the cost of operating services.
The provision of public transport services is heavily dependent on passenger fare revenue as it normally contributes about 65% of the operational cost. The remaining 35% of cost is covered by the PSO grant and the Department of Social Protection grant under the free travel scheme.
Prior to COVID-19, €287 million of Exchequer funding was provided for PSO services in Budget 2020; however, since 2020, additional funding has been required to continue to address the significant COVID impacts on public transport provision. All PSO providers are currently in receipt of emergency support funding to compensate for fare revenue loss arising as a result of the impact of Covid-19 on the sector, and the associated fall in passenger numbers (passenger numbers fell to below 10% of 2019 levels at the height of the restrictions in 2020 and 2021). Further, on 25/06/2020 Government approved the introduction of temporary financial supports for the licensed bus sector – commercial operators (in accordance with EU and national legislation).
In 2022, I secured €538m to support PSO services including over €200m to address COVID expenses (i.e. loss of fare revenue, cleaning costs). €9m of the €538m allocation has been provided as ongoing support for the licensed bus sector for the first three months of the year. While, over €15m has also been allocated to support Local Link regular service provision in rural Ireland.
The Government is strongly committed to helping combat the rising cost-of-living being experienced throughout the country. In this context, a suite of new measures is being introduced by Government to help with this issue, including a 20% average fare reduction on PSO services until the end of 2022. These discounted fares will benefit the hundreds of thousands of people across the country who use public transport every day. A further €54m in Exchequer funding has been secured to allow for the introduction of these discounted fares. This is in addition to the forthcoming introduction of the Young Adult Card (YAC), which will provide people aged between 19 and 23, with an average discount on fares of 50%.
The PSO programme represents a significant expenditure of taxpayers' money, and funding has increased in recent years to cater for additional services and growing capacity. Any assessment of a proposed change to public transport fare structures would be a matter for the NTA to consider in the first instance. 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 response within ten working days.
243. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport the amount of funding drawn down by the electrification of rail services project in the Cork metropolitan area to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7619/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, funding of €164million is allocated to the Cork Commuter Rail project through the National Recovery & Resilience Plan (NRRP) as agreed by the EU Commission.
This investment measure proposes an acceleration of investment in Cork to support the longer-term objective to provide electrified rail services in the Cork metropolitan area, as set out in the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy. Furthermore, the investment will expand sustainable mobility capacity on the metropolitan area commuter rail network and enable sustainable urban development in line with relevant regional and metropolitan planning strategies.
Payments under the Recovery and Resilience Facility will be linked to performance, and the Commission will authorise disbursements based on the satisfactory fulfilment of milestones and targets reflecting progress on the investments within the plan. In line with EU requirements, progress reporting including financial matters will be provided to the Commission twice annually. As the Cork Commuter Rail project is in early stages of design and development, such financial information as that requested by the Deputy will be available in due course.
The Deputy should note that all works will be completed by August 2026 in line with the requirements stipulated in the NRRP.
244. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost in 2022 if Iarnród Éireann doubles the number of its revenue protection officers. [7643/22]
View answer245. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost in 2022 if Iarnród Éireann increased its funding on security personnel by a further 25% within its stations and trains compared to the amount spent on security in 2021. [7644/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 245 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 issue of the costs of increased spending on security personnel and revenue protection officers is 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.
246. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport if taxi drivers that have already qualified for the current National Transport Authority scheme to purchase more environmentally friendly vehicles but have not been able to receive the grant due to vehicle supply shortages will automatically qualify for the new version of this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7659/22]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector, including the administration of the eSPSV Grant Scheme, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.
Applicants who received a Provisional Grant Offer (PGO) for the eSPSV21 Grant Scheme but have met unforeseen delays in vehicle delivery may apply for an extension to 31st March 2022 on that basis. This applies to an eSPSV of any value. Grant applicants should contact the NTA if they wish to apply for this extension in relation to vehicles purchased and originally due for delivery in 2021.
Th Deputy may be aware that last week I announced the re-opening of this very successful Scheme, with a further €15 million allocated to the Scheme for 2022. SPSV drivers can apply for grants of up to €10,000 towards the purchase of a new, full-battery eSPSV, with a further €2,500 available to convert it to a wheelchair-accessible model.
The take-up rate for this Scheme was exceptionally high in 2021: almost 600 drivers successfully applied for grants, with over €11 million paid out as well as €4 million in provisional grant offers.
247. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to appoint an independent engineering expert for local communities to engage with during construction of the MetroLink as is currently provided to address technical issues or concerns in anticipation of the railway order application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7703/22]
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 MetroLink.
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.
248. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport the criteria for applications under the travel access scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7710/22]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including cycling and walking infrastructure.
Details of applications made under the Active Travel Investment Programme are matters for the NTA and the relevant local authorities. Accordingly I have referred your question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
249. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he and or the National Transport Authority and or Irish Rail have conducted a feasibility study regarding the use of a disused rail line in counties Kildare and Offaly in the context of creating a greenway (details supplied). [7783/22]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to Greenways.
Funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).
In line with Section 32(2) of the Road Act 1993, the planning, design, and construction of individual Greenways is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. It is important that any proposed Greenway has the support of the relevant Local Authority as funding is only provided by TII to Local Authorities.
Funding is also subject to the requirements of the Public Spending Code and necessary statutory approvals.
In the context of the above, TII is best placed to advise on matters relating to your query. As far as I am aware, no feasibility study has been carried out by my Department, the NTA, Iarnród Éireann, or Kildare, Meath or Offaly County Councils.
I have referred your question, on this occasion, to TII for a direct reply.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
250. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the status of the promise made at Budget 2022 for half price public transport tickets for those under the age of 23; and if a definitive timeline has been established to implement this. [7854/22]
View answer254. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport when the young adult travel card to allow students to use public transport at 50% cost as promised under Budget 2022 will be available; and the application process for the card. [8066/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 254 together.
In recognition of the importance of incentivising young people to use public transport, as part of Budget 2022 I secured €25m of funding to provide for the introduction of a young adult card (YAC) which will allow any person nationwide who is between 19 and 23 years old, to avail of an entitlement for discounted travel costs, and to increase the level of discount over and above the current student discount to an average of discount of 50% across all services, including city, intercity and rural services. This will not only promote modal shift in the transport sector among this age group but should also contribute towards a reduced reliance on private transport with associated benefit of transport emission savings.
While 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 decision making on fares; the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility in this regard. In light of this, the NTA has commenced work in relation to the implementation of the new fares’ structures for young adults, and this includes the application process and establishing a definitive timeline for the introduction of the Scheme. Therefore, I have forwarded the Deputies questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
251. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport the relevant regulation governing any obligation on private car park operators in areas such as shopping centre car parks to provide disabled spaces and to provide them free of charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7918/22]
View answerAccessibility requirements under current planning laws are not a matter for my Department.
The installation and enforcement of disabled bays in private car parks, such as those attached to shopping centres and other commercial premises, is the responsibility of the car park's owner. My Department has no role in this regard and neither An Garda Síochána nor local authority traffic wardens have the legal powers to issue Fixed Charge Notices on private property.
252. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport the dates in the past 20 years for which his Department was informed of military exercises being carried out in the skies above Ireland including above the exclusive economic zone by foreign air forces; the scale of such exercises and the duration of each; the country involved in each case; if Ireland acceded to such a request; if Irish and other airline companies flying through that region were warned by his Department of such manoeuvres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7934/22]
View answerThe Irish Aviation Authority, as the State's Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP), is the body responsible for the provision of air navigation and air traffic management services in Irish controlled airspace. This includes airspace designated to the Irish State by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), known as the Shannon Flight Information Region, and also an area of the North Atlantic which the IAA administers jointly with the United Kingdom, known as the Shanwick Oceanic Region. When military activities are planned that have an aviation element, the State carrying out the exercise must follow the agreed international procedure (as set down by ICAO) for notifying the State responsible for the portion of airspace that will be affected. Once this happens, the State responsible for the airspace and the relevant ANSP follow the remainder of the agreed procedure to notify aircraft and restrict access to the area in question, in order to ensure the safety of civilian aircraft.
Accordingly, I have referred this question to the IAA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
