Written Answers Nos. 19-33
19. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Transport the number of former county managers and CEOs of local authorities who are currently working within his Department and any agency or body under the remit of his Department, including details for persons employed in any format such as on a contract or advisory basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36309/22]
View answerThere are currently no former county managers and CEOs of local authorities working within my Department.
I have asked the aegis bodies under my Department's remit to respond directly to you on this matter and if you do not hear from them within 10 days you should contact my office.
20. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the loss of the Fingal Express bus service serving persons across north Fingal; if he will engage with public bus operators and negotiate to ensure a comparable service is provided immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36319/22]
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 and is responsible for the licensing of public bus passenger services under the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009. Therefore, I have forwarded the Deputy's question in relation to the Fingal Express bus service to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
21. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport the steps that he will take to urgently increase the number of active taxi driver licences in Dublin given that drivers entitled to drive in Dublin have decreased by 5.5% since 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36333/22]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector, including SPSV licensing, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, 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.
22. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport if he will urgently consider extending the running times of the Luas to ensure that those in the city late into the night can avail of public transport given the lack of taxis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36334/22]
View answer23. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport if he will urgently consider extending the running times of all Dublin Bus routes to ensure that those in the city late into the night can avail of public transport given the lack of taxis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36335/22]
View answer24. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport if he will urgently consider extending the running times of the DART to ensure that those in the city late into the night can avail of public transport given the lack of taxis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36336/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 22 to 24, inclusive, together.
As 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 and for the scheduling and timetabling 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 questions in relation to extending the timetables of public transport services to ensure that those in the city late into the night can avail of public transport, to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
25. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will clarify the proposed changes to the DART servicing Howth under DART+ Coastal North plans; if he will outline the impact to DART services at Howth, Sutton and Bayside; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36458/22]
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 in the Greater Dublin Area, including the DART+ Programme and its constituent projects.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply on the specific issue raised. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
26. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of business aviation flights that departed and landed at Irish State owned and privately owned airports, in 2019, 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36492/22]
View answerMy Department authorises commercial air transport operations by third country operators, however it does not receive applications for authorisation from European Union operators or non-commercial operations, as such the information held would only represent a proportion of business aviation flights that landed or departed in the stated airports.
I have directed your question to the Irish Aviation Authority for direct reply. If the reply is not received within the next 10 days please do not hesitate to contact my office.
27. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the current waiting times for a driving test at each driving test centre in the State in tabular form. [36545/22]
View answerThe operation of the national driving test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and the information requested is held by them. I have therefore referred the 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.
28. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the current waiting times for appointments for driving licence applicants in each centre in the State in tabular form. [36546/22]
View answerThis is a matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
29. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that the route 135 rural bus link for the Trim, County Meath area will be reinstated (details supplied). [36577/22]
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.
In light of the Authority's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question in relation to Bus Route 135, to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days
30. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport the position in relation to improvement works planned for the N72 between Rathmore and Mitchelstown; if the poor condition of the surface on the Cork side of Rathmore will be prioritised for resurfacing works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36588/22]
View answerAs 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 and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you in relation to these works.
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.
31. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport the number of registered driving instructors currently in counties Longford and Westmeath. [36615/22]
View answerAs the Road Safety Authority has responsibility for the regulation of Approved Driving Instructors, I am forwarding this query to the Authority for direct reply.
If the Deputy has not received a response within 10 working days, he should contact my office directly.
32. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons waiting on a driving test; and the average wait time for a driving test in counties Longford and Westmeath in days. [36616/22]
View answerThe operation of the national driving test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and the information requested is held by them. I have therefore referred the 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.
33. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport the total capital investments for transport allocated to counties Longford and Westmeath in 2020 and 2021; and the breakdown of the usage of these funds. [36617/22]
View answerDeputy, my reply sets out the direct sources of information concerning capital investments for transport allocated to counties Longford and Westmeath in 2020 and 2021.
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 planning, design and construction 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 capital investments relating to national roads and the portion of investment falling within individual counties.
As Minister for Transport, I also 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, and non-statutory responsibility elsewhere, including counties Longford and Westmeath.
I have referred your question to both TII and the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply from the agencies within 10 days.
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 Councils' 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.
As regards the capital allocations to counties Longford and Westmeath in 2020 and 2021 details of the regional and local road grant allocations and payments to local authorities are outlined in the regional and local road allocations and payments booklets which are available in the Oireachtas Library.
The tables included in the allocations and payments booklets outline expenditure by type of grant programme. Within the main Regional and Local Road Grant Programmes, the Restoration Maintenance and Training Grant Programmes are funded from current monies rather than capital.
I trust that this information is of assistance to you.
