Tuesday, 26 Apr 2022

Rail Network

Questions (435)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

435. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport when the Luas extension to Lucan will proceed; the timeline involved; and the reason for the delay. [21038/22]

View answer

Written answers

In my position 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 the light rail network.

I note the Deputy's previous Question - Dail question 117 of 4 November 2021 - on this matter and the reply that the NTA issued to the Deputy at the time.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in relation to the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a update in relation to this proposal. 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 (436)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

436. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport if European public transport systems are being reviewed and considered in the implementation of the new Connecting Ireland plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21072/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Transport

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. It is the National Transport Authority (NTA) that 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 TFI Local Link brand.

The Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan is a major national public transport initiative developed by the NTA with the aim of increasing public transport connectivity, particularly for people living outside the major cities and towns. The final public consultation took place in November-December 2021 and is now closed. As announced on 21st April, an acceleration of Connecting Ireland services has taken place in order to serve the dual purpose of meeting the demands of local communities and providing emergency public transport services to Ukrainian refugees housed in rural or isolated locations to ensure better access to our local communities. This acceleration of works will include additional stops, route modifications, and more services with the aim to increase connectivity.

In light of the NTA's responsibilities for the development of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Driver Test

Questions (437)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

437. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport when the National Driver Licence Service, NDLS, mandatory requirement that driving test candidates must confirm taking an antigen test will cease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21073/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

The operation of the driving test is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). After the cessation of the testing service during the first lockdown, driver testing resumed in summer 2022 with inevitable pubic health protocols.

It is a tribute to all involved in the service, including the test candidates, that there were no cases of Covid transmission attributed to the test, in spite of the many thousands of tests conducted since reopening the service.

The RSA did at one point ask driving test candidates to conduct an antigen test before a driving test. However, I understand that the RSA ceased asking test candidates to take an antigen test in advance of the test around the end of February this year.

Electric Vehicles

Questions (438)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

438. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport if consideration has been given to implementing a new electric vehicle grant for businesses that install charging points; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21074/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

The Deputy will be aware that the Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle charging network over the coming years. A national charging infrastucture strategy was published in late March which will set out a pathway to stay ahead of demand over the critical period out to 2030.

Preparations are underway to establish Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland. This Office will play an important role in our transition to zero emission vehicles. It will co-ordinate measures to support the uptake of EVs and the rollout of charge point infrastructure.

Having an effective and reliable recharging network is essential to enabling drivers to choose electric. Charging at home is the most convenient and cheapest way to recharge. Targeting the installation of smart home chargers is a priority as we look to moving towards more energy efficient and sustainable ways to charge. A grant is available from the SEAI for those individuals seeking to install a home charger.

There is also a need for a seamless public charging network that will provide for situations or instances where home charging is not possible such as on-street and residential charging, destination charging, and workplace charging.

My Department is now developing a new scheme under the strategy which will support the installation of destination charge points in business locations such as hotels and other public locations like parks. This new initiative will help provide another critical link in the overall network for public charging.

Electric Vehicles

Questions (439)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

439. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport if consideration has been given to implementing a new electric vehicle grant that will provide free and discounted parking in towns and cities for electric vehicle drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21075/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Transport

The Government provides a generous suite of incentives in support of the transition to electric vehicles. However, decisions regarding publicly accessible parking and any associated charging fees are a Local Authority matter.

Electric Vehicles

Questions (440)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

440. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport if consideration has been given to implementing a new electric vehicle grant that will allow electric vehicle buyers to benefit from interest free loans when purchasing new electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21076/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Transport

Electric vehicles (EVs) are the most prominent transport mitigation measure in the 2021 Climate Action Plan, and Ireland has set an ambitious target of 945,000 EVs on our roads by 2030. This target is challenging but indicates the scale of the transformation that is needed across all sectors if Ireland is to achieve its climate targets in the coming years.

As the Deputy will be aware, a comprehensive suite of measures is available to EV drivers, including purchase grants for private car owners and taxi drivers, VRT relief, reduced tolls, home charger grants, favourable motor and BIK tax rates, as well as a comprehensive charging network. These measures have collectively contributed to increased take up of EVs in Ireland in recent years, albeit from a low base, to over 55,000 now.

In addition, the Department convened the Electric Vehicle Policy Pathway (EVPP) Working Group to produce a roadmap to achieving the 2030 EV target. In particular, the group examined the optimum mix of regulatory, taxation and subsidy policies. The recommendations of the EVPP Working Group were approved by Government and the full report is available online. In line with the Group’s recommendations to support the transition to EVs:

The generous suite of EV supports already in place in Ireland has been retained until at least end-2022. Work is ongoing to identify additional measures to further incentivise EVs and/or disincentivise fossil fuelled vehicles. Overall, cost-effective, targeted policy supports will continue to be developed and strengthened over the coming years; and

Work is underway to establish Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland, as a matter of priority, to co-ordinate the implementation of existing and future EV measures and infrastructure.

A cross-departmental Implementation Committee has now been established to progress the recommendations contained in the EVPP report and is due to report on its progress to Government in Q4 of this year.

One of the possible actions recommended for consideration by the EVPP working group was whether interest-free loans might be introduced to as part of a wider suite of incentives to promote the uptake of EV ownership, the newly established implementation committee will therefore give further consideration to this action.

Overall, the Department is acutely aware that the cost of electric vehicles remains an issue for many consumers. To this end, electric vehicle policy is kept under continuous review to endeavour to make low emission vehicles affordable.

Road Projects

Questions (441)

Robert Troy

Question:

441. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport the status of the planned upgrade works on the N4 route at Rathowen and Ballinalack, County Westmeath. [21081/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Transport

As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and 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 operation, management and upgrading 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 on the status of this project.

Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

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

Ukraine War

Questions (442)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

442. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Transport if there is a role for the Local Link service to ensure Ukrainian refugees have adequate transport; the support that local link will receive to deliver in this manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21144/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Transport

In line with the whole of Government approach, my Department and the National Transport Authority (NTA) have been working on practical and meaningful responses to the Ukrainian humanitarian crisis.

From the beginning of the crisis, we have provided newly arriving Ukrainians with free travel from their port of entry to their end destination on any PSO or Local Link service. Indeed, many commercial bus services similarly offered this assistance in getting people to a safe location.

I was also delighted to announce the provision of emergency public transport services to those refugees housed in rural or isolated locations to ensure better access to our local communities. This will be achieved through an acceleration of network improvements identified through the Connecting Ireland public consultation, including additional stops, route modifications, and more services with the aim to increase connectivity. Areas such as the Ring of Kerry will avail of such improvements, in practice catering for both existing demands as well as responding to the increased pressures on services where the local population has grown in response to the humanitarian crisis.

Additional bus services will also be deployed to cater for those housed away from the existing public transport network. For instance, the NTA is looking at options to provide transport from the Earl of Desmond - where many refugees have been accommodated - to Tralee town. Such measures will provide better access to a range of amenities, employment opportunities and to onward public transport connections to larger centres.

A Community Transport Fund is also being established to support occasional social travel requests. This will be operated by the TFI Local Link offices and will enable our Ukrainian guests to join in the many activities that are available in our towns, in particular, activities focused on youth, integration, culture, and education.

Collectively, these endeavours aim to provide a means of greater integration between local and Ukrainian communities.

Legislative Measures

Questions (443)

Niall Collins

Question:

443. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport the schedule now being followed in respect of legislation to deal with the control of scramblers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21165/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Transport

The Road Traffic and Roads Bill completed second stage in Dáil Éireann on 18 November 2021. Among a range of matters it includes provisions to address the anti-social use of scramblers, quads, and other similar vehicles

It is already a wide-ranging Bill, with a number of amendments that will be brought forward at Committee Stage. I hope to have these amendments finalised for proposal at Committee stage shortly. The progress of the Bill towards enactment will then depend on the assignment of time for Committee, Report and Final stages in the Dáil and for all stages in the Seanad.

Bus Services

Questions (444, 445, 446, 447, 448, 449, 450, 451, 452)

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.

Question No. 445 answered with Question No. 444.

Question No. 446 answered with Question No. 444.

Question No. 447 answered with Question No. 444.

Question No. 448 answered with Question No. 444.

Question No. 449 answered with Question No. 444.

Question No. 450 answered with Question No. 444.

Question No. 451 answered with Question No. 444.

Question No. 452 answered with Question No. 444.

Bus Services

Questions (453)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Question:

453. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport the status of the Carlow town bus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21199/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Transport

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding for 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 Connecting Ireland and new town services.

In light of the NTA's responsibilities in this matter, I have referred your question to the NTA for a direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Question No. 454 answered with Question No. 159.

Data Protection

Questions (455)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

455. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if a piece of surveillance technology (details supplied) is being used by his Department or any agencies under his remit in view of the fact that there are security and privacy concerns associated with the use of same; the data protection policies on the use of artificial intelligence with respect to instances in which this technology is being used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21244/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Transport

I can confirm that the CCTV surveillance technology referenced (details supplied) is not used by my Department.

I have referred the Deputy's question to the agencies under the aegis of my Department for direct reply. Please contact my private office if a reply is not received within 10 days.

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