Written Answers Nos. 157-180
157. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the target number of homes to be completed under the attic and cavity wall insulation scheme in 2022 and 2023; the budget for this scheme in both years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9852/22]
View answerThe Government has approved a package of supports as part of the deliver of Ireland’s residential retrofit programme. These measures are aimed at making it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills.
Included in these measures is the introduction of a special enhanced grant rate, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation. The grant offering will be available across all part-funded schemes and will be available to all households in 2022, as a sustainable and enduring response to the current exceptionally high energy prices.
Funding for the initiative will be met from within the overall funding allocation of €267 million for the SEAI for residential and community retrofit schemes 2022. Decisions on the level of funding for the initiative in future years will be considered as part of the annual Estimates process.
The exceptionally high grants should secure strong interest among homeowners to avail of these energy upgrade measures this year, however the Scheme is obviously demand led and precise uptake is difficult to predict. SEAI estimates indicate that total numbers availing of the enhanced grant could double from a combined 4,500 to 9,000 or above.
158. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the carbon emission savings from deep retrofitting 1,000 homes under the national home energy upgrade scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9853/22]
View answerThe Government has approved a package of improved supports as part of the delivery of Ireland’s residential retrofit programme. These measures are aimed at making it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills and emissions.
Included in these measures is the establishment of the new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, offering increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump (up from the current level of 30-35%).
Capital funding of €40 million has been allocated to the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme this year which is expected to deliver 2,000 deep energy retrofits to B2 level with a heat pump.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) estimates that this level of output could achieve annual savings of 6.3 kilotonnes of CO2. However, it is important to note that savings will depend on the characteristics of the homes availing of the grant measures, in particular size, as well as other factors such as existing levels of insulation and heating fuel type.
159. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will address the proposed extension of the EU emissions trading system to energy and household energy production and its impacts on customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9857/22]
View answerAs part of its 'Fit for 55' package, the European Commission has presented a legislative proposal to review the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). The aim of the review is to align the EU ETS Directive with the target set out in the European Climate Law to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels). The proposal makes provision for an extension of the existing ETS 'cap and trade' system to a new separate emissions trading system that would apply at the point at which fuels for the buildings and road transport sectors are placed on the market.
The proposal to extend the emissions trading system is of significant importance to Ireland, as the greenhouse gas emissions associated with fuel used in these sectors are currently subject to the domestic carbon tax. Changes to our existing carbon tax would affect the expected revenues from scheduled annual increases to 2030, as provided for in the Finance Acts. The Government intends to ring-fence these revenues for a range of climate action programmes including residential retrofit, targeted increases in social welfare payments and other initiatives to prevent fuel poverty, and funding to encourage and incentivise farmers to farm in a greener and more sustainable way.
Ireland is now in the process of engaging, through negotiations in the Environment Council of Ministers, on all aspects of the ‘Fit for 55’ package of proposals, to ensure that the ambitions of the package can be delivered collectively by the EU in the most cost-effective manner possible, balancing considerations of fairness and solidarity between and within Member States.
160. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has plans to ensure access to domestic compost bins to persons in rural areas who are unable to get them through their provider; if not, if there is a plan to compensate persons who incur the additional cost of having to dispose their compostable waste in general waste bins; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9867/22]
View answerThe Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, published in September 2020, commits to a number of specific measures to support the expansion of the brown bin service to all households in the State, including:
- Continuing to commit resources nationally to the prevention of food waste and to the regulation of optimal food waste collection and treatment practices;
- Making the provision of an organic waste bin mandatory as part of a waste collection service for all households;
- Through changes to waste collection permits, and working with the Local Authority sector, ensuring that every householder and business has access to a reliable, clean and sustainable way of managing food waste;
- Working to improve waste segregation in the commercial sector, including an awareness campaign and enforcement actions requiring segregated bins and incentivised charging to ensure waste minimisation and proper segregation;
- Using National Waste Collection Permit Office and other ‘brown bin’ data to develop strategies and investigate how new technology can support greater usage.
My officials have commenced the process of engaging with the key stakeholders, including the waste collection industry, with a view to delivering on these commitments in as short a time frame as possible. Part of the work will ensure that delivery of the national rollout of organic bins is consistent with other measures in the Plan.
161. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 216 of 15 February 2022, the way that the additional funding in the recently announced plans will be spent given that these figures reference a €1 billion a year spend while the figures in the reply reference projected spending of less than half that; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9870/22]
View answerThe Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2 (or cost optimal equivalent), and to install 400,000 heat pumps to replace existing heating systems by 2030. The review of the National Development Plan (NDP) resulted in an unprecedented financial commitment to support achievement of the Government’s retrofit targets. A total of €8 billion of Exchequer funding (including €5 billion in carbon tax revenues) will be available to support residential upgrades to 2030. The planned annual allocations for Residential Retrofitting as outlined in the Climate Action Plan 2021 are set out in the table below with adjustments to the 2022 figure reflecting the recent Government decision on specific supports to aid the delivery of Ireland's National Retrofit Programme.
In terms of profile, the projections are for a significant ramp up in output and outturn over the decade. This will require a major increase in the sector with significant employment opportunities nationwide. The recently announced increases in grants, together with the multi-annual funding certainty are key enablers for this.
|
Year |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
2027 |
2028 |
2029 |
2030 |
|
Planned Allocation (€m) |
267 |
291 |
380 |
469 |
641 |
898 |
1,257 |
1,760 |
2,000 |
162. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the work of his Department towards ensuring that every householder has access to a reliable, clean and sustainable way of managing their food waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9890/22]
View answerThe Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, published in September 2020, which is being delivered on a phased basis over the 5 year lifetime of the Plan, includes measures to improve household food waste management.
Measures include:
- Making the provision of an organic waste bin mandatory as part of a waste collection service for all households;
- Through changes to waste collection permits, and working with the Local Authority sector, ensuring that every householder has access to a reliable, clean and sustainable way of managing food waste;
- Working with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make regulatory changes in planning and tenancy laws required to ensure apartment dwellers are provided with infrastructure to support food waste segregation;
- Using National Waste Collection Permit Office and other ‘brown bin’ data to develop strategies and investigate how new technology can support greater usage.
- Delivering sustained and visible public behavioural change campaigns to encourage waste prevention and recycling.
My officials have been engaging with key stakeholders with a view to delivering on a number of food waste commitments in as short a time frame as possible. Actions that are being progressed include, for example, food waste separation awareness campaigns that involve the roll out of a number of household food waste kitchen food waste caddy packs to make it easier to manage food waste at home. Approximately 300,000 kitchen food waste caddy packs will be funded by my Department over the next 2 years to support household food waste separation awareness initiatives.
163. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he uses an application on his official Government telephone; if so, if he has the disappearing messages setting activated on the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9958/22]
View answerI have the application referred to in the Deputy's question on my official phone but I do not have the disappearing messages setting activated on it.
164. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the €200 electricity subsidy which was given to homeowners will be given to small business owners who both work and live in the same premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9982/22]
View answerThe Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022, currently before the Houses of the Oireachtas will establish a scheme to make a once off payment, in 2022, of to each domestic electricity account holder, to mitigate the exceptional rise in energy prices. The scheme will be operated by the Distribution System Operator (ESB Networks), and electricity suppliers and overseen by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). Based on the number of domestic electricity accounts, ESBN will make payments to the individual energy suppliers who will then credit each domestic electricity account held with them. The scheme will also include pre-pay customers. This is an exceptional measure designed to be delivered directly to all domestic electricity accounts, as defined by the rate of distribution use of system charges to which they are subject, using the existing electricity billing infrastructure and without application or further qualifying criteria. 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/.
165. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the final amount spent under the warmer homes scheme in 2021; the number of homes upgraded under the scheme; the current number with work in progress; the number in which work is expected to start in 2022; the amount provided for the scheme in 2021 and 2022, respectively; the projected total spend for 2022; the current delay for new applicants; the number of applicants who are currently waiting for work to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9998/22]
View answerThe Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers free energy upgrades for eligible homeowners at risk of energy poverty. Since 2000, over 143,000 free upgrades have been supported by the SEAI administered scheme. Last year, 2,126 upgrades were delivered under the scheme and the average cost of the energy efficiency measures provided per household was €17,100.
There are currently just over 7,000 homes awaiting works on the Warmer Homes Scheme work programme. It is important to note that activity under the Scheme in 2020 and 2021 was significantly impacted by COVID-related restrictions on the construction sector which led to a large increase in the number of homes awaiting works. Addressing wait times is a key priority for my Department and the SEAI.
The 2022 budget for the Scheme, at €109 million, will support an increase in the number of homes retrofitted from 177 per month in 2021 to 400 per month (or a total of 4,800) this year. This greatly increased level of activity will enable the homes currently on the waiting list to be cleared in approximately 18 months.
In addition to the record capital allocation for the Scheme this year, I have also secured additional staffing resources for the SEAI including the Warmer Homes Scheme team. Delivery capacity in the supply chain has also increased due to a new, broader contractor panel established in late 2020. The SEAI continues to work with the scheme contractors on an ongoing basis to further increase output.
The additional data requested by the Deputy is included in the table below.
Table 1: Warmer Homes Scheme data
|
CAPITAL ALLOCATION 2021 €m |
OUTTURN 2021 €m |
ACTUAL OUTPUT 2021 (Homes) |
CAPITAL ALLOCATION 2022 €m |
PROJECTED TOTAL SPEND 2022 €m |
|
100.0 |
38.1 |
2,126 |
109.0 |
109.0 |
166. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes upgraded under the warmer homes scheme in 2021, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9999/22]
View answerThe Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers free energy upgrades for eligible homeowners in low-income households who are most at risk of energy poverty. It is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Since the start of the scheme in 2000, over 143,000 free upgrades have been supported by the scheme. In 2021, the average cost of the energy efficiency measures provided per household had increased significantly to €17,100. A budget allocation of €109 million has been provided for this scheme this year. This will support an increase in the number of free home upgrades, from an average of 177 per month in 2021 to 400 per month this year, helping to reduce waiting times and Covid impacted backlogs.
The number of homes upgraded under the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme in 2021, by county is set out in the table below.
|
County |
2021 |
|
Carlow |
25 |
|
Cavan |
35 |
|
Clare |
40 |
|
Cork |
153 |
|
Donegal |
116 |
|
Dublin |
693 |
|
Galway |
80 |
|
Kerry |
52 |
|
Kildare |
90 |
|
Kilkenny |
37 |
|
Laois |
21 |
|
Leitrim |
23 |
|
Limerick |
49 |
|
Longford |
21 |
|
Louth |
61 |
|
Mayo |
64 |
|
Meath |
81 |
|
Monaghan |
24 |
|
Offaly |
30 |
|
Roscommon |
43 |
|
Sligo |
35 |
|
Tipperary |
50 |
|
Waterford |
85 |
|
Westmeath |
52 |
|
Wexford |
110 |
|
Wicklow |
55 |
|
Total |
2,125 |
167. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the final amount spent in each retrofitting scheme under his Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland in 2021; the amount provided for; the total spend in 2021; the number of homes that were made more energy efficient in each case where applicable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10000/22]
View answerMy Department funds a number of SEAI grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Partial grants are available as well as free energy efficiency retrofits for people at risk of energy poverty. Since 2000, over 465,000 homeowners have upgraded their homes with support from the schemes, representing nearly one home in four across the country. This has resulted in warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes that are easier and cheaper to heat and light.
Detailed information in relation to home retrofit schemes for 2021 is set out in the table below. Of course activity was significantly impacted by restrictions arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.
|
SCHEME |
CAPITAL ALLOCATION €m |
OUTTURNS €m |
ACTUAL OUTPUT (Homes) |
|
Better Energy Warmer Homes |
100.0 |
38.1 |
2,126 |
|
Warmth and Wellbeing |
9.0 |
3.3 |
146 |
|
Better Energy Homes |
34.1 |
14.9 |
7,928 |
|
Solar PV |
11.0 |
9.8 |
4,089 |
|
Better Energy Communities (Community Energy Grants/Sustainable Energy Communities) |
40.0 |
21.8 |
353 |
|
Deep Retrofit |
3.4 |
1.2 |
10 |
|
National Homes Retrofit |
21.5 |
9.7 |
805 |
169. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the projected number of homes to be retrofitted in 2022 under the national retrofitting scheme, by month and scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10002/22]
View answerThe Government has approved a package of improved supports as part of the delivery of Ireland’s residential retrofit programme. These measures are aimed at making it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills and emissions.
Included in these measures is the establishment of the new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, offering increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump (up from the current level of 30-35%).
The total capital funding cost for the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme is €97 million with a €40 million allocation in 2022 and €57 million in 2023. This is expected to deliver 2,000 deep energy retrofits to B2 level with a heat pump in 2022 and an additional 3,000 in 2023.
The SEAI registration portal for companies to apply to be a One-Stop-Shop is now open. It is expected that the first One-Stop-Shops will be registered in the coming weeks. Homeowners can then make applications for upgrades.
170. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has spoken with the CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland to date in 2022. [10077/22]
View answerI have not spoken with the CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland in 2022 but senior officials in my Department engage regularly with the CEO through regular meetings, by phone and e-mail correspondence. I am regularly briefed and updated on significant issues which arise.
171. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on introducing a public service obligation of approximately €17 million per annum for the post office network. [10115/22]
View answerThere are no plans to bring forward a public service obligation at this time.
An Post is a commercial semi-state company and it is longstanding Government policy that postal services will not be directly subsidised by the taxpayer. The Government remains fully committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland. A long-term low interest loan of €30m was provided to the company in December 2017, of which €15m was to support and protect the renewal of the post office network.
172. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps that he is taking to ensure that all commercial waste companies offer customers compost bins; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10116/22]
View answerThe Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, published in September 2020, commits to a number of specific measures to support the expansion of the brown bin service to all households in the State, including:
- Continuing to commit resources nationally to the prevention of food waste and to the regulation of optimal food waste collection and treatment practices;
- Making the provision of an organic waste bin mandatory as part of a waste collection service for all households;
- Through changes to waste collection permits, and working with the Local Authority sector, ensuring that every householder and business has access to a reliable, clean and sustainable way of managing food waste;
- Working to improve waste segregation in the commercial sector, including an awareness campaign and enforcement actions requiring segregated bins and incentivised charging to ensure waste minimisation and proper segregation;
- Using National Waste Collection Permit Office and other ‘brown bin’ data to develop strategies and investigate how new technology can support greater usage.
My officials have commenced the process of engaging with the key stakeholders, including the waste collection industry, with a view to delivering on these commitments in as short a time frame as possible. Part of the work will ensure that delivery of the national rollout of organic bins is consistent with other measures in the Plan.
173. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of a broadband connection for a household (details supplied) in an amber zone under the national broadband plan roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10117/22]
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 my Department's website, 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 am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 11 February, over 301,000 premises have been surveyed or have survey underway, with over 157,000 premises constructed or under construction across all counties. NBI has also advised that premises are connected in 16 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Laois, Limerick, Louth, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Wexford and Wicklow and over 54,500 premises are available to order and pre-order across 22 counties. In County Cork surveying is underway in the Deployment Area of Clonakilty, surveying is complete in the Deployment Areas of Templemartin, Tallow, Kanturk and Fermoy, main works are underway in the Deployment Areas of Midleton and Youghal and network build is complete in the Deployment Area of Carrigaline. To date over 35,000 premises in County Cork have been surveyed, with over 10,500 premises under construction and over 4,500 premises now available to order.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Cork 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.
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 11 February 2022, 486 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. In County Cork 22 BCP’s have been installed to date, including Coláiste Phobal Cléire which is approximately 1.6km from the premises referred to. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
In County Cork 15 schools have been installed by NBI to date 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. Further details of schools in scope are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.
174. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport the total number penalty points issued to uninsured motorists in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9640/22]
View answerThe number of penalty points issued to uninsured motorists in each of the years 2017 to 2021 is provided in the table below.
|
Offence |
Year |
Number of Penalty Point Endorsement Notices issued |
Number of Penalty Points Applied |
|
No Insurance (user) |
2017 |
4,082 |
20,410 |
|
No Insurance (user) |
2018 |
4,498 |
22,490 |
|
No Insurance (user) |
2019 |
4,334 |
21,670 |
|
No Insurance (user) |
2020 |
2,420 |
12,100 |
|
No Insurance (user) |
2021 |
3,311 |
16,555 |
175. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport the number of penalty points issued as a result of having been identified by An Garda Síochána using the automatic number-plate recognition system to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9642/22]
View answerThe details requested by the Deputy cannot be extracted from the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) database, as the method used in detecting penalty point offences is not supplied by An Garda Síochána or The Courts Service.
176. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport the reason a hackney licence was turned down in the Castlegregory and Camp area of County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9041/22]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including SPSV licensing, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.
Accordingly, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
177. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Transport if he will advise on matters raised in correspondence in relation to the provision of a bus service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9072/22]
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 National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally, for decisions in relation to the routes of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
In light of the Authority's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's specific questions in relation to an update on Route W5 and the possible provision of additional bus services in Waterford to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
178. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport if he will address a matter in relation to approved driving instructors (details supplied); if he plans to address the cost of such tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9089/22]
View answerUnder provisions set out in S.I. No. 203/2009 - Road Traffic (Driving Instructor Licensing) (No. 2) Regulations 2009 the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is legally required to carry out a check test of an Approved Driving Instructor every two years at the very minimum. This test takes the form of an observation by an RSA examiner of a lesson given by the instructor to a learner driver and is considered an essential element in the regulation and continuous professional development of driving instructors.
Driving is a complex and multi-faceted skill and instructors shoulder a considerable responsibility in teaching their students to behave safely and responsibly on the roads at all times. It is for this reason that it is imperative that the RSA have a means of ensuring that all instructors maintain the highest of teaching standards in the years after they have completed their initial qualification. It is important that we do not allow the current pandemic to unnecessarily undermine the very significant progress we have made in reducing the impact of road collisions on public health and health services.
179. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport the number of antisocial incidents recorded on the DART network since January 2020; the action his Department is taking to reduce this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9098/22]
View answerThe 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. The National Transport Authority (NTA) is also engaged with public transport operators regarding the issue of anti-social behaviour.
The Department has been engaging regularly with the NTA and the three CIÉ companies, including Iarnród Éireann on the issue of anti-social behaviour and a number of actions have been taken. These include:
- Iarnród Éireann have significantly increased their security resources with up to 20 security teams operating daily on-board and in stations (spend on security has increased from €3.7 million to €5.2 million pa since 2016).
- Since May 2021, Iarnród Éireann and an Garda Síochána have joined forces to tackle anti-social behaviour in the Greater Dublin Area and on the DART, Northern Line and Heuston to Portlaoise services.
- Iarnród Éireann liaises on a minimum quarterly basis with An Garda Síochána in major districts to address trends and issues on an area basis.
- An Irish Rail/AGS inter-agency operation was established targeting incidents of graffiti and criminal damage to train carriages; as part of this operation Gardaí conducted patrols of rail lines in an effort to target groups involved in this activity.
- CCTV is available on most trains and has successfully been used on numerous occasions in securing prosecutions. They are also in place in stations.
- A DART text alert line has been established for discrete reporting of Anti-Social incidents.
The question raised concerning the number of antisocial incidents recorded on the DART network since January 2020 is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply on this matter.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
180. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport if he will address the matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); the current estimated waiting times for motorcycle driving test applications at each test centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9161/22]
View answerUnder legislation, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is responsible for the operation of these tests. The information on waiting times is held by the RSA. I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's query to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
While I cannot comment on the precise circumstances of individual cases, I understand there is no excessive delay on motorcycles tests in comparison to car driving tests. While there have been some centres where it has taken longer to get a motorcycle test than a car test, driver testers have been recently upskilled to test this category, and lists are therefore reducing across the board.
