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Tuesday, 26 Apr 2022

Written Answers Nos. 1-103

Electric Vehicles

Questions (92)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

92. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport the steps that he has taken to ensure that residents of apartments and duplexes can access electric vehicle schemes and install electric vehicle chargers to pro-actively encourage more transition to electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18660/22]

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Written answers

The Climate Action Plan 2021 set a target of 945,000 EVs by 2030. 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, to facilitate the expansion of EVs in the Irish car fleet. A draft National Charging Infrastructure Strategy has been published for public consultation which sets out a pathway for the provision of charging infrastructure to stay ahead of demand.

The EV Home Charger Grant Scheme has been in operation since January 2018 to support the installation of home chargers for purchasers of new and second-hand BEVs and PHEVs. The grant provides generous support towards the full cost of installation of a home charger up to a maximum of €600.

Work is currently being progressed to expand the EV home charger grant to include multi-unit developments. The final legal checks are being completed and this scheme will be launched shortly.

The Infrastructure Strategy proposes that for those who cannot charge at home, provision of residential charging solutions that give the same benefits and mirror the home charging option should be the first objective.

There is an onus on national and local government to facilitate the provision of these charging solutions for citizens who do not have access to a home charge point.

The Strategy proposes a new Residential charging scheme that will replace the existing Public Points scheme. It is envisaged that this new scheme will provide significant co-funding of 75% to Local Authorities to support the design of local area charging networks, as well as the delivery and installation of these networks which are intended to comprise both on-street charging in areas where residents do not have access to home charging solutions, and destination charge points.

Question No. 93 answered orally.

Compulsory Purchase Orders

Questions (94)

Thomas Gould

Question:

94. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport if he will instruct the M20 team to provide written assurance to residents along the chosen route whose homes will not be subject to a compulsory purchase order. [21041/22]

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Written answers

As outlined in my response to Deputy Stanton’s question, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) plans the National Roads Programme and delivers it in conjunction with local authorities. The Programme is developed taking account of Government policy as set out in the Programme for Government, the National Development Plan and the Climate Action Plan and is progressed based on available funding.

In the new NDP launched in October 2021, approximately €5.1 billion is earmarked for new national road projects to 2030. This funding will facilitate improved regional accessibility and will also support compact growth, both of which are key national strategic outcomes in the National Planning Framework. The funding will provide for the development of a number of national road projects including the development of a limited number of new projects as well as the completion of projects which are already at construction stage and those close to it.

The existing N20 is a national primary road connecting the cities of Cork and Limerick. Buttevant, Croom, Charleville, Mallow and Blarney are towns along the route. The road is included in the list of projects to be progressed in the NDP. TII have allocated €5 million to Limerick City and County Council to progress the scheme this year.

The road corridor options to augment and/or replace the existing N20 Cork-Limerick road have been examined. These options were a new dual-carriageway or motorway, or the upgrading of various sections of the existing N20. These road options largely follow the existing route corridor. A number of rail scenarios have also been considered as potential solutions in improving Cork-Limerick connectivity.

Following a public consultation, the Route Options Selection stage has been completed and the Preferred Solution was announced on the 30th of March. This would consist of building a dual-carriageway or motorway along the existing N20 corridor between Cork and Limerick. The Preferred Solution also includes 80km of new active travel infrastructure for walking and cycling, as well as improvements to public transport which would include offering an improved rail service between Cork and Limerick on the existing network.

Following this, work on design and environmental evaluation is now being undertaken by the project team, in addition to the scheme Business Case which is required under the Public Spending Code.

With regard to Compulsory Purchase Orders, as Minister I am currently unable to provide assurances to residents along the chosen route that their homes will not be the subject of CPOs. The route design has yet to be developed within the corridor and it is necessary to follow the statutory processes to be in a position to deliver the final project. The timing for the following steps would depend on the outcome of the planning process, and this would include the matter of CPOs.

Question No. 95 answered orally.

Public Transport

Questions (96)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

96. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport if consideration has been given to continuing the proposed Metro from St. Stephen’s Green to Rathfarnham or Firhouse in the Dublin south-west area; if his attention has been drawn to the case that has been made by communities along that route that the proposed metro should not finish at Charlemont; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21040/22]

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Written answers

I think it important to set out what are two different processes currently underway, both of which relate to the potential future development of metro in Dublin.

Firstly we have the MetroLink project, which is likely the largest ever public investment project in the history of the State. It faces two imminent and important milestones in the coming months - Government approval of the Preliminary Business Case in line with the requirements of the Public Spending Code and, following this, the submission of a Railway Order application to An Bord Pleanála. The MetroLink project has been subject to extensive non-statutory public consultation and comprises the 19km route from north of Swords to the southern edge of the city centre, as outlined in the Preferred Route published by Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

Secondly we have the statutory review of the Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area. The Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 (as amended) stipulates that the Strategy must be reviewed every six years and this review provides an opportunity to re-examine and re-consider proposals for inclusion in the revised Strategy.

The National Transport Authority (NTA), as part of its review, considered the appropriate transport provision to serve the transport demand throughout the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) including the south and south west corridors into Dublin, and whether additional metro routes, above and beyond MetroLink, should be included in any revised Strategy.

The NTA published the draft Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022 - 2042 in November 2021, along with a suite of background reports (including the Metro to Knocklyon Feasibility Study), to facilitate an informed public consultation process which concluded on 10 January this year.

The NTA appraised a number of options for underground Metro in several locations in the GDA and found that forecast demand for travel during the period covered by the Strategy currently only justifies an underground metro system in the Swords-Dublin Airport-City Centre/Charlemont corridor. The Strategy also confirms that the Charlemont stop is the best location for the MetroLink terminus and will facilitate future extensions of the metro service to the south should the forecast demands increase over time.

Questions Nos. 97 and 98 answered orally.

Departmental Investigations

Questions (99)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

99. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the number of commissions of investigation under the remit of his Department currently ongoing in the State; the cost of each commission to date; and the projected costs of each in tabular form. [12559/22]

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Written answers

The Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 provides for the establishment of commissions of investigation which can investigate matters of significant public concern.

While the Department undertakes certain investigations as part of its various functions and responsibilities, there are no Commissions of Investigation under the 2004 Act currently ongoing under the remit of my Department and no costs have been incurred.

Questions Nos. 100 to 102, inclusive, answered orally.

Legislative Programme

Questions (103)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

103. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport when the legislation and regulations for e-scooter use will be in place given recent reports of further delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21014/22]

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Written answers

Electric scooters are a type of powered personal transporter (PPT). PPTs are classed as mechanically propelled vehicles, the use of which requires a valid licence, tax and appropriate insurance in accordance with Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. As PPTs do not fall under any existing vehicle category, it is not currently possible to tax and insure them and there is no separate licence category for them. Therefore, it is illegal to use them on public roads and in public places. However, their use is permitted on private land, with the permission of the landowner.

It is intended to legislate for the use of e-scooters, in accordance with the Programme for Government, as soon as possible, so that they may be used on our roads within a clear legal framework. Provision to regulate for PPT use has been made in the Road Traffic and Roads Bill, which has completed second stage in the Dáil and is due to go to committee stage shortly.

In order to allow for the rapid pace of technological change in this area, specific controls on the use of e-scooters will be set out in regulations, following the passage of the Bill through the Oireachtas. The use of e-scooters on public roads will become legal only once these regulations are in place.

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